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 ALGERIA 303 ries are not well defined, as large portions of the border districts are claimed both by the French government and the nomadic tribes which inhabit them. An official statement in 1850 estimated the area at 150,568 sq. m., dis- tributed as follows among the three provinces: Algiers, 43,627 sq. m. ; Oran, 39,375; Constan- tino, 67,566. Later unofficial calculations make it as high as 258,317 sq. m. (Algiers, 39,120; Oran, 111,831; Constantino, 107,366). The Atlas mountains constitute an important physi- cal feature in the country. The Little Atlas runs along the rocky coast, and varies from 3,000 to near 7,000 ft. in height; while in the south the Greater Atlas reaches, or even exceeds, in some points an elevation of 8,000 ft. Between the Little and the Greater Atlas extends a plateau called the Tell (highlands), varying in height from 1,900 to 3,600 ft., and containing a large number of salt lakes, which dry up during the summer months. Long, winding defiles lead S. from the Greater Atlas into the Algerian Sa- hara. This desert, occupying more than half the country, contains many fertile oases and the large salt lake of Melrir, which receives a number of small rivers. The number of oases has been increased by means of artesian wells dug by order of the French government. The principal plain of the country, that of Metid- jah, belongs to the region of the Little Atlas. The Greater Atlas forms the watershed of the country. The principal river is the Shelliff, which has a tortuous course of about 200 m. and flows into the Mediterranean. The rivers which flow from the S. side of the Greater Atlas lose themselves in the desert, and none are naviga- ble. They are nearly dried up in the summer, but overflow a considerable extent of country in the spring and fertilize the soil. The cli- mate is generally warm, but the heat is rarely oppressive except under the prevalence of the simoom or hot wind from the Sahara, when the temperature ranges as high as 110. A large portion of the country is healthy, even for Europeans ; but in the marshy districts the foreign-born population generally succumb to fevers. Ophthalmia and cutaneous diseases are common. On the limits of the desert the soil is arid and sandy, but between the moun- tain districts it is fertile, and especially so in the neighborhood of the streams. Grain crops of all kinds, European and tropical fruits, flowers, and particularly roses, of remarkable beauty, and a species of sugar cane, said to be the largest and most productive of any known species, grow in Algeria. Domestic animals of every variety are numerous. The horses are excellent ; the asses are of fine growth and much used for riding. The camel and drome- dary of Algeria are very superior. The merino sheep is indigenous. The Numidian lion, the panther and leopard, ostriches, serpents, scor- pions, and many venomous reptiles are abun- dant. The chief towns are Algiers, the capi- tal (pop. in 1866, 52,614), Constantino (35,417), and Oran (34,058). Near Bona, on the north- eastern coast, are the coral fisheries, frequented by the fishers from France and Italy. Bougiah is on the gulf of the same name. On the coast, between Algiers and Oran, are Koleah, Cher- chell (the ancient Caesarea, the residence of Juba), and Mostaganem. Tlemcen, once the residence of Abd-el-Kader, is situated in a fer- tile country, near the Moroccan border; the ancient city was destroyed by fire in 1670, and the modern town was almost destroyed by the French. Other towns of the interior are Bli- dah, Mddeah, and Milianah, S. and S. W. of the capital. South of the Greater Atlas is the Zaab, the ancient Gsetulia. The chief place is Biscara; the Biscareens are a peaceful race, much liked in the northern ports as servants and porters. There are many remains of an- tiquity in the interior, especially in the province of Constantino, among others those of the an- cient city of Lambessa, with remains of the city gates, part of an amphitheatre, and a mausole- um supported by Corinthian pillars. The total population in 1866 was 2,921,246, of whom 217,990 were of European descent. Among the latter there were 122,119 Frenchmen, 58,510 Spaniards, 16,655 Italians, 10,627 Maltese, 5,436 Germans, and 4,643 of other nationali- ties ; 72,508 were born in Algeria. In 1831 the European population was 3,228 ; in 1836, 14,- 560 ; in 1841, 35,727 ; in 1846, 99,801 ; in 1851, 131,283; in 1856, 159,282; in 1861, 192,746. The number of Mohammedans living in the territory subject to civil government in 187C was 225,693; nomads, 2,434,974; native Jews, 33,117. A comparison of the above figures with former censuses shows a 'decrease of the native population, while the Europeans slowly increase. The great efforts made by the government to promote colonization in- duced from 1830 to 1855 about one million Europeans to emigrate to Algeria; but the majority either returned after a short time or succumbed to the climate. From 1830 to