Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/389

 well cultivated, the land is insufficient for the needs of all the inhabitants, about one-third of whom reside abroad, chiefly in Algiers, Tunis, and other coast towns. The emigrants leave their families in the commune, recognising as their own all children born during their absence, however long they may be from home. On the other hand, most of them set up temporary establishments in the towns where

they are settled, and on their return get themselves purified by the priests from the stains contracted during their residence amongst the ungodly. The absentees are still liable to pay the yearly tax, and in this way are said to contribute at the rate of more than one-third towards the expenditure of the mother-country. Owing to their residence in North Algeria, most of them speak French and Arabic as well as â