Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/406

 country, and the colonists take months and years to pay for their European wares by the products of their plantations, At the same time, the relative increase in the exports keeps pace with that of the imports, and Algeria already takes the eighth place in the extent of its commerce with France. The ports of Bona, Philippeville, Bougie, Algiers, Arzeu, and Oran are amongst the most frequented in the Western Mediterranean waters, and the annexation of Tunis has given a great stimulus to the commercial movement with the interior. Some trade is also done across the frontier with Marocco; but it is mainly of a contraband character, and almost entirely in the hands of the Jews. But south of Wargla and Sûf all intercourse with the Saharian oases is for the present nearly suspended. Nevertheless, after four years of total interruption, a caravan, comprising one thousand persons and three thousand camels, proceeded in 1884 from the Ben-Khelil wells, in South

Orania to the Gurara oases, returning in company with the Dui-Menias of Marocco.

Nearly all the trade of Algeria being sea-borne, navigation has necessarily increased in the same proportion as the movement of exchanges. But steamers, either independent or subsidised by the Government; have entirely replaced sailing vessels, except in the fisheries and the coasting trade. The general movement of navigation is represented by over ten thousand ships of all sizes, with a total tonnage of about four millions. Of this France possesses about two-thirds, thanks to the steamships plying regularly between the French and Algerian coasts. Next to France come England, which exports most of the alfa, and Spain, which has the advantage of position, but which mainly employs small craft.

A regular service of steamers is maintained between the Algerian seaports and those of the Western Mediterranean basin, About thirty trips are made on the average every month across the intervening waters; but in this growing traffic