Tunis Past and Present

T H E L AS T P U N I C W A R

PA T D PRE TUNIS, S AN SENT

WITH A NARRATIV E OF TH E FREN CH CO NQ UEST OF TH E RE GE N CY

A M RO A D LE Y . . B

B ARRISTE R AT LAW

‘ ’ CO R RE SPO N D EN T O F TH E TI M ES D UR I N G TH E

W AR I N TU N I S

— I L . N TW O V O L U M E S V O . I

WI TH I LL US TRA TI ON S

W I L L I AM B L A C K W O O D AN D S ON S ED I N B U R G H A N D L ON D O N M D C C C L X X X I I

’

THE RIG HT HON BLE. EARL DE LA WARR

GIbegz

A RE GRAT EFULL Y AN D RESPE CTFULLY D E D I C A T E D

PR E FACE.

I HAV E associated with my n ar r ativ e of the French

on of n of u n War c quest Tu is the title P ic , partly from the fa ct of the inv asion havi ng take n place o n the spot which on ce witn essed three fam ous c on

of n so an d on o un of tests a tiquity called , partly acc t l the con sisten t Pu n ica ﬁdes displayed in the w eb of t ort u ous diplomacy which has practically put an en d to Tu n isian in depe n den ce .

If my reader will . open the Alma n a ch ole G ather for 1 8 8 1 1 0 2 ﬁnd o o n , at page 9 , he will the f ll wi g passage

TU N I S

o n u L D epuis 1 5 7 5 s ous la s uverai eté de la T rquie . e S n é ﬁr man du 2 o 1 8 1 an ulta a régl , par 5 Oct bre 7 ( 9 Chab les con diti on s de la s ouverain eté de la Sublime - F orte ’ ’ an n D e ce ﬁr m sur Tu n is et il a re n on cé a l cie tribut . apr s an ‘ ’ la situati on de Tun is est a pr esent celle - ci : Le B ey recon;

“ 1 l i n ﬁd — E m emo i l u n a e s . al u st g o co p Pu ic egis e S l . V L 1 b O . . PREFA CE .

’ ’ l inv cs titu r e do o n n n o il me o t n l au tor isa C sta ti ple , d i sa s

o n du S n u i f o u c r r e n i o n n i ti ulta air la g , c clure la pai x ,

' cédc r d n te n ' ito ir e I l n e o l aii e do n é o on o . d it g ciati s dipl

’ m a t iq nes avec l ctr an g er q n e sur dc s questi on s i n térieure I l es t o b ligede trapper la i n o n n a ie au n om du Sulta n et de mettre ses troupes a la disp ositi o n dc la Sublime -Forte on cas ” de guerre .

four m on ths from the time whe n this clear an d u n mistakable deﬁn iti on of the p olitical status of the Rege n cy of T u n is appeared in the

A nm ca ir e en éa lo i u e di loma ti u e ct celebrated g g q , p q s ta tisti ue o n n o f n l q , the g ver me t the Fre ch Repub ic w o an on of a n ith ut y declarati war , either ag i st the

of n or n of n d Bey Tu is the Sulta Turkey , i va ed the

o n o o n ot c u try, c mpelled the Bey , by m ral if phy s ical to o o n duress , accept a Pr tect rate , and ﬁ ally effected a complete military o ccupation of the Rege n cy from the Khamir m ou n tain s to the fron tiers of o u n on of o o Trip li . The virt al exti cti M slem p wer in n an n o n on of o n Tu is, after u br ke durati m re tha

n in an o n of n o twelve ce turies , is itself ccurre ce small

o o n n on in on n p litical imp rta ce , but whe c sidered c ec

on a n d o on n n ot ti with its actual p ssible c seque ces , only in Tun is itself b u t through ou t t he wh ole of

“ o in o of N rth Africa , the last chapter the hist ry ” oo to to the M rs seems be likely excite a durable , d an an n n . perhaps increasi g , i terest This belief has PREF A CE . ix prompted me to attempt to write the chron icles of n n on an d to h the Fre ch I vasi , briefly sketc , by w a of n o on o n of y i tr ducti , the m re rece t chapters

n an nn Tu isi a als . I n 1 8 8 0 the Moslems of N orth Africa had almost forgotten the sh ock o ccasi on ed t o their religiou s

u b on of an d o s sceptibilities y the c quest Algeria, pri r to n of ou to a the eve ts which I am ab t Spe k , Pan islamism had in that region a the oretical rather

n n n n tha a practical existe ce . Tu is has always bee an n c o e an d on n o i ta t M sl m state, it c tai s H ly

n o o Kairwa , after Mecca perhaps the m st hall wed

f f n o o . n on o M slem cities The i vasi the Rege cy , an d o on of n on on the ccupati the shri e , at ce c verted this se n timen tal Pan islamism i n to a stern an d un

o n c ompr misi g reality .

To these causes must u n d ou btedly t o a certain

n the n in so exte t be attributed risi g Algeria , the

n on in n d - called i surrecti Tu is itself, the wi e spread

in o an d in on . So agitati Trip li, the crisis Egypt “ much for the c on seque n ces of the Last Pun ic ” TVar on n \ o of m , as far as they c cer the V rld Isla . I n E urope its effects have been hardly less m ome n t ous ; Italy has become the av owed en emy of n n n n o on Fra ce , E gla d l ger believes in the PRE FA CE . peaceful i n te n tion s of the G over n me n t of the

Ie n b lic n n n o o o an d p , Spai is ha keri g after M r cc , t h G erm any is p osi n g as the champi on of e Caliphate . In Italy the Mi n istry of Sig n or Cair oli fell twice

n on e a n to withi a m th , b c use it was u able stay

of n o in effectually the tide Fre ch Dipl macy , while

n to the n o Fra ce M . Ferry succumbed u p pularity

w n an d . hich atte ds a failure , M Gambetta was w recked in the st orm to a great exte nt occasi on ed

n o of ou tan R s . by his i judici us support M . All this a n d much m ore has resulted fr o m the takin g of \Vhile n n Carthage . Fra ce has her ha ds full in

n o an d o n an d Tu is , b th Turkey Italy are pe ly

o o n o n alm st ste tati usly watchin g their opportu ity . These paten t facts can but e nhan ce the historical imp ortan ce of the even ts which are related in

o these v lumes . The p olicy of E nglan d as regards the Tun isian

u on n o om n Q esti has bee alm st a dipl atic e igma .

She san g a s on g of triumph over the Firman of

1 8 1 d n an n t of 7 , still declare Tu is i egral part the

o of o in 1 8 8 0 n o territ ry the Sublime P rte , the t ld the Bey just on e year later to cheerfu lly assist at

o an d n six a ter his p litical suicide , ﬁ ally , j ust days f

on n on of — es— o the c ve ti Kasr Said , pr mulgated an PREFA CE . xi

in o n to the Ottoma n Tu n is Order C u cil , be cited as ( )

O r der o 1 8 8 1 of f , the preamble which j ustiﬁes

n on on its existe ce by the c siderati that by treaty ,

on n n an d o capitulati , gra t , usage , suffera ce , ther

n n o lawful mea s, Her Maj esty the Quee has p wer

’ an d j urisdicti on in rel ati on to Her Maj esty s sub j ects an d others in the Ottom a n D omin ion s I have en deav oured to tell the story of rece n t eve n ts in Tun is essen tially from an E nglish p oin t of w to ou t of vie , and mete impartially the share praise an d blame ascribable to the differe n t c on

n n I n o te di g parties . all pr bability I shall please

f n of n either o them . The prese t result the expedi ti on in the Rege ncy itself can be described in a a o cha os . . W w rd , Mr hitaker has very f irly summed up the situati on in his useful Alman ac for 1 8 8 2 ” n u r o Last year , he writes , Tu is was a trib tary p

n of o n an d in of vi ce the Ott ma Empire , a state

o o n . n pr f u d peace At the prese t time , it may be

on n n o n n c sidered as a turbule t , i f rmally a exed

n of n n o n n do depende ce Fra ce , mi ally u der the

n on of u n on o of mi i the Bey, but really der the c tr l

n o of a Fren ch Reside t . The prime m ver the mis

. eo o Rou stan u n chief, M Th d re , has q itted the sce e

f n o oi an d . o in his expl ts , M Paul Camb reigns his xii PREFA CE .

