Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/277

 INHABITANTS OF ALGERIA. M7 feared by the traveller. But of all the companions of the Aljj^rian hunter, none are held in such estimation as the horse, a breed distinguished by its beauty, elegance, high spirit, combined with great gentleness, sobriety, and endurance under fatigue and changes of temiKjrature. In the Algerian Sahara several reptiles occur of the same species as those of Nubia and Upper Egypt. Such are the homed viper, and the large waran, or Egyptian monitor, some of which are over 3 feet long and look like small crocodiles. They are much feared on account of the magic power attributed to them, and like the chameleon, they are supposed to be the deadly enemies of the homed viper. Another remarkable saurian is the dobb, a lizard frequenting the palm groves, whose delicate flesh is eaten by the natives and its skin used for making pouches and boxes. The crocodile, supposed to have entirely disappeared from Mauritania since the historic period, still survives in the running and stagnant waters of the desert. It was first discovered by Aucapitaine in the Wed Jeddi, and has since been found in the upper affluents of the Igharghar. Insectivorous birds exist in vast numbers, and to this circumstance must be attributed the comparative rareness of grubs and butterflies. The locust [onUpoda crucia(n), which was one of the chief causes of the terrible famine of 1867, swarms in myriads only in exceptional years. In ordinary times their numbers are kept down by the stork, " the agriculturists' providence." On the Sctif plateaux the curious spectacle has presented itself of thousands of storks drawn up in line of battle and attacking a living wall of locusts. Inhabitants of Algeria. The changes that have taken place since historic times amongst the human population of Algeria, are even still greater than those affecting the animal and vegetable species. But the question at once presents itself, do they, like these forms, constitute a common domain comprising both the northern and southern seaboards of the West Mediterranean ? Is the character of unity observed in the organic world throughout this region, retained at least in the fundamental elements of its present inhabitants ? Although no positive answer can yet be given, there can be no doubt that numerous migrations have taken place and frequent relations been maintained between the opposite coastlands. At some epoch before the dawn of history, the whole region was certainly occupied by peoples enjoying a common civilisation, whether they were all of one or diverse origin. Throughout Mauritania, and especially in the province of Constantino towards the Tunisian frontier, megalithic monuments are met with similar to those existing in the West of Europe. Tens of thousands of such remains have already been found, and others are constantly discoveretl, although they are too often destroyed to procure materials for the house-builder and road-maker. In the Mejana plain, west of Setif, M. Payen estimates at ten thousand the number of menhirs scattered singly or in groups over the steppe. They look like a multitude changed into stone, the mean height of the blocks being that of a man of low stature. The so-