Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/72

 54 NORTH-WEST AFRICA. independently. On all festive occasions they return to share in the family rejoicings. The great majority of the Negro population resides neither in the capital nor in any of the other towns of the province. Faithful to their racial instincts, they have grouped themselves in small hamlets, where they live in huts made of palms, branches, and reeds. Neither the houses of the civilised Turks nor the tents of the nomad Arabs suit the habits of communities still following the same mode of life as their fellow-countrymen on the banks of the Niger and Lake Tsad. Although familiar with Arabic, most of them still speak their native dialects. From the Niam-Niam territory to that of the Fulahs, all the regions of Central Africa are represented in Tripolitana by their respective languages, although the majority, or about two-thirds of the population, converse in the Haussa already current throughout Western Sudan. In many districts a stranger might fancy it had also become the prevailing language of Tripolitana, owing to the incessant chattering of the Negroes, as contrasted with the less voluble Arabs and Berbers. I Jut it is not likely that the Ilaussa tongue will maintain itself for many genera- tions in the country ; for however correct the social life of the local black com- munities, however touching their devotion to their families, the Negro women are rarely very prolific, while infant mortalit}'- is very high. Yet in other respects the women would appear to resist the climate better than the men, and many even live to a great age. The Turks and Kulugli. The Turks, who since 1835 enjoy not only the sovereignty but also the effec- tive power, are in a minority even in the capital. Nevertheless their language has gradually become predominant amongst most of the " Tarabulsiyeh," the preponderating influence of the administration having caused the official idiom to prevail over the Arabic. Yet the Turks are still strangers in the land, holding aloof from the rest of the inhabitants, from whom they are already somewhat distinguished as " Malekits " in the midst of " Hanefite " populations. They are, moreover, careful to follow the fashions of Constantinople, and by an affected dignity of carriage they endeavour to sever themselves from the populace, to which as judges and administrators they nevertheless condescend to sell justice and protection. But for all their airs of superiority, tlieir passion for strong drink has rendered them the most degraded section of the community. More respectable are the Kulugli, that is, the descendants of Turks and Moorish or other women of the country, whether black or white. These half- castes pay no taxes, but are required to serve as irregular troops at the first summons to arms. Since the immigration of so many Algerian families, escaping from French rule, the Turks usually select their wives amongst the women of this clas?, who are distinguished from the rest of the population by their honesty, sobriety, and correct morals. Many of the young Algerian women are, moreover, noted for their personal charms, in this respect contrasting favourably with the