o w o o f stead . Up n him ill fall the ardu us task

o n o o u t o f o a n d n n an ev lvi g rder cha s , clea si g

Augean stable of n o small dime n sion s . He pr o

w and o on mises ell , Eur pe will await with pard able curi osity an d some impatien ce the i n itiative w hich must s oon er or later follow his study o f existi ng

n difﬁculties . It mus t be remembered in E glan d that the i n dem n ity to the pillaged an d b ombarded

o f n n on of Maltese Sfax yet ha gs ﬁre , that e the families of the British subj ects massacred in c old bl ood at Oued Zerga or on the Kairwa n road have

n o n for o an d bee rec mpe sed their irreparable l ss , that n o on n n or n o o for satisfacti has bee give , eve pr p sed ,

’ th e j udicial murder Of the British Con sular Agen t s

n m I n o serva t at Ham amet . these seri us matters

o o on o it is t be h ped that M . Paul Camb will p ur oil on ou the tr bled waters . I on ce an d for all disclaim an y in ten tion of criticisin g in a h ostile m an n er the c on duct an d

n o n beari g of the Fre n ch troops . Their w rk has bee

o an d on an d of perf rmed well h estly , the marches

n For em ol o n on of Ge eral g , as well as the rga isati the Susa c olum n by Gen eral Etienn e an d C ol on el

o n n of To n M uli , are deservi g all praise . the Fre ch dipl omacy con cern ing the Rege n cy b oth at Paris PREFACE .

n d n n o o n on a Tu is , I u c mpr misi gly take excepti , “ an d I fear that the p olitical hist ory of the Last

Pun ic w ar throws its military achievemen ts en

. o n tir ely in to th e shade I believe that b th M . Sai t “ Rou stan of Hilaire an d M . have deserved ill the ” in on n an d o o n n o Republic , c trivi g pr m ti g the i vasi n

f o n an d o on o . an ccupati this c u try At y rate , it is to be h oped that the n umer ous an d serious com plicati on s w hich have been en gen dered by the ” n w o Last Pu ic War, ill serve as a mem rable less on t o stron g Powers en d o wed with abs orptive

n n i n o u an d te de c es as regards their weaker eighb rs , that the pitiful spectacle of the Paris Assize C ourt will pr ove a warn in g to Political Age n ts i n cli n ed

d o of . Rou stan to imitate the ipl matic vagaries M . I desire to express my obligati on s t o the kin dly

n an d n of IVar r i terest assista ce the Earl De la , t o Col on el Frederick B u r n aby for man y excelle n t

on to o on o n an d o n n suggesti s , C l el M uli C mma da t

C oy n e for much assistan ce in the matter of detail con cern i n g the military m o vemen ts at Tun is an d

- n an d to . on G w ho Kairwa , Mr Vice C sul alea, was good e n ough to le n d me his diary of the

o siege of Sfax . The repr duction s of the curi ous

Span ish pictures illustrati n g the expedition of P { EFACE .

n Charles V . have bee reduced from large ph ot o

ih o o of n graphs the p ssessi n H M . the Quee , which w n o o n n n H R H ere take fr m the rigi al pai ti gs by .

n on o an d fe w o of the late Pri ce C s rt , a c pies which were pri n ted by special permissi on for Lieute n an t “ o on n u o of in C l el Playfair, the lear ed a th r Travels ” o the Footsteps f Bruce .

’ I have t o ask the reader s i ndulge n ce for ir r eg u larities that he m ay discover in the spellin g of Tun isia n an d other proper n ames ; as distan ce from

n n an d n of n n o E gla d , the ecessity se di g these v lumes t o n o n n press , have preve ted me fr m ﬁ ally revisi g

- the proof sheets .

TU N I S Jun e 20 1 882 . , , CONTENTS O- F

CH AD.

OF I . TOPOGRAPHY TUNIS

H E E S 1 1 . T E DW LL RS IN TUNI IA

— NINE CE N TU RI Es O E POWE A . D . 6 8 A . D 1 R, 4 . 5 35

V C S S C E S I TH E ON E T O T NI BY A L v . . Q U F U H R

v SPANIS S PR E MACY . H U

v 1 TH E T IUMP O TH E T K S . R H F UR

TH E E S A D v 1 1 TH E OMINATION O Y . . 1 0 . D F D ( 59

V III TH E BE YS O TH E E IGHTE E NTH CE NT Y . F UR

1 x TuN I s BE TWE E N 1 800 AN 1 8 . D 3 7

TH E E S O F ME B EY AN D H I S C S M UH AME D X . R IGN AH D OU IN

MU H AMED - E S- SADE K

II TH E B E GINNING O F TH E E N D X .

BE E TH E ST M XIII . FOR OR

X I V TH E AC TE STAG E O F T NISIAN POLITICS . U U

V TH E O TB EAK OF OSTILITI E S X . U R H

AN INTE RV I E W WITH TH E B E Y x v i CONTENTS

C R A P

V III A FO RTN I G H I' ‘ AMON G SI' ‘ TH E KH AMIRS X .

Z E x1x. AT BI RTA

’ xx TH E T EE W EE RS WA . HR R

X XI AT KAS - E S-SAI . R D

II TH E E A LY DAYS O TH E P OTE CTO ATE XX . R F R R

III H OW TH E E NC TOOK M ATE XX . FR H R

1 TH E C ASS E Au x KH AMIR S xx v . H

ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOLUME I .

TH E B EY O T NI S F r on tis iece F U p .

CHRISTIAN SLAV E S AT TUNIS Tof a ce pag e 3 6

SI EG E O G OL E TTA BY C A L E S V F H R . 36

LAN ING O C A L E S V D F H R .

BATTLE B ETWE E N TUNIS AND GOL ETTA

TA K ING O T NIS BY C A LE S F U H R V . MAP OF TUNI S

2 TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT .

or ﬁef of and Regency the Turkish Empire , the Beys of T un is were b oth p olitically an d religi ously

f n to o o . vassals the Sublime P rte Fre ch his rians ,

o n n o ad m re ca did tha French dipl matists , have mitted this b oth before an d after the even tful 1 2 th

1 8 8 1 n n n l me n u milita r i May , whe a Fre ch ge era , , by a stroke of the pen substituted the suzerain ty

f n o d o the Fre ch Republic f r that of Abdul Hami .

n few on a o - o n on O ly a m ths g , the well kn w writer

n o n n lo o Algeria subj ects , C mma da t Vil t , wr te as foll ows The religious tie is so p owerful am on gst

Mu ham edan s o of H eu ssein , that the success rs (the c omm on an cestors of the Beys of Tun is) have n ever omitted to obtain a ﬁrm an of in vestiture from

of n or an m on the head Islamism , has y ey ever

” ”I n t n been curre except that which bears his ame .

o n h of n M re tha t is , the Bey s Tu is have resisted repeated efforts put forth by Western P owers to i n duce them to shake off the yoke of their natural

w ho o t o M. o l rd . Thiers , endeav ured persuade

to o n Ahmed Bey take this step , was f rtu ately o to n o n n o n for n bliged aba d n his i te ti , Fra ce has n o in terest in weaken i ng the auth ority of the

n o o of . P orte . The da ger us p licy M Thiers has

o n n o on n o been alm st u a im usly c dem ed by hist rians ,

D on G o d n et R n escripti é graphique e Tu is de la ége ce . Paris Chall am l n e e 1 88 1 . . 1 . Ai , P 4 TOPOGRAPHY OF TUNIS . 3

