Page:The Burton Holmes lectures; (IA burtonholmeslect04holm).pdf/160

 pennies; and when the demanded coppers are tossed them, there ensues a scramble which promises a brilliant future for the game of football should the natives ever take it up. Girls and boys alike exhibit wonderful endurance, and on one occasion two little chaps followed our carriage at a run for over fifteen minutes, gasping with every breath "Un sou, M'sieu', M'dame!" unfortunately in vain, for we have not a single copper, and the rascals would not believe us when we told them so. To escape this barbarian horde, we take refuge in the lovely gardens of the Château Landon, the estate of a wealthy French count, who in his absence kindly permits foreigners to roam at will through his little paradise. Here trees and shrubs and flowers from all climes are cultivated, and the walks are so immaculately raked and swept that it seems sacrilege to tread upon them.

OFF AGAIN!

Biskra's luxuriant vegetation is due to an abundant water-supply from artesian wells and from the Biskra River,