Under the Palms in Algeria and Tunis Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868 edition. Excerpt: ...paid--Colonists, per head, 85 francs; Natives, per head, 8 francs. Commercial development--In 1830 (natives left to themselves) 5,000,000 francs. In " Comptes-rendus Officials de la Situation de 1'Algerie." 1864. LAND HELD BY COLONISTS. 157 broken up, or cleared, and which ruined the European ploughs and other implements. These lands have become the best in the country now, it is true, but only after the hard and earnest labour of the European workman. It is calculated that the colonist has, up to the present time, only deprived the native of 437,000 acres which are as yet capable of cultivation. So jealous, indeed, was the Government, at the time of occupation, of any possible injustice, that a law was passed preventing the Arabs from selling to the colonist any land appertaining to the tribe. This was to check the greed of the early followers of the invading army, who took what they could, regardless as to whether that which they bought really belonged to the seller or not. At the same time tracts were set apart by Government in each of the three provinces for the purposes of colonization--tracts that on the then average allowed a mile for every eight individuals. This was erroneously considered enough for all purposes, but the law was nevertheless modified some two or three years ago. CONDITION OF THE ARAB. 159 wrong which is said to be done to the indigenous population, we may cite the case of the plains of the Mitidja, where colonization has been very much developed indeed. In this region the tribes have still much land to dispose of, were they enabled to do so by the existing laws. It must certainly be admitted that the misery of the Arab increases with his proximity to the colonist. Observe that I say Arab, and not native; for the...