“ o in an d especially by M . Guiz t his Mé moires ’ ir m n p our servir a l His to e de o Temps . In 1 8 7 7 “ o e in n M . Desf ss s says his pamphlet e titled La ” “ Tu n isie Le Pa cha lik de Tun is est t ouj ours ” r ain é s ous la sou z e t de la Turquie . Thirty years a o in his a o an d o o g Pellissier , el b rate alm st c mplete “ o é n u n Descripti n de la R ge ce de T is , remarks that the suzerain ty of the Gran d Sig n or is rec og n ised o in o o n in by law , but m re a the l gical tha a

on p olitical p oin t of view . The m ey is struck in

an d n oon his o an d his name , each day at gl ry V i rtues are pro claimed by a herald before an empty ” n on armchair which represe ts his thr e . A few days before Kairwa n fell I happe n ed to g o to the

n o o Bardo palace . The Fre ch Pr tect rate was then six on old b u t an d n n m ths , the herald his atte da t drummers wen t through the cerem on y as heret o o an d n o the o on of for f re , i v ked pr tecti Allah the

n an d Sulta Caliph . The m ost n ortherly part of Tun is is on ly divided

f a o o o se . n by s me eighty miles fr m Sicily I deed ,

n of o n n o n a li e r cks be eath the waves , k w as the

o n on w n n Ferki reefs, f rms a j u cti bet ee that isla d an d the Atlas m ou n tain s of the African main

n I t is or n n la d . this strait cha el which separates

’ ’ V i f E o n Scien ti ﬁ u e de l Al o xv . o o er ie lume the xpl rati q g .

m m r IaIe . 1 . : I é 1 8 . 1 Paris I primerie p , 5 3 P A D 4 TUNIS PAST N PRESENT . the eastern an d western basin s of the Mediter

r an ean .

“ n This Tu is , as Shakespeare says , was Car It afterwards became in turn Africa

Zeu itan ia n i o a d B z ac u m . o Pr pria , g , y Numer us auth ors have han ded d o w n to p osterity the hist ory of its o n n of to - rem te a tiquity , but the Tu is day was little better than a ter r a in cog nita w he n the eve n ts of the Fren ch in vasi on forced the fact of its existen ce on the atten tion of Europe an d En g

n of n an d n ow n - o la d . The Gulf Tu is the la d l cked harb our of Bizerta comman d the passage of the n o sea o an d n arr w bef re them , he ce arises the m o n of n in th e aritime imp rta ce Tu is the past, d n an . o prese t , the future All writers, except m dern

o o u n for tu dipl matists , fully rec gnise this fact ; but n ately the statesmen of to - day are n ot on ly in tent on n o o deceivi g each ther , but are f rced by the

n of to n o w as as o exige cies party k little p ssible . If the p osition of Tunis had been as familiar to

n n in 1 8 8 as n ow E glishme 7 it is , we might never “ n n of 1 8 8 1 have wit essed the eve ts . If the Tunis

on and lake were ly dredged deepened, writes

o n n o o o ﬁ an d C mma da t Vill t , and the c ast f rti ed , if a p owerful n avy were stati on ed in the Tun isian

o d n ot o to b u t r adstea , nly the path Egypt , the

Tempest. O O H or T P GRAP Y TUNIS . 5 r ead to n o n o on I dia thr ugh the Suez Ca al , w uld ce

o W m ore be closed t o the pe ople f the est . A

on on to an d n n c cessi dredge deepe the Tu is lake has,

of o o o of as a matter c urse , f ll wed the Treaty Kasr

- o e n - es an d . Said , alth ugh M Barth lemy Sai t Hilaire wrote t o L ord Gran ville on the 1 6th May 1 8 8 1 “ that Fran ce has n o m ore desire t o an n ex Bizerta ” n an o of n o for tha y ther part Tu is , a pr j ect the restorati on of its p ort by Fren ch capitalists is n ow receivin g the seri ous con sideration of the Fren ch

o n n . o on n G ver me t . Mr Perry in his w rk Tu is sums u p very fairly the state of the case in a few

“ ” “ o n n o w rds Tu is, he writes , has the ﬁ est p si t ti on in N or h Africa . Commercial prep on deran ce an d the c on trol of the Mediterran ean are the attracti on s for the P owers which dispute with each ” o for o on or n on t ther its p ssessi its eutralisati . The Regen cy of Tun is is b oun ded on b oth the

o an d n n on n rth east by the Mediterra ea , the

on o of west by Algeria, the s uth by the Sahara

- o an d on o o . the T uaregs , the s uth east by Trip li It has an area of ab out sixty th ousan d square

- in sea o 0 n . miles, and a c ast 5 5 miles le gth The

95 T n et de R n Description G é ographiqu e de u is la ége ce . Paris h l i l m el n e 1 . . C a a 88 1 . A , Pp 43 , 44

t h an d T n : an d n . o Cart age u is Past Prese t By Am s Perry, late U n on u f r n d R n of T n Pr OV I ited States C s l o the City a ege cy u is . d n e 86 . . . . . 1 e e, R I , 9 P 4 6 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESEN T . p opulati on of the wh ole c ou n try d oes n ot far

o o o of exceed s uls . The c nfigurati n

n of Tu is is almost identical with that Algeria .

n has o in its n Like Algeria, Tu is its m unta s , plai s ,

d hel m n an o set . its c ast ( ) Like Algeria, its i eral

t o n o of n weal h is alm st u equalled . The r cks Tu is

n n o Its y ield early all mi erals except g ld . chief river is the R oman B ag r adas— the m odern Med

er dah in o of j , which rises the Algerian pr vince

Con n an d o o o of o sta tine , after a t rtu us c urse ver three hu n dred miles reaches the Mediterran ean at

o - n P rto Fari a near the city of Tun is . The streams in the s outh of the Regen cy are comparatively

n o an d n en d in u imp rtant , ge erally the great

- or of n Faraou n or marsh lakes Sebkhas Kairwa , ,

E1 Medir . The face of the c ountry can be c onveniently

n o o on or . V o l divided i t f ur regi s districts , viz , the can ic or o n o or n m u tain us , the Tell highla ds , the

d n o an . I o oo of C ast, the Desert the neighb urh d

n n of n v ol Kef, in Wester Tu is , the traces exti ct ‘ can oes an d lava ar e u n mis tak ab le. M oun t Betoum

’ ’ in the Khaml r or Khr ou mi r cou n try emitted sm oke an d ﬂames forty years ag o . The n orth an d especially the n orth - west part of the Regency

n of n is very hilly, and the rich ess its luxuria t oak forests vies with that of the unexpl ored iron r TOPOGRAPHY o TUN IS . 7 an d lead min es which are kn own to lie be n eath them .

o n l ow an d n b u t The c ast is ge erally sa dy , the lan d which immediately b orders it is alm ost

an d o n i n variably fertile pr ductive . The salie t features of the Tun isian Tell are vast expan ses c overed s ometimes with esparto grass an d s ome

a of n o I n n times with layer thi s il . the wi ter the vegetati on is abu n dan t an d luxurian t ; in the summer everythin g is sc orched u p by the pitiless

n o o African su . The Tell sl pes gradually t wards

. - of o the great marsh lakes the far s uth . The Tun isian Sahara is perhaps richer than an y part of the desert in fertile o ases .

To o o o of n n o f ll w the c urse rece t eve ts , s me Slight descripti on of the i n teri or of the c ou n try is in dis

f o n pen sable . Each o its f ur natural divisio s must be c on sidered brieﬂy in respect of its i nhabitan ts an d its resources . The volcan ic or m oun tain ous district consists

o n of n of Med er dah alm st e tirely the basi the j river, which ﬁrst e n ters the Regen cy in the vicin ity of n n n Med er dah Kef. Duri g the wi ter rai s the j

o o n n o n an d o n bec mes a wild m u tai t rre t , carries d w to the Mediterran ean with the n oise of distan t

n n of n s thu der large qua tities mud and st o es . A it approaches the sea it traverses a series of fertile 8 TUNIS PA ST AN D PRESENT . v of MaI cer a alleys , which bear the names Dakhla , ,

an d o a n o Bizerta , Teb urb A ther river , the Oued

n o n or Tin , rises ear Bej a (the R ma Vaga Vacca) , an d ﬁ n ds its way across the frui tful plain s of Mater i n to the Ch ott Eshk el or i n n er Bizerta lake (the

n a s o of ancie t Sisara L cu ) . The t wn Mater is built on risi n g groun d an d c omman ds the surrou n din g

n in n o an descr i c ou try . It way merits y further p i o n n o n n it n . tion . R ma rui s ab u d s vici ity The tribes w hich d w ell on th e ban ks of the Tin bel on g t n n of B en o the great Algeria cla Ali Amar . Ascendin g the Medj er dah from the often b om

o n of o o- n barded t w P rt Fari a, the traveller ﬁrst

on dou k n of n n . arrives at F , a great ce tre i la d trade

o n on dou k B en Shatar w as on Bey d F is , which ce h U . o t e o n tica It was here that Cat Y u ger died .

