The cave dwellers of southern Tunisia; recollections of a sojourn with the khalifa of Matmata; . Tuareg are at present anxious tokeep on friendly terms with the French. On severaloccasions small caravans have travelled as far as thesouthern stations of Tunisia, most of them certainlywith a view to trade, mats enjin, it is always a movein the right direction, wdiich, prudently encouraged,may lead farther. It would be to the signal advantage of theFrench that the old caravan road to the Saharashould be reopened, so that traffic from Rhadamescould proceed direct to Gabes or other towns ofTunisia,
The cave dwellers of southern Tunisia; recollections of a sojourn with the khalifa of Matmata; . Tuareg are at present anxious tokeep on friendly terms with the French. On severaloccasions small caravans have travelled as far as thesouthern stations of Tunisia, most of them certainlywith a view to trade, mats enjin, it is always a movein the right direction, wdiich, prudently encouraged,may lead farther. It would be to the signal advantage of theFrench that the old caravan road to the Saharashould be reopened, so that traffic from Rhadamescould proceed direct to Gabes or other towns ofTunisia, instead of, as now, via Tripoli. The chiefimpediment at present lies in the fact that thecaravans, not being permitted to carry slaves, arenot profitable. The baskets, leather goods, weapons, 262 CAVE DWELLERS etc., which the last caravans brought with them—though ill small quantities—were disposed of withdifficulty in Tatuin and Medinin, which will nottend to induce them to make another trial. No; that traffic through the Sahara may beremunerative, essential In fact, so long. A TUAIIEG. as slavery continues to Hourish in Tripoli, so longwill the stream of trade flow that way. Neither does slavery appear so terrible at closequarters as it does when read of in heartrendingromances in the style of Uncle Toms Cabin. Thetruth is, that slaves are well treated everywhere inthe East, so well that even if oiven their freedom, THE TUAREG 263 as tliey were by decree in Tunisia, tliey, as a rule,remain in their masters house. The transport across the desert is, indeed, full ofhorrors, Ijut when once arrived at their destinationthe slaves do not suffer from want—quite otherwise. Anion ost the caravans that came to Tatuin in1893 was one in charge of two nephews of Aissa,the Tuareg Sheikh who rules over the tribe of Imauohasat. ^ The elder of these, named Uan Titi, brought aletter to the officer in command of the militarystation at Tatuin, in which he reclaimed severalcamel
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublisheretcetc, bookyear189
