The Kroumirs, against whom the French campaign in Tunis is
nominally directed, form a group of Moorish—that is, half- caste Arab—clans, sixteen in number, who claim the coast between Tuuis and Algeria. They were formerly pirates, like all Tunisians and Algerines, and detest Europeans for putting an end to their chief means of livelihood. They have gradually retreated from the coast towards the hills, where they keep their .flocks; but occasionally supplement their resources by raids Upon French or Tunisian subjects. They profess a nominal -obedience to the Bey, but substantially acknowledge no -authority but their own. They are said to be less than 40,000 in number, which may be true, as their hills would not maintain large tribes ; and. they are said to be very war- like, though they offer, by French accounts, very trifling resistance. Once conquered, they will be quite powerless, as
road which will carry mountain guns will enable the Coin- mandant to chastise them, and they will probably betake them- selves to military service. They have, it is believed, allies among the population of Tunis, but none who can give them real assistance, as the region is too wild for the settled Arabs, and they can supply no commissariat. The Kroumirs are very like our Indian frontier tribes on the north, with the difference that they are not aware how irresistible regular troops are in the plains. They will learn that lesson, however, in a single .campaign, and thenceforward defend only the hills.