’ The traces of Carthage s m ost p owerfu l rival still c on vey to the spectator a t olerable idea of its

n an d n n s ea c o e exte t mag iﬁce ce . The whi h nc washed its quays is n ow barely visible from the

of n of n Site its citadel . The rui s its cister s are n ow used as stables , while Sheep graze peacefully in n n n its ruin ed amphitheatre . A lear ed Fre chma has written a charmin g volume in which he m en f tally rebuilds U ticaﬁ the s oil of which still con

’ ’ Recherches sur I Or igin e et I Empl acemen t des Emporias Phen i m D . 1 8 . cie s Par A . aux . Paris Imprimerie Impériale, 59

I O U T NIS PAST AND PRESENT.

I n the valley through which this stream passes is

o w h as Kef (the R man Sicca Veneria) , a place hich

o n n o an d played an imp rta t part in Tu isian hist ry , which is situated at a distan ce of s ome thirty miles

o the n o o con fr m Algeria fr ntier . It was f rmerly

Sider ed o n b u t o for tiﬁ alm st impreg able , its p werful

on n ow n n an d cati s are early in rui s , it is susceptible of o o n easy attack fr m the neighb uri g heights . The Z a ou ia s or c onven t- san ctuaries of Kef are still

n an d o much freque ted , its markets are thr nged by

n n Algerian as well as by Tu isia Arabs . An other Tun isian stream reaches the G ulf of

un l o of RadeS o to T is near the ittle t wn , cl se the

n a of o n Tu isian Pir eus the G letta, and withi Sight of u the capital itself. It is called the O ed El

G o o Kebir ( reat River) , and near its m uth bears als

n f n o . the ame the Oued Milia a Rades , as the

o Addir on n o of R man , ce wit essed the great vict ry

n n Regulus over the Carthagi ia s . The Oued Kebir

n i was then the Flumen Catada . F oll owi g ts c ourse in a south - westerly directi on on e reaches

o n of o . the m der ruin the M hammedia Ahmed ,

of t an d o n e Bey Tunis , buil a great palace a t w ther o o to f rty years ag . His greatest pleasure seems have bee n to reside there surroun ded by his army of men in 1 8 an d o o . He died 5 5 , b th t wn

o and palace were aband ned The timber , the O O H T P GRAP Y OF TUNIS . I I

on o an d marble, the ir w rk , the tiles have dis

an d n of appeared , the place has the appeara ce a

n o n o sec o d P ompeii . The great R ma aqueduct cl se

in at han d is far better repair . Its maj estic arches

i an n o n n o n still stretch n u br ke li e acr ss the plai , an d its can al still bri n gs the famed water of

o n n o n On n of Zagh ua i t Tu is itself. the right ba k the Great River rises the maj estic peaks of Zag

o n an d on o n h ua Dj gar, visible alike fr m Tu is , Susa,

n o of o a d H oly Kairwan . At the f ot the f rmer

o n n o n n its n of m u tai is a t w beari g ame, built

o n n n R ma materials , amidst verda t fruit garde s an d n n n o n o n ru i g water . Zagh ua has its R ma gate

a n . n way , as well as rui ed temple Its limpid spri g

A. o o n . o on R. rises fr m a R ma vault . Mr H dgs , , h as immortalised the beauties of Zagh ouan in the

f 1 picture he exhibited in the R oyal Academy o 8 7 5 . The coast town s of the Rege n cy are so in timately c on n ected with the story of the last days of its in depe n den ce that I n eed say little of them here .

o o - n G ali ia Tabarca , Bizerta , P rt Fari a , pp , Nebel ,

on e Hammamet , Susa, M astir , Mehdia, Sfax , Mahr s ,

Zer z is an d o n on Gabes , Jerba , , the Trip lita fr tier w n ill all be Sp oken of at le gth hereafter . The history of the ce n tral district of Tun is will be t old

— n with that of its capital Kairwa . The Saharian p ortion of the Tun isian Regency 1 2 TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT .

o o n of c mprises the c u tries the Beni Zid , the Nef

o an d o n o o za ua , the Dj erid . The m untai us territ ry of the Ben i Zid lies between the lake - marsh or Sebkha Far aou n (by s ome believed to be the

Pa lu s Tr iton is an d I t classical ) the G reat Desert .

o n o o o p ssesses ma y fruitful ases, as d es als the

of Nefz aou a o araou n district the , which b rders the F

Ch ott . The Ch ott or Sebkha F ar aou n alm ost j oin s the

o of an d n to on e of the Ch tts Algeria, has give rise m ost celebrated ge ographical enigmas of the pre sen t century— the gu cestio oexa ta of the Saharian

o o o of m Inland Sea, ab ut which s me sc res pa phlets

1 have bee n written sin ce 8 70 . The Ch ot t is divided i n t o three distin ct p orti on s by the Debdeb

aeo o o or natural bridges . Arch l gists w uld have the u n in itiated distin guish in three Sheets of

on an d water the Palus Trit is, the Palus Pallac , the

Lib ae of o an o an d Palus y Pt lemy , but y c mplete s atisfactory iden tiﬁcation is of extraordin ary dif

l n nc ﬁcu ty . Duri g the past ten years Fra e has s en t tw o explorin g parties to investigate the

o matter , while Italy has als despatched a special

o on an d on on n ow n c mmissi , the c clusi ge erally

is h o of n n s ea accepted , t at the creati n the i la d is

o an d imp ssible , that even if it were practicable , the beneﬁt its existence might confer on N orth I TOPOGRAPH Y OF TUNIS . 3

Africa would be very problematical . Sir Richard

' ’ B a n an d C . oo . W d , , Her M j esty s Age t

on - n n o 1 8 6 to 1 8 8 C sul Ge eral at Tu is fr m 5 7 , has written an i n terestin g brochure on the

o n to oo n ot on is Acc rdi g Sir Richard W d, ly the exe cu tion of the scheme preven ted by in surmou n table n ﬁ n on atural dif culties, but the attempted ide tiﬁcati of the i n lan d marsh - lakes with the lake of Triton

o on o o of is wh lly err e us . He argues with great Sh w

’ reason that the scen e of Jas on s adven ture was really the little gulf in the Mediterran ean between the

n of D an d n n for n isla d j erba the mai la d , which ma y

on n for an n n reas s may be easily mistake i la d sea .

n on of n n an d The Dj erid , an alter ati sa dy plai s

n o n o w excellen ce of gree ases , is the abidi g place p

- Its o n o the date palm . chief t w s are Nefta, T zer, an d an d o n n o on e of Gassa, the pr vi ce is u d ubtedly

n the richest in the Rege cy . I have en deavou red to describe in as few words

o n on of n as p ossible the d mi i Tu is . The mai n obj ect of this b ook is to furn ish the last chapters in its n n an d to o a als , tell m re particularly the

n st ory of its con quest . The u rivalled ass ociati on s which surroun d this lately obscure provin ce would n on e to on aturally tempt be discursive at the set .

it La on des C o n . Sir R d Q uesti h tts Algérie s Par ichar Wood. M 1 8 8 . arseilles, 7 I 4 TUN IS PAST AND PRESEN T .

on of h an d of The chr icles Cart age , the rise fall

o n o on n n on of the R ma p wer its rui s , the i vasi s

an d n n of Greeks Va dals , the lege ds the African

o on t of n o Churches , the M slem c ques Tu is fr m

an d of n o n of Arabia Spai fr m Tu is , the Crusade

t f an t . o o o l V . d e St L uis , the expedi i n Char es , y

n o esta of n of o on u t ld g the K ights St . J hn this

of n o on e an d le iti part the Africa litt ral , are all a g

o on of n on n mate p rti Tu isian history . My c cer is

n al one with Moslem Tu is . D own to the year 1 8 3 0 its story h as bee n ably writte n from a Fren ch p oin t of Sin ce that time I am n ot aware that anythin g like a c on tin u ous n arrative of even ts has been attempted . I shall therefore en deavour t o ’ of o o take u p the thread M . R usseau s st ry by way of in troducti on t o the m ore immediate subject of

o n o of o o this b ook . S me k wledge the previ us p li tical hist ory of the Regen cy is essen tial to the j ust

on of n of 1 8 8 1 o appreciati the eve ts . Bef re that time I Shall con ten t myself with the briefest r esu me n t o o , except whe I am able place bef re the reader certain in formati on which I have gathered from a careful examin ati on of the an cien t archives

’ of on n n Her Maj esty s C sulate Ge eral at Tu is , and

l o n o an d n n which I trust wil be b th vel i teresti g .

n n T n nn on Ro u : C A ales u isie es . Par Alph se ussea . Paris hal Ain é 1 86 . lamel , 4 HA E C P T R II .

