Tunisia. By Herbert Vivian. (C. A. Pearson. 15s.)—Mr. Vivian has
paid a visit to Tunis, and written a book describing its government and inhabitants. The bulk of these, about one million eight hundred thousand, are of course Arabs. There are, however, a sprinkling of newly emancipated negroes and some fifty thousand Jews. The country is governed by M. Millet, the French Resident, subject of course to the French Foreign Minister. The Bey, in whose name decrees are issued, is in reality little more than a State prisoner drawing £37,500 a year from the Civil List. There is a Parliament, but the Resident can, and does, disregard its advice. The work of administration is carried on by French Prefects, who supervise the inferior native administrators. There is a two years' conscription, and a very heavy taxation, beginning with a 16s. Poll-tax on every adult inale,—almost a quarter of a workman's wages. Besides this a sixteenth of all rent goes to the State, and all palm and olive trees are taxed. The latter number some twelve millions. To our mind, the most interesting chapter in this book deals with the Jews. They form, Mr. Vivian tells us, a State within a State, and are subject to their own Courts of Law as well as to those of the country. For the prevention of violent crime, which they believe to be the result of want, the Jews have formed an elaborate system of poor relief. They have levied a compulsory tax on Kosher meat, and also a sort of progressive Income-tax, which is voluntary. Out of the income thus derived they yearly relieve some six thousand paupers. According to the author, if ever the Jews form a State of their own, we shall see an experi- ment in Socialistic legislation,—a State without an Army, and almost without police. The early Christians had the same ideal. Mr. Vivian's book is full of information.
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