Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/293

 TOPOGRAPHY. S37 becomes m(xUfio<l by the foundution of new towns, the spread of agriculture, the development of the network of roads and railways. Although the European element is still in the minority, its influence is already everywhere visible from the seaboard to the upland plateaux and the verge of the desert. Topography. The traveller visiting Algeria is surprised at the slight contrast presented by its towns and those of the mother country, liut for the palms and bamboos adorning the public gardens, the Moors and Arabs mingling with the crowd on the quays and in the streets, he might find it difficult to believe that he had really crossed the Mediterranean. The quarters built by the French architects seem to have been modelled on those of Marseilles; almost everywhere the picturesque Arab houses are masked by streets with regular and commonplace facades ; and the stranger may reside for a long time in a modern Algerian town without having ever to penetrate into those labyrinths of dwellings which recall an already antiquated epoch. But extensive tracts may still be traversed for hours together without meeting a single human habitation. Such on the eastern plateai'x is the district drained by the Mejerda and its affluent the Wed Melleg, and comjmsing a total area of about 4,000 square miles. Standing at a mean elevation of over 3,500 feet, endowed with a healthy climate and fertile soil, and forming the converging point of the trade routes between the coast and the desert, this at present almost uninhabited region presents one of the most promising fields for future colonisation. Here the remains of Roman settlements are scarcely less numerous than in the neighbouring territory of Tunis, and since their complete reduction about the middle of the century, European immigrants have again begun to find their way to these breezy uplands. They are at present occupied by three distinct tribal groups — the Nememshas in the south, the Ulad Sidi Yahia-ben-Thaleb in rhe centre, and in the north the Ilanenshas — all of Berber stock, more or less mingled with Arab blood since the invasion of the eleventh century. The town of ICa/aa-es-Senam, standing on an isolated table of the plateau, is a stronghold of the Hanenshas, who since their final reduction in 1871, have maintained a peaceful bearing towards the new French settlers. But the most important place in this region is Tebessa, the ancient Tecesfe, whose many natural advantages seem to ensure it a brilliant future. Although dating only from the time of Vespasian, its favourable strategic and commercial position soon rendered Teveste a flourishing town of some forty thousand inhabitants. Notwithstanding its destruction by the Vandals and many subsequent vicissitv.des, it still preserves some imposing Roman or Byzantine remains, such as the ramparts with thirteen flanking towers, a magnificent triumphal arch, an aqueduct restored by the French, numerous tombs, and a temple of Minerva (?) now converted into a Christian church. The French citadel is entirely built of blocks taken from the old struc- tures, and the routes converging on Tebessa are still the old Roman roads, one of