Africa . capital of Wad Eir, south of Biskra,and famous far and wide throughout the Sahara. Thetown is surrounded by a circular wall, and has a popula-tion of about 3000. In June 1859 he went from Biskrato the oasis of Ghardaya, taking El-Gerara on his place is perched on a hill, has walls in a goodcondition, and houses with arcades. In the neighbour-hood he found jujube-trees and terebinths of great size,and came across flocks of ostriches. Ghardaya lies in theWadi Mzab, a rift in the extensive plateau or Hammadawhich begins about a clays journey north of this point,and stretches sou
Africa . capital of Wad Eir, south of Biskra,and famous far and wide throughout the Sahara. Thetown is surrounded by a circular wall, and has a popula-tion of about 3000. In June 1859 he went from Biskrato the oasis of Ghardaya, taking El-Gerara on his place is perched on a hill, has walls in a goodcondition, and houses with arcades. In the neighbour-hood he found jujube-trees and terebinths of great size,and came across flocks of ostriches. Ghardaya lies in theWadi Mzab, a rift in the extensive plateau or Hammadawhich begins about a clays journey north of this point,and stretches southward to beyond Metlili and far south of Ghardaya is situated the town ofMetlili. It presents a singular view, being perched ona steep hill, on the highest point of which rises a half-ruinous mosque. There are no walls, for which indeedthere is no occasion, the place being protected by its 92 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL. faithful allies the Shaamba Berasgha, here the dominantArab HOUSE TERRACES IN TUGGURT. 7. The Beni-Mzab. The people of this region, at present forming theconfederation of the Beni-Mzab, profess much stricterprinciples than the other Mohammedans, by whom, how-ever, they are looked on as a sort of heretics. Theirconstant feuds have ceased since the arrival of theFrench, to whom all the seven confederate estates paytribute. The Beni-Mzab hold lying in abhorrence, andmake a virtue of cleanliness. The women are kept instrict seclusion, and the Tolba, or lettered and sacerdotalclasses, form a little world of their own, living in commonand cultivating palm-gardens. THE CENTRAL SAHARA. 93 8. Oasis of El-Golea. From Ghardaya, Duveyrier went a journey of sixdays in a southerly direction to the oasis of El-Golea,which place he was the first European to visit. El-Golea,or El-Menia, the most southerly settlement within theborder of the Algerian Sahara, with a population of from1200 to 1300, consists of two towns, the upper builton a cliff and surr
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Keywords: ., bookauthorkeaneaha, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookyear1878
