Show alwil 1 brae M ite C AM NN Z a k IS 1 h 5 1 1 IM apu epu ala j via 41 N scene scena in algiers prepared by the national Geo geographic graphia society Bo clety washington D 0 HE long sweeping curve of sk a TA crescent bay the storied bay of algiers liters liere here fringed with yellow ian band there at one end edged with gleaming black rocks and everywhere backed by the steep slopes of a semicircular semi circular chat chain n of low hills rising abruptly from the waters edge and crowned with white villas in verdant gardens flaming w with and poinsettia behind the idlas halli ties lies the narrow fertile plain of the ditl adja in springtime blazing with the varied hues bues of wild flowers the yellow of arnn oranges es the green of cornfields and vineyard towering above the plain in rugged grandeur the mighty chain of the atlas mountains seeming to support the heavens on their snow clad shoulders ders and the clouds gather round their peaks and leavette lea sky clear and blue almost ns as blue as the wate waters rs of the mediterranean e n below at one end of kf the bay arik are the clous harbor the busy wharves and the ter terraced raced to houses e a of a white city climbing jol to hilli 1 I f r city I 1 itta stor story runs froni from heresies Her esies and the volden apples apple to the hesperides Hesper ldes through the 06 forgotten alir chronicles of roman vandal byzantine arab and turk to td the last of the bourbon kings to napoleon III and the french republic not a century ago it was the haunt and headquarters of the cruel couely esi cst most b bloodthirsty pirates that the world has fins ever seen today I 1 it t la Is a bright and beautiful city of modern france i alongside its buaya lie ile great steamers being loaded with the produce of a bountiful land inn d its wharves are piled high with ca cask and case immediately over them rises a high cliff like wall pierced with caves merchants warehouses and offices tn in vaults two CEntra contrasting sting quarters along the summit of of fus hs wall walf stretches the beautiful boulevard de I 1 la the beginning of a quarter that might rival the best bit of paris between the opera and the seine a quarter of well built streets Bt where the brond broad sidewalks shelter under nr arcades cades of shady squares where white mosques front busy cafes and palm trees wave before the electric t trains that link the town with the suburbs 7 stretching around the curving ba bay y this Is the quarter of theaters ho teis and am commercial me offices of attractive shops of crowded streets where automobile mobile and electric tram dispute the right of way with five forsea horsed carts well dressed european men men and rd abort skirted silk F rench french girls pass veiled women and stately arabs in flowing burnooses bu bur mooses nooses but a short distance back from the sen seaward ward wall the level ceases and the gayly colored crowded houses climb on each others shoulders up tip the steep hillside as if striving to look over their neighbors heads out to sea gea here fiere Is the native quarter and andin aadlan in it dwelt the pirate population that ap lived by bloo bloody dy crime on the fara fay of the waters every being in tt lt an ann woman and child moorish pasha and christian slave had bad a personal interest in watching ench each call ball that lifted above the distant horizon it might be en an algerine rover loaded with plunder inder and chained captives it might bi be the herald of a 6 fleet coming to batter down the pirate stronghold and set free the slaves upward and still upward house tops house until one comes to the casba once the palace fortress of the dey the tyrant of algiers who claimed his share of the booty that ea anh h m murderous ur derous home whether it wera plunder from sacked backed towns on european shores sli bres or weeping women from italy frane france or spain appl H of the natives the houses hemming the streets thrust out upper stories sup ported on inclined ned wooden struts strut until they arb not a yard apart often they are built completely across to fco that bat the narrow lone lane must pass under them in a dark tunnel the few aln windows small square openings are barred with gratings bent outward and here and there n painted face looks out from them and smiles down invitingly on the wayfarer but usually the houses present it blank front to the outer world blank that Is but for a carved door with a small twisted column on either cither side and aslone crescent above it ow kwof of these doors op opens and three tiny children toddle out laughing one a boy bof la in a red fez and a small shirt thoi the others other s little girls with flowered blouses colored skirts and gaudy handkerchiefs twisted around their heads the open door gives a glimpse of a weed wee tiled hall with a dwarf stal staircase rease twisting out of sight farther down another door stands stand invitingly ajar pass through it out oi atthe ithe dim alin alley and you ane ace in another world A bright courtyard opens to the blue sky above two three tiers of g galleries with jaily gayly tilted parapet walls top carved stoneson sto marble pillars ts ai a vine swings across th the evold void flowers flower s in pots or dougain Doug aln killeas hash ridges of glowing ator ot or nto the court on which women look down wn and call shrilly to the serving birds seated on the paving stones below cleaning great brass waters jara of kofold old and graceful design but the glory lias has departed pasha and pirate have lidd had their day and their mansions too have fallen from their high estate instead of one rich man with ills his harem of silken clad wives vives of many races peopling the chambers that open onto the tiled galleries pall erles end and lils his wretched slaves filling the dark cellars and noisome dungeons below a dozen or more poor families arabs jews maltese spaniards bards i now crowd into the onetime one time palace often the beautiful courtyards are turned to utilitarian purposes and a carpenters bench or a grocers counter replaces the marble 1 fountain that once sweetened the air with tinkle of falling failing water figures in the streets out again into the dark aara lanes and vaulted tunnels stand aside and let this porter pass bent double he lurches lur clies heavily up the steep ascent a band around his forehead helping to support tile the weight of the immense burden on his back with his red cap twisted about with a dirty kerchief his torn shirt and baggy trousers his bare feet thrust Into heelless hecl less slippers lie he resembles and la Is like to him in feature as in falth faith a hamal or porter of constantinople tolling up the equally steep streets of stamboul Sta aboul out of a two white robed figures veiled belled to the dark eyes th that at lustrous and beautiful shine under the black eyebrows and fair foreheads massive silver and gold necklaces hang on their bosoms br broad oad sliver silver brice bracelets lets adorn their wrists and heavy havy danklets anklets surround the silk stock ingeb ackles thrust into info dainty slippers their heona henna tapped fingers at are loaded with rings with a lingering backward glance thebo thebe two enter slowly a carved anar marble portal leading into a hall hal walled and floored with flower designed porcelain tiles inscriptions in french and arabic tell us that this Is the entrance to the moorish both baths open to men until noon to women in the aftem moon oon the fair ones flock to it for it Is their lounge their club their glimpse of sv sla baal life their gossip exchange it and tho the mohammedan cemeteries on fridays the narrow alley dives into another tunneled passage under tinder the houses find emerges on a wider space 9 mair ket spread out on tho the ground oj oron rough stalls aro are meat fruit vega vegetables a bread arab and negro dealers shout out their wares and prices in krable arabic and in french while tall men in wh white ito burnooses bur nooses shrouded moorish women and dark haired bareheaded bare headed maltese girls chaffer and bargain excitedly buyers and seller shake shabe their hands in each others face scream with rage call on allah or the god of the christians to bear witness then quiet down and conclude the deal peaceably |