PLATEAU OF FONTAINE CHAPELLE.

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Chapelle, a name given by them to a marabout of Sidi Abderrhaman-bou-Nega, in consequence of a strong spring of excellent water in the vicinity. This marabout, now ruined, stands close by the present road from Algiers to Cheragas and Koleah, which passes between it and the spring. Immediately beyond it, as one goes from Sidi Ferudje towards Algiers, is a moist elevated plateau, from which issue several streams. Some of them, running to the westward, fall into the sea between Sidi Ferudje and Rous-el-Knathar; while others, taking a south-westerly course, descend into the plain of the Metidja, where they augment the stream formed by the union of two branches of the Harash, which take their rise in the Atlas range. The heights occupied by the Turks at the close of the 24th lie beyond this plateau. They dominate the position taken up by the French, a circumstance which turned to the disadvantage of the latter during the next four days, which were occupied in continual skirmishes, while the general completed his road to bring up the heavy guns with which he intended to attack Algiers.

On the 29th the army was united at Fontaine Chapelle, and moved forward. The third division, which had not been engaged, was brought to the front to give the Duke d'Escars an opportunity of distinguishing himself. At break of day the three divisions advanced in close columns across the valley

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DISORDERED ADVANCE

which separated them from the enemy, who took to flight without making any important resistance. The second division, which was in the centre, had been ordered to follow the trace of an ancient Roman road, which wound over the mountain Bouzarieh to the vicinity of the Fort of the Emperor, keeping the watershed at the head of the many ravines which seam all sides of the hill. The third division, stationed on the left, after a fatiguing march across several glens, where the worst European troops might have stopped it, finally arrived on the slopes of Bouzarieh which face Algiers. The first division, on the right, had no enemy to oppose it, but the difficulties of the ground over which it had to move were so great, that bearing insensibly to its left, it passed in the rear of the second, without being aware of the fact, and at last appeared on the slopes of Bouzarieh, behind the division of the Duke d'Escars. The fate of the second was even worse. Owing to some misapprehension, Loverdo made a retrograde movement, and got into a ravine, where General Bourmont's aide-de-camp, who was despatched to order him to advance, had great difficulty in finding him. Finally, the third division contrived to entangle itself in the broken ground; for Bourmont, on arriving at the Vigie of Bouzarieh, and finding the erratic course which had been pursued by the first division, determined to retain it, and send the third to occupy the ground to the right of

the Roman road, the place which, according to the original plan, was to have been taken up by the first. The Duke d'Escars, making a short cut for the purpose of effecting the operation more speedily, got his men, too, lost in some of the deepest and most difficult ravines. For a time it was utterly disorganised, and troops of all arms were mixed up péleméle with one another.

If the Turkish general had possessed any ability, it is said that two of the three divisions would infallibly have been destroyed; but after the first onset, the Turks abandoning their guns, which fell into the hands of the French, took refuge beneath the fortifications of Algiers. Only the third division suffered any loss, except from fatigue; but the confusion in that and the second was for a time very great, and the restoration of order was the work of several hours.

After the traveller has satisfied his curiosity with the view of the country from the Vigie of Bouzarieh, he will do well to visit the Arab village called Petit Bouzarieh. This occupies the site of a village of Andalusian Moors which was destroyed by the French; and the huts of the present inhabitants are composed in great part of the ruins of the former houses. It is thickly planted with the prickly pear, the hedges of gardens in former days, but now only an article of cultivation. The French village of Bouzarieh, which consists of only two or three tenements,

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ARAB COMMUNISM.

one of them an alehouse and café, is about ten minutes' walk south of the Arab village, and a carriage cannot pass between them. The first time I was there I was witness of a curious spectacle. Some of the Arabs had jointly purchased an ox in Algiers, for the purpose of slaughtering it, and dividing the flesh. Their practice is to throw the animal on the ground by hampering its legs with a rope, after which they cut its throat with a yataghan. This operation had just been performed-as always, in the open air-on a green in front of the little inn of the French village, and there were lying on the ground twenty-four little heaps of meat, and a twenty-fifth, which consisted of the head and feet of the animal. What had become of the fifth quarter and the hide, I could not learn, but no doubt they were made use of in some way. To distribute these portions among the purchasers, a number of bits of twisted straw and sticks, duly marked, were put into a basket and shaken. An Arab then took them out one by one, and as he did so called out the name of the owner, who thereupon appropriated the next heap of flesh to himself. An old man, whom I took for the kadi, stood by looking on, perhaps to see that the proceeding was conducted fairly.

The slopes of Mount Bouzarieh, towards the west and south, are held by this tribe. They cultivate a portion of the soil on something like communistic

VALLEY OF THE CONSULS.

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principles, dividing it among themselves according to the strength of each family, and feeding the uncultivated part in commonage. When the head of a family dies, his property is divided among his children according to the Mahometan law, which is expounded by the kadi. No Algerian Arab can alienate the piece of land he cultivates to a non-tribesman, if the members of the tribe choose to purchase it. It is not often that the desire can arise, for the position of the holder of a property acquired under such circumstances, surrounded by native neighbours, would be something worse than that of a snake in a porcupine's hole.

Towards the north, the slopes of Bouzarieh are chiefly inhabited by Spaniards and Mahonnais, who cultivate the remains of the gardens which had been formed by the Moors in that region, wherever the arrangements for irrigation have escaped destruction. The great demand for fruit and vegetables in Algiers is enriching them, for they are a singularly frugal and industrious people.

From the French village of Bouzarieh, a road descends through what is called the Valley of the Consuls, it having been a favourite locality for foreign residents before the conquest. The gradients are easy, and the many windings which the steepness of the hills towards the sea has necessitated, open a succession of the most charming views, something like