THE W D ELLERS IN TUNISIA .

wave of c on quest has ﬁv e times at least swept o n on of ver Tu is, but , with the excepti the Arabs , n on e of the c on querin g races have left an y visible

n on n o on of o n impri t the prese t p pulati the c u try . The levellin g i n ﬂuen ces Of Islamism has well - n igh o ff n of o n an d n bliterated all di ere ces rigi , the atives of Tun is are very often described gen erically as

a r sa n n to sa Arabs . Of Arabs p g , stra ge y , there

on an d n can on an o are n e , the ame ly with y sh w of correctness be applied t o the n omadic tribes of

n o o or the i teri r , which have all mixed m re less with

o is the in dige n ous Berbers . The term Bed uin als o frequen tly i n discrimi n ately used when speakin g of

f o n o . too the tribesmen N rther Africa This , , is

o n in n an error . The term Bed ui its strict se se is applicable exclusively t o the dwellers on the b orders of the Great Desert . The followin g classiﬁcati on of the inhabitan ts of n o o Tu is may be c nveniently ad pted , viz 1 6 A D TUNIS PAST N PRESENT .

oo 2 or M rs , ( ) Arabs , ( 3 ) Berbers Kabyles , (4) Turks

lo li 6 n i Kou u s . d s ( 5 ) g , ( ) Jews The remai ing race tin ction s n o n , always excepti g the large Eur pea

o on n o o c l y , have practical imp rtance .

o n n The term M o rs dema ds s ome expla ati on . It formerly served to den o te ge n erally an i n habitant

n of o n ow of Maurita ia . This use the w rd has

n t o entirely passed away . It the served describe

n w h o t to on the Sarace s , lef Africa c quer Spain and

of an d an d w ho n parts France Italy, at last retur ed

o n o t o the c u tries fr m which they came . The Span ish M oors form in Tu n is an exclusive and

n o oo is o aristocratic cla . The w rd M r als applied to o o of of o the t wnspe ple the cities N rth Africa , w h o are essen tially members of a m ore or less mixed race . The picture of the Tun isian Moors has been

n drawn over an d ov er agai . They c onstitute the

o of o o o m st admirable type the M slem p pulati n .

of o com They are generally well made , alm st fair

on an d o o n o plexi , p ssess regular and fte n ble

o n o on features . Alth ugh they are l ger warlike

t o themselves , they are deeply attached the reli

iou s an d o n of an d g p litical teachi gs their creed , have a con siderable in ﬂuence over their un educated

o o of n o alth ough m ore hardy c mpatri ts the i teri r . Nearly all the Spanish M oors in Tunis have

1 8 TUNIS PA ST AN D PRESENT . of o an d ab le to hum ur, are at an emergency

n l in o i du ge a kee n ly p oi n ted repartee . The rep rt of the p i e ces Rou stan - Rochefort tran slated i n to classical ‘ Ar ab ic has afforded them u n ceasin g amuse

n n n n n of th e me t Si ce the begi i g year , but their excessive mirth over the adve n tures of the Fren ch Mi n ister an d his frien ds the Mu sallis led them i n t o n on o n i discreti . Their pr ceedi gs reached the ears of n Ja w h o on on e of o Ge eral py , summ ed the m st ven erable members of the ancie n t c on fratern ity of

oo n - to o him Y ou M rish sce t sellers appear bef re . ” n n n the are always talki g agai st the Fre ch , said d ” n an ou n . ge eral , y must be pu ished The luck

o n o on less M slem in vai pr tested the c trary . The ge n eral in formed him that h e was sen ten ced to

n l ose his t on gue . The i strume n ts essen tial to the operati on were then produced upon a tray . The n an d then o nly did the M oor forget his dign ity . Forgetti n g his an cestors of Gran ada an d C ord ova he embraced with feverish eagern ess the feet of his

sa on an d j udge . I need hardly y he was pard ed , that Gen eral Japy was on ly i n dulgin g his se n se of

o an d n o f n hum ur , at the same time givi g the f e der

o o on in n . n n a wh les me less prude ce The i cide t ,

o o on of o - el h wever , will bec me a traditi the S uk

in an d n ot o o n oo Attar , will be f rg tten whe the g d time d oes arrive . WE I N 1 TH E D LLERS TUNISIA . 9

The prese n t Bey of Tun is has turn ed on e of his picturesque old ci ty palaces i n t o a public sch ool

o Sadik a for the Moorish y uth . It was at the y c ollege I ﬁrst perceived by experie n ce the Moorish

capability of witty repartee . It was j ust after ou r an d n defeat by the Zulus, Ge eral Sir A .

Cu n n h am e o n o in stitu y g , was g i g ver the

on t o n o of ti . He was requested exami e the b ys

The on the ﬁrst class . ﬁrst questi he asked was an u n fortunate on e — Could the stude n ts p oin t ou t the provi n ces l ost by Turkey durin g the late 9 war If a thun derb olt had fallen in the midst of

oo n on of o o o o the r m , the se sati h rr r pr duced . c uld

— n ot n . b o on have bee greater The head y , with w der

sa n r oid o n ou t in on ful g f , p i ted the states questi “ on e n o h e an on after a ther , but added , Perhaps g en er a l will c on desce n d to Sh o w u s the prov i n ce in which the E n glish have been s o often beaten ces

’ 7 ’ ou r s n Cu n n ham e oo o j ci. Ge eral y g t k the b y s

in oo an d shrewd sarcasm g d part , carried away with him a high idea of the i n tellige n ce of the risin g

n n ge eration of Tu n isia Moors .

n of n o of n The i habitants the i teri r Tu is are , with

on d n of con very rare excepti s , the esce dants the

n queri g Arab race , which quickly mixed with the

f o n n Berbers o the c u try . The Tu isian Arab is

d o o and is naturally ark c mplexi ned, generally 2 0 TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT .

o s n br nzed by exp osure to the u . He is muscular an d o an d n n on to his r bust, prese ts a striki g c trast

- oo co on . M rish religi ists The Arab is alway s brave , an d n a an d n Rou stan ge erally ctive e ergetic . M .

n n o n of or o n ot k ew thi g the Arabs , he w uld have “ o o t o n - bserved j cularly M . Sai t Hilaire that four ” n o an d o o o Fre ch s ldiers a c rp ral c uld take Tunis .

n n to o Africa Arabs are as a rule give h spitality, an d to n w never refuse a meal a stra ger . T elve m onths ag o travellers c ould pass u n m olested from clou d?“ to dou dr (en campmen t to encampmen t) over the wh ole face of the country from Khamir

n t o o n o la d the Trip lita fr ntier . The Arab Sheikh f oo on dz a or n of l ks up jﬂ , the feedi g wayfarers , as

n An o a crow ing virtue . y Eur pean could always

ou n on o n oo an d o n c t btaini g f d l dgi g, but an

n n o E glishma invariably c mmanded a welcome . The very name of E nglan d was a talisman t o the

of - n hearts these Simple hearted herdsme . They

o to ask o ou r an d ou r o t o l ved ab ut Queen s ldiers ,

n ou r o o an d to i spect breechl aders and rev lvers , talk of their brethren u n der British rule in the

