A VISIT TO THE FRENCH POSSESSIONS IN AFRICA. Tins is
a rather curious example of what special knowledge and mere 'novelty of subject will effect. The Count St. Marie was engaged in no public employment; he appears to have enjoyed no official opportunities either civil or military; and the state of the country limited his field of observation. The three towns to which there is a pretty constant com- munication by steam—Algiers, Oran, and Bona—were his only places of residence. Those half Frenchified places, not more peculiar perhaps titan Gibraltar or Alexandria, an occasional landing along the coast, and a few excursions when they could be made with safety, comprised the extent of his travels ; only one trip involving a three-nights' absence from Algiers.
Nor is Count St. Marie the kind of man to make up for deficient opportunities. With the agreeable qtfitlities of his countrymen,'he is but a superficial observer and a literal describer. Neither has he much knowledge of Barbary that was ; and, considering the world in the same Condition as himself, he sometimes furnishes information that we knew already. Moreover, a considerable portion of the book is less Count St. Marie's than M. R—'s, a friend who acted as cicerone to the Count, accompanying him on all occasions, and contributing much of his matter. -Still, in despite of the tame and commonplace character of parts of his iteriount, the volume is frequently interesting, because we want to learn something about Algeria, with its soldiery, its razzias, its model farms, its settlers, and all the concomitants of governmental and theoretical colonization, where there is no security for life or property. Count St. Marie also seems to have a professional knowledge of military subjects, 'without pedantry or dogmatism ; and that special knowledge gives clear- ness and specificality to his remarks. Hence, with a good deal of com- monplace, A Visit to the French Possessions in Africa has somewhat more of value than better-written books of travels, from the information which it furnishes as to the state of Algeria, and its glimpses of Gallo- African colonial life.
Count St. Marie's sketches ought sometimes, perhaps, to be taken cum gran; for he seems hostile to Marshal Bugeaud and many of his officers, not only for their cruelty, but their coarseness, and low behaviour. Take, for example, this account of a scene in a restaurant. "The staff-officers who surround Marshal Bugeaud imitate the unpolished man- ners of their chief, and carry them to a degree of coarseness. One of his aides- de-camp in fall uniform, wearing a Colonel's epaulets, was dining, one day, at the Regency Restaurant in Algiers. Impatient because a waiter did not remove his plate as quickly as he wished, he threw it at the man's head. The waiter, who was carrying a dish containing an omelette, threw it in the Colonel's face. The result WAS a scuffle, in which the Colonel did not figure in the most dignified point of view.'
LOAD OF THE TROOPS.
When marching on an expedition, every man carries for his own use, a week's supply of biscuits, (three biscuits being the daily ration,) forty ball-cartridges, his clothes, a blanket, and his musket. In addition to this, each man carries for the general use of the brigade, one or more of the following articles, as may be found convenient,—viz. a bucket for water, an iron pot for preparing soup, white bread for sopping in the soup, coffee, sugar, bacon, salt, and rice; of each article a sup- ply sufficient for eight or ten men during a week. The fatigue of carrying these toads during the long days of an African summer may be easily imagined; and the difficulties of the march are not a little augmented by the necessity of fre- quently working a passage through thickets where there is no beaten track. Should a river intervene, it must be forded; then, after plunging into the cold water, the men have to march over a plain of burning sand. Amidst all the hardships the soldiers have to endure, feverish thirst is not the least; yet it must be borne, for he who slakes his thirst by drinking water is doomed to destruction. His limbs totter beneath him, and an unconquerable drowsiness subdues his sen- ses. He can no longer keep up with his comrades, and the column marches on. Ile knows that sleep is death, for the Arabs are sure to find him. Unable, how- ever, longer to contend against the overpowering sensation, he throws himself on the ground beneath the shade of a bush; and should he have sufficient strength remaining, he probably uses it to terminate his existence.
MODEL. FARMS.
A little on we reached what is called the Model Farm. This place has several times been pillaged by the Arabs, and therefore presents a somewhat dilapidated aspect. For a considerable period endeavours were made at the Model Farm to improve the breed of horned cattle, which in Africa are very small and lean; but the Arabs constantly killed or carried off the animals. Attention was next di- rected to the cultivation of wheat, barley, oats, &e.; but the standing crops were destroyed. The fields round the madel farm are now appropriated solely to the growth of fodder: as soon as the grass is mowed it is delivered over to Govern- ment; for if stacks were formed the Arabs would barn them. The farm is now in a very ruinous condition. The wisest plan that could be adopted would be to abandon it altogether: it is in a very unhealthy situation, and is too far out of the reach of assistance if attacked.
With that adaptability and submission to circumstances which may be a blessing to the individual but is the bane of the colonist, the French seem to fall into the customs of the country and Barbarize. Here is a specimen of
AFRICAN PETS.
My friend had a visit to pay to M. L—, a French gentleman, and I accom- panied him. The house was open, and on entering the inner court we knocked at the door of a saloon; we were requested, by a female voice, to "come in." M. R— opened the door; then, with an air of consternation,shat it immediately, and told me there were two lions going about at liberty in the saloon. He had scarcely told me this when Madame L— herself opened the door, and begged of us to enter; observing that we need be under no alarm, as the lions were perfectly tame. We followed the lady; and as soon as I sat down, the male lion came and laid his head on my knee. As for the lioness, she leaped on the divan beside Madame L—, looking at us from time to time, and sometimes giving a growl like an angry cat. These two animals were about seven years old, and were very great pets. Madame L— called away that one who seemed to have taken a liking to me, and I was not sorry to see him withdraw peaceably. We took our de- parture, carefully avoiding any hasty movements.
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