Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/237

 GOVERNMENT OF TUNIS. 198 allotted to them. Hence it is not surprising that, notwithstanding the great fertility of the land, the populations of Tunisia have often been decimated by famine. The industries, properly so called, have hardly changed since the foreign colony has attained such great iuiiwrtauce in this country. The result of the commercial annexation has been more especially to diminish the productiveness of the Tunisian workshops to the profit of foreign industries. Although the Jacquard looms have been introduced, the Lyons textiles arc gradually driving the local products from the markets of the regency. The large steamship companies, especially those assisted by the State, maintain a regular service along the coast, shipping the produce of the interior in exchange for European wares. France enjoys the largest share of the foreign trade, which is rapidly increasing. The railwoys are producing in the interior of the country changes similar to those effected by the substitution of steamships for sailing vessels. They are abolishing the old method of transport by caravan and changing the direction of the trade routes. The line from Tunis to Bona and Guelma, which traverses the gorges of the Upper Mejerda, formerly avoided by the Roman highways, has diverted to Bona part of the trade of the capital. In the same way the pi-ojected line across Northern Tunisia, via Beja, terminating at the port of Tabarka, will open a new route for commercial enterprise. Another and more important line, from Suk-Ahras to Cabes, rid Tebessa, will skirt the whole of the peninsular region of Tunisia, running directly from the Algerian ports to the Jerid district and the oases of Tripoli. At present the construction of railways is proceeding slowly ; nor is the traffic of much importance, the company, which is guaranteed a return of 6 per cent, by the State, having no interest in developing a local trade by which it would be in no way benefitted. The railways most likely to be first con- structed are the northern line, from Jedeida to Mater, and later on to Bizerta ; the eastern line, continuing that of Hammam-Lif to Hammaraet across the neck of the Dakhelat-el-Mabuin peninsula ; and the southern line to Zaghwan and Kairwan, with a branch to Susa. In 1847, long before the annexation, the French Government had established a postal service in the regency, and later on introduced the telegraph system. The chief towns are regularly visited by postmen, and in every direction the country is traversed by telegraph wires, connecting those of Algeria with Tripoli. The Arabs scrupulously respect the wires and posts, which are useful to them as land- marks and signposts. Government of Tunis. The government of Tunisia is divided between two centres of authority, those of the Bey and of the French. According to the Bardo Convention, the Bey still rules, and even exercises absolute control over all affairs of the interior ; but France, who has converted Tunisia into a protectorate, undertakes the defence of the country and administers its finances through a " resident general ; " in other