- l - n is an d on n o e . w Blad Hi d All this past g e . TVe advised the Bey to acquiesce in the punish

n of Kh amir s n an d me t the by the Fre ch , assured b oth him an d his subj ects that if he co- operated with the i nvaders the expedition would g o n o 2 1 TH E DWELLERS I N TUNISIA .

h . on ou r n c furt er He acted advice , but the Fre h

’ o n Kham i r s an d in Six on never f u d the , m ths

o c o n o to J overran the wh le u try fr m Tabarka erb a . From the day the Fre n ch troops appeared before

- eS - n n w on the Kasr Said palace , E glishme ere reck ed

n o an d o with ordi ary R umis Gia urs . The Arabs

oo o n an d o f are g d h rseme , make the best their

n - o n o wretched ﬂi t l ck gu s . If they had p ssessed

a of an d to better rms , the siege Sfax the march

i n o n d f n m Ka rwa w uld have bee a very if ere t atter . The i n habitan ts of the Tu nisian Rege n cy outside the walls of its t own s are divided a n d subdivided in to a large n umber of tribes an d fractio n s of

of n o on tribes . A list these cla s w uld ly tire the

an d n of o o o f reader , the ames the m st p werful them will necessarily o ccur over an d over agai n in h the course of the n arrative of t e war . Each large

w h o on e or o tribe is ruled by its Caid , has m re

o n in n sub rdi ate Khalifas . The Khalifas their tur

o to w ho o on are superi r the Sheikhs , s metimes ly

o con tr ol a small cluster of te n ts . All these fﬁcials

n an d o n an d the are i vested app i ted by the Bey , y all pay an an n ual tri b ute in prop orti on to the

n n n m n exte t of their differe n t gover me ts . The a i pu lation of these n omin ation s has fro m time

m o n o of o f im em rial bee a s urce great abuses , but “ h a m late it s become alm ost i n t olerable . A refor 2 2 N TUNIS PAST AN D PRESE T . o f the list of Caids s ou n ds pleasan tly e n ough t o o n The w in n n the Eur pea ear . d ellers Tu isia ten ts k n ow too well what it mean s an d what it

o c sts .

of o n The Arabs are capable real patri tic feeli g ,

n quite apart fro m religi ous e thusiasm . A year ag o the very existe n ce of a commu nity of Arab

o se n time n t w as treated as a myth . Eur pe is alm ost con vi n ced n ow that there is s ome kin d of u n derstan di n g rife am on gst them fr om Tan giers to

o t o o n to Cair . They appear have c mbi ed make a

n last sta n d agai st extin cti on or extermi n ati on . It w as to a very great exten t the se n din g of letters writte n in bl ood by the survivi n g Sheikhs of the

' G i to n in n hia a tribe all the great cla s the Rege cy , immediately after the regrettable o ccurren ces of t he o th 1 8 8 1 o o n 3 March , which pr v ked the ge eral

n on oo risi g t hat very s o afterwards t k place . In con siderin g the questi on of the capability of the Arab tribes to participate in a gen eral an d con cen trated o n an o n n m veme t , imp rta t eleme t in the

n i n o discussio s alm ost i variably mitted . I allude to o n o of K hon a n or the gr wi g p wer the , semi

o - o on n p litical semi religi us c frater ities , which seem desti n ed to c over the wh ole of N orth Africa with

of o on of a web M slem freemas ry . At the head

o o Sen ou ssia o the ass ciati ns are the , the av wed 2 TH E DWELLE RS I N TUNISIA . 3

“ o o n of n on of on pp ne ts the Fre ch missi civilisati , of wh om I Shall Speak at len gth in a future

o o oo n chapter . This p werful br therh d has Spru g

n o n n i t existe ce duri g the last thirty years, but it n ow threaten s to overshado w if n ot abs orb the

o n -ﬁv older but less militan t corp rati o s . Thirty e years ag o a remark able rep ort was addressed to the

’ m ale on D u e d Au . up this subj ect by M De Neveu ,

’ l é r chef da Service Gé odé sique de l A g ie. Even “ the n the auth or wrote that it is abs olutely n eces sary t o ascertain the p olitical obj ect of th ose con

n n o o frater ities , which have u d ubtedly pr duced a remarkable p ower of c ombin ati on am on gst in di

v idu als n n for an o , have fur ished the mea s alm st

n of o n on an d i credible rapidity c mmu icati , seem destin ed to play an imp ortan t part in the affairs of West an d Central

o o in o These vari us rders differ chieﬂy f rm , but they are all o ste n sibly based on the pure te n ets

of o n in o n Islamism as exp u ded the K ra . Each con fratern ity claims to have had its origin in a

of o n w h o is o to dream its f u der, supp sed have received a revelation from the Pr ophet as to the

a r th or o of on f , m st acceptable way salvati . The

o on n n an d ass ciati s havi g sway in Algeria, Tu is ,

h o O d Les K u an s. r res Religieux chez les Musulman s de l ’ Al i ér e : G o 1 8 . . 1 0. g . Paris uy t, 45 P 2 4 TUNIS PA ST AND PRESENT .

o at n n Trip li the prese t time are seve in number , viz

I . Sen ou ssia or o o of Mu h am ed The , f ll wers es

n o n D ar dub or Se ussi , havi g their headquarters at j

’ D a hdub n n - tw o j g in the Liby a desert , twe ty days

o n o B en in o j ur ey fr m Ghazi Trip li . f 2 . on o o i b to The c fraternity M ulai Ta , which

Mu ham ed o o n on es Sen ussi rigi ally bel ged .

. o 3 The Aissa ua .

Kader ia or of - cl 4 . The , disciples Sidi Abd

Kadir el Dj elan i .

- - . o er n 5 The Rahmania , f unded by Abd Rahma

fn B on Kob ar .

6 Hau salia o oo of . The (a br therh d little prae tical imp ortan ce) .

Ti an ia or on of 7 . The j , c fraternity Sidi Ahmed

n Tija i . The supreme director of an order is called the “ ” Kha li a or n n an d w h o Al olea ddem f lieute a t , has

o n Kha l e a n or vicars in each t w . The f tra smits his o to o n w h o n in rders his sub rdi ates , fur ish him return with details con cern in g all p olitical eve n ts

o r n on which may ccur in thei differe t j urisdicti s . The seat of the order in an y particular l ocality is

Z a ou ia to on called a , which seems be at ce a

oo of an o chapel , a sch l , a place refuge , h spital , a

l an d o n . n ibrary , a p litical debati g club The brethre

2 6 AN D TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

n ot h w o . o o perhaps quite as h spitable They h ld ,

in t n o n ( ma ot or - on ever, grea ve erati the y safe c duct

n an d n n o n give by their chiefs , have ever been k w t o o f on vi late it . They live or the m ost part in st e

o huts c vered with thatch .

n of in n n o The umber Turks Tu is is i c nsiderable , i n d S O is that of the Kou lou glis or desce n dan ts of

Turkish fathers an d M oorish m others . The Jewish p opulati on in the Regen cy of Tu n is exceeds of which ab out half reside in the

n w capital . They are quite as p owerful e as they

o o an o of were nce ppressed d maltreated . S me their an cestors arrived in Tu n is s oon after the destructi on of Jerusalem by Titus ; a secon d immigrati on took place in the time of the Emper or

n an d on o n o Adria , a third was c temp ra e us with the Span ish persecuti on s of the fourteen th an d

n o n o ﬁfteen th ce turies . Their c mplete ema cipati n

n of n on ly dates from the reig the prese t Bey .

n of o n Duri g the time his predecess r , the E glish an d n to o o n t o Fre ch fleets came G letta , wi g Mu h amed Bey san ction in g the execution of an

Israelite on a charge of blasphemy . At the prese n t m omen t the commerce of the cou n try is

n alm ost e n tirely in their ha ds . The p opulation of the city of Tun is d oes n ot at

on present much exceed pers s, which are TH E W 2 D ELLERS I N TUNISIA . 7

— as o o w . oo distributed f ll s, viz M rs , Jews ,

o n an d n o Eur pea s , miscella e us n n n 2 000 n ative races , i cludi g Algeria s , The E uropean c olon y in the capital con sists of

n 8 000 an d n o Italia s , Maltese E glish , t gether

2 00 n o of n of with 0 Fre ch . The st ry the deali gs the rulers of Tun is with the govern me n ts of the European col on ists forms the m ost imp ortant par t

n of the an als of the Regency . S ome but n ot man y of the Eur opeans n ow livin g in n n d n of n Tu is are the desce a ts Christia Slaves .

