Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/249

 PHYSICAL FEATURES. 901 The expressions " New France " and " African France," often applied to Algeria, are in many re«i)ects fully justified. The French have undoubtedly already acquired a firm footing in this part of the continent, where they have introduced their language and their culture. French towns and villages have sprung up, not only along the seaboard, but in every part of the country, which is now intersected in all directions by highways running to the verge of the desert. The work accomplished by the French in half a century may be compared with that which resulted from seven centuries of Roman occupation. Thanks to the railway, telegraph, and other appliances of modern science, they have rapidly spread over the whole land, penetrating southwards to the oasis of El-Golea, 180 miles beyond Jelfa, apparently the last outpost of the Romans towards the Sahara. The political annexation of the country to Europe may already be regarded as an accomplished fact. The native elements, broken into fragments, differing in sixjech and origin, and separated by great distances, have ceased to be a serious menace to the European population, which, if still inferior in numbers, forms a more compact defensive body, commanding all the large towns, arsenals, strategical points, and resources cff modem industry. From the geographical standpoint, the annexation of Algeria to the known world has already made considerable progress. AVorks of all kindb relating to the colony are reckoned by the thousand, and amongst them are many of great scientific value. The great topographical atlas, of which several sheets have already appcarwl, may be compared with similar works issued by the European states. Geographical exploration is being continually supplemented by a scientific study of the soil, and the provisional geological charts will soon be replaced by more exhaustive sheets, depicting the series of stratified formations in the fullest detail. Some blank spaces are still visible on the maps, especially about the Mzab district. But even here the itineraries are beginning to intersect each other in varit)us directions, and the work of exploration, begun by Duveyrier, Soleillet, Largeau, Flatters, and others, will soon be systematically continued in the direction of tlie Sudan. The ancient history of the country is also being restored by a study of the local inscri|)- tions and other monuments that have escaped the ravages of time. Physical Fe.tures. The relief of Algeria is characterised by a remarkable simplicity of outline. Forming a nearly equilateral four-sided figure, it contrasts even with the conter- minous regions of Marocco and Tunis in the almost rhythmical harmony of its undulations. Between Nemours and Algiers the normal directi«m of the coast is south-west and north-east, and the same direction is followed by all the mountain ranges, valleys, and plateaux occupying the whole space, 180 miles broad, between the Mediterranean and the Sahara. At the time of the conquest it was supposed that this space was traversed by two main ranges, the Great Atlas in the south, and the Little Atlas in the north. But this double orographic system has no existence, 45 — AF