Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/341

 largely reclaimed. On its highest point stands the health-resort of La Bouzaréa (Bu-Zarea), whence is commanded un extensive view of land and water. South and south-west stretches the crest of the Sahel, crowned with villas and hamlets. Near El-Biur stands the massive Fort de l'Empereur, and farther south lies Dwéra, the chief town of the Sahel.

South-east of Algiers, on tho route skirting the Sahel, the line of coast villages between Belcourt and Hussein-dey is interrupted by the Hamma plantations, some 200 acres in extent, which were laid out in 1832 for the purpose of studying the

acclimatisation of useful plants. The experiment has proved most successful, and few other cities, even in tropical climates, can show finer avenues of palms, magnolias, bamboos, and banyans. But an ostrich farm attached to the gardens has not succeeded. Near Hamma the Negroes of Algiers celebrate their annual "bean-feast," at which is sacrificed an ox crowned with chaplets and decked with gay ribbons.

South and west of the capital stretches the vast semicircular plain of the Mitija for a distance of 60 miles, and varying in breadth from 10 to 12 miles. This