U to o of 1 8 1 6 n on p the m nth May , the great ati s of Europe were c ompelled to repurchase th ose of their citizen s w ho had the misfortun e to become prison ers of the cruisers of the Beys of Tu n is on

of o on the high seas . A large mass c rresp dence still exists in the British C on sulate Gen eral on the

of n n subj ect these humiliati g bargai s , which were gen erally arran ged by the fathers of the R oman

o n n n de w as Cath lic Missio . St . Vi ce t Paul him

n in n n o self a pris o er Tu is . The ra s ms demanded

n gen erally varied from 5 00 t o 1 000 fra cs . A priest w ho visited the Regen cy on an erran d of this kind in 1 7 00 h as left a m ost i n teresting accoun t of his travels in a series of letters addressed ?" t o his Superi or The w riter describes the thirtee n

E des Ro de Tr o T n et l A tat yaumes Barbarie, ip li , u is, A ger. la

H — 1 0 . 8 1 . aye, 7 4 Pp . 0 7 5 2 S TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT .

b a ni or n g priso s in which the slaves resided . He seems to have been pelted with ston es an d s ou n dly

n n n o an d beate whe passi g thr ugh the streets , tells u s that the son of the Fre n ch C on sul was disabled

w n by the bl o of a Turk . After much negotiati o

o an d f ur slaves were purchased , the priest was

to o o w h o requested perf rm mass bef re th e Bey, kept all the n ecessary vessels in a chest in his

o en d of e r om . At the the ighteen th cen tury there were still a large number of Christian Slaves at

n Tu is , but M . Chateaubriand declares they were

n w n n f r ge erally treated ith kind ess . The ra som o

o n 2 0 n sail rs was the ﬁxed at 3 Ve etian sequins , but 4 6 0 were asked for captains and w ome n of all ages .

I n 1 8 2 n n of o 4 , at the i sta ce the British C nsul

n o on o Ge eral , C l el Sir Th mas Reade , Ahmed Bey declared that the children b orn of slaves sh ould hen ceforth be con sidered free . A little later he

n n ow n an d e fra chised all his slaves , his example w as very generally foll owed thr ough out the c ou n

n o o an d try . Fi ally Slavery was f rmally ab lished ,

on of o n the market , the site the m der j ewellery

for o . bazaar , cl sed ever There is still a large n umber of eu n uchs an d other n egro servan ts in l n n o n o n o . Tu is , but these e j y at least mi a freed m Fr om time t o time a s olitary negro takes refuge in 2 TH E DWELLERS I N TUNISI A . 9

on n of the British C sulate Ge eral , but a certiﬁcate freedom is always gran ted as s oon as it is asked for N o n o n so n . Mussulma p te tate has ear estly an d so h on estly e n deav oured t o carry ou t his obligation s with Europe in the matter of slavery

f i hi as the Bey o Tun s and s predecess or . CHAP TER I I I .

— C F 6 8 A. D . I O OW A . D . NINE ENTURIES P ER , 4 5 3 5 .

TH E M oslem history of the Rege n cy of Tu n is m ay

o n n n o o be c nve ie tly divided i t three ep chs . The

o of o on of ﬁrst is the peri d P wer , the sec d that

an d of in Piracy , the third that Decay . It was

A D . 648 (the year of the Flight 2 6) that the

B en on Arabs , under Abd Allah Saad , marched up

an d Sb itela n f Gabes , the called Suf etula . The great Prefect Gregory raised an army of m en to o o n on n of pp se their adva ce , but the plai s Ak ou b a he l ost b oth his life an d his semi - in depen

n on o n den t d omin i on s . Leavi g the c quered pr vi ce t o of n n b the care a chief amed Dje a a , Abd Allah

B en Saad return ed to Egypt . Sixteen years later S oussa surre n dered to the army of Abd Allah

B en Zor b ir an d w B en é , Six years after ards Okba Naf el h oo o B en Zer t Fe ri t k Bizerta (pr perly called ) , ! n in A D 6 0 o n of n . a d . 7 f u ded the city Kairwa After carrying the arms of Islam to Fez z an and

XX V See Chapter X II . 1 NINE CENTURIES OF POWER . 3

o o o n n o o in n M r cc , Okba was Slai i gl ri usly the eigh

o o n d b ou r hood of Biscara . The asis which surr u s his tomb bears the n ame of Sidi Okba to the

l n I n A . D . 6 n B en e o prese n t day . 94 Hassa N ma

o an d n o n destr yed Carthage , Tunis , the eighb uri g

n o an d n o to tow s . B th Okba Hassa were bliged struggle again st h ostile m ovemen ts of the in dige

n n of n n n ous Berbers . The a als Tu is at this p oi t

for n in o of n merge ma y years th se Kairwa . Abd el m n B en o n in A D Rah a Habib f u ded . . 7 4 5 the

n of Ab assides in dy asty the the West , but half a cen tury later they s u ccumbed before the Aghlabites

n of u der the auspices the Caliph Haroun el Rachid .

n in B en el A h eleb Eleve pr ces succeeded Ibrahim g ,

of n an d A the ﬁrst the li e , it was the ghlabite s overeign Ab ou Mu h am ed Ziadat Allah w h o con

in A . D . 0 o quered Sicily, but 9 9 they were ver thr own in the rev oluti on headed by Abo u Abd

Fath amite w ho o n o Allah the , btai ed the sway fr m

o o o to of in o M r cc the district Barca Trip li . The Ob eidite or Fath amite prin ces assumed the title of

an d n an d Caliph , made Kairwa the Mehdia suc

l n n cess iv e of o I n A D . y the seat their admi istrati . .

2 oe on t an d 9 7 the Caliph El M z c quered Egyp , left the care of his d omin ion s in Western Africa t o

n n Eb n i w h o n n n his lieute a t Ze ri , became i depe de t , and transmitted his province to his descendan ts 2 E 3 TUNIS PAST AND PRES NT .

Z n' i s d n the e te . This y asty struggled successively with the Elm or ab etin or Alm oravides and the

o w h o n t o n o Alm hades , at le g h btai ed supreme p wer o ver n early all the N or th Africa n littoral . Several p owerful Berber clan s seem to have waged war

n o an d SO in agai st the Alm hades , far succeeded

n f n o w n A . 1 2 2 8 on e o i . D weake i g their p er that , ,

n n o son of their lieute a ts , Ab u Zakaria Yahya,

o Mu ham ed el VVahed B en Ab ou If a s Ab u Abd f ,

n n n n o n declared himself i depe de t in Tu is , and f u ded

n of H afsite o n w h o the li e s vereig s , exercised supreme p ower in Tunis for a little m ore than three cen turies . It was durin g the reign of the Hafsite prin ce

o Allah Mu ham ed el Mostan cer t Ab u Abd , tha the

ﬁ n on t o n oo rst Fre ch expediti Tu is t k place . In

on of 1 2 0 of o the m th July 7 the ﬂeet L uis IX .

in n o n arrived at Cagliari Sardi ia . At a great c u cil held here the kin g an n ou n ced his i n tention of “ ” n an on o of n maki g attack the c untry Tu is , the f primary obj ect of the seven th crusade . The ol l owin g are the reas on s which he gave for his “ “ — n on n . o determi ati Tu is , said St L uis , faces

to o an d on o . Sicily , is the high r ad the H ly Land Tu n is can always harass ou r communication s with

n o u s the East ; we must leave enemies behind , ” and we must therefore c onquer it ﬁrst of all .

3 4 TUNIS PAS AND PRESENT . aT

n had o n o o Tu is became , as it fte bec me bef re, a vast

o n hecat mb . The ki g himself was at last struck do n w the Th e n in w ith fell disease . Arabs sa g ch orus the foll owi ng s on g of victory

n n n of o o O Fre chme , Tu is is the sister Cair , prepare y ur

for n of o n selves every ki d misf rtu es . This time the h ouse of Lok man will be a tomb J n k i r An d y our keepers shall be M on k er a d Men a n .

o . f St. L uis died Charles o Sicily arrived the followi n g day and assumed the comman d of the

of on f army . A series successes the part o the

n n Mostan cer to su e for Fre ch induced the ki g , El ,

on peace . A treaty was agreed between the three “ n n an d an d Christia pri ces the Caliph , Imam ,

o n of C mma der the Faithful , which assured the reciprocal protecti on of Fren ch an d Tu n isian su b

ects an d n o to j . Priests mercha ts were all wed

in n on establish themselves Tu is . All pris ers were

n of t o be surre dered . The C ommander the Faith ful b ou n d himself t o pay a war in demn ity of 2

o n of o an d an n n of u ces g ld , a ual tribute

n of T oun ces to the Ki g Sicily . he c onven tion was d istasteful in the highest degree b oth to Christian

an d o on u s n M slem , and the chr iclers tell that eve

K n o . 1 1 1 2 . ra , ch xxxi . , “ Th e n of D 1 A gels eath . NINE CENTURIES OF POWER . 3 5

at that rem ote peri od Charles ofS icily w as accused i t of what is n ow called tr po ag es . A week after the Sign in g of the treaty Pri n ce

I . of n n . Edward E gla d , afterwards Edward , arrived

n n n on He was justly i digna t at all that had bee d e ,

i f r n n of an d at on ce set sa l o Palesti e . The ki gs

n an d n ot Fra ce , Sicily , Navarre did embark till ” o n of a October . The C mma der the F ithful was afraid his subj ects w ould again c ome in to collisi on

n an d n n n of with the Christia s , pla ed the raisi g a mixed c orps of s oldiers to protect Here we

’ have appare n tly the prot otype of Gen eral Lambert s

on 1 8 1 o n of ap ocryphal legi in 8 . The misf rtu es the

n ot o on of crusaders did end here . A great p rti the

off n an d o ﬂeet was shipwrecked Trapa i , the avarici us Charles applied all the ﬂ otsam an d j etsa m with out

n any scruple to his o w n u se. Then the Ki g an d

n of of n an d Quee Navarre died fever at Trapa i , three other members of the r oyal family o f Fran ce survived their return from the pestile n tial camp of

n n Carthage only a few m o ths . The Be i Hafs were

n o never m ore m olested by a Fre ch invasi n .

n Letter s of Pierre de Co dé . CHA E PT R IV .

TH E CONQ UEST OF TUNIS BY CHARLES V .

TH E desce n dan ts of Ab ou Abd Allah Mu h amed el Mostan cer s oon forgot to pay their tribute to the

n of and n on n to ki gs Sicily, the Be i Hafs c ti ued e nj oy abs olute p ower in their d omin i on s till nearly

of n su c the middle the sixtee th century, when they cu mb ed to the successive attacks of the Span iards

n on of n a n d the Turks . The i vasi Tu is by Charles

w as n on on e ' of o V . i c testably the m st celebrated g esta of the age in which it o ccurred it has been

in o n n an d n on celebrated alike p etry , pai ti g , eve

o n an d n p rcelai , its traces have hardly yet e tirely

o ou in disappeared . The emper r br ght his train

Jan o n V er me en w ho n on e C r elis y , pai ted ten pictures of the m ost strikin g epis odes in the cam

i n of o n n n o pa g . Six the rigi al pai ti gs were disc

of - o - o an d vered by the Duke Saxe C burg G tha , they were subsequen tly restored an d brought to

n n o E glan d by the late Prince C o s ort . The l calities depicted in them can be easily recognised by any

F C V TH E CONQ UEST O TUNIS BY H A RLES . 3 7 on e well acquain ted with the prin cipal features of

o n an d n n to l o the c u try , I have bee e abled p ace bef re the reader the drawin gs represe n tin g the capture of

n f Tu n is an d the b ombardme t o the G oletta forts . The remai n s of the ramparts thr own up by the

on captain s of Barbarossa are still visible . They c sist of a triple w all with the in terven in g spaces ﬁlled l of n d o an d . n up by layers sa , st nes , rubbish This i e of o on o o to o o f rtiﬁcati passed fr m sh re sh re , acr ss the n eck of lan d which divides the Mediterranean

o n o to n u fr m the Tu is lake , cl se the railway termi s

an n ! o n in 1 8 2 In erected by E glish c mpa y 7 .

n o o n in 1 8 en d maki g s me impr veme ts 74 , the lake

f w o o the rampart was cut thr ough . Nearly t

n hundred Skeleto s were fou n d outside it . Several

of n on of n n on pieces Spa ish m ey , a heap ca balls , an d some br oken weap on s were picked up . The b on es were afterwards r e- in terred in the adj oi n in g

- o n n burial gr u d . A skull , pierced appare tly by a

on in n o c ical bullet , is still preserved Tu is . A Sh rt time afterwards I p oin ted ou t these remain s to Sir

TVilliam n - w ho n o Stirli g Maxwell , remai ed s me time in Tun is an d visited all the ruin s of the

n o on Spa ish f rtiﬁcati s . He much regretted he had n ot seen them before writin g his charm i n g b ook “ on The Cl oister Life of Charles an d his

n on u timely death al e , I believe , prevented him 8 A D 3 T UNIS PAST N PRESENT . from becomi n g the m ost m odern chronicler of

’ n f the Spa ish emperor s Africa n c on quest . One o the fi n est kn own Specime n s of maj olica ware is

o n n of to n of o c vered with a pai ti g the s rmi g G letta , w hich J oseph Marryat erro n e ously describes as

” i f“ an n isla d in the Mediterran ean Sea . It bears the foll owi n g inscripti on

m m 2 M . D . ( )

’ D a Carl o d Au stria Imperatore poten te ’ L alta G oletta in espugn ab il tan to Astretta e presa con furor repe n te

I n U n o n n o S n rbi ella bottega di Fra cesc ilva o.

The story of the Spanish in vasion of the king dom of the Ben i Hafs has bee n written by at least

o of oo an d n i n n a sc re M rish Spa sh a alists . The

o n o o f n f o v lumi us rec rds o the K ights o St . J hn

on n n f n c tai the mi utest details o the great e terprise . I n the carefully preser v ed archives of the Order

o n on I disc vered the origin al MS . i structi s issued by the Grand Master to the captain s of the

con tin ent Maltese g . T In the public library I hap pe n ed to light on a brief but curi ous narrative of the expediti on compiled by a Fre n ch k n ight i 6 1 2 n 1 .

H o f d B M Lon o o a Jo . ist ry P ttery n Porcelai n . y seph arryat don : Jo n M 8 . Fi 1 . 8 . h urray, 5 7 g 3 ‘ l‘ nd Appe ix A .

0 U AN D 4 T NIS PAST PRESENT .

“ a oo n the d of h M xwell , st d betwee ays c ivalry w o n ou t an d the of n n hich were g i g , days pri ti g

o n in — n on which were c mi g , respecti g the traditi s o f on e an d n n of n the , fulﬁlli g ma y the requireme ts o f th t e o her . Men of the sword fou n d in him a

o n o n in b ld cavalier . Like his a cest rs , with la ce

n n oo o rest, he led k ights agai st the M rish h sts

on o of o am gst th e lives G letta . The allied ﬂeet assembled in Ju n e 1 5 3 5 off the “ ” f n o o . o B o ssat n c ast Sardi ia The P pe , says y , se t

n f n twelve galleys . The Ki g o Fra ce se n t twen ty

c m ore to guard the rivers of Chr isten domf an d the L Religion i four ships an d the great ca r r a ca j com man To u ch eb oeu f on t w o ded by Clerm t , with hundred

n on r lé e n Kn ights . A th y de G o comma ded a reserve

f n n an d f n n o o . seve ty K ights , a regiment i fa try

i - The Chevalier B ot g ella directed the sea forces . On arrivin g in Sardi n ia the Emperor received the

n h on o an d o K ights with the highest urs , the Pri r of n to on e n o n Pisa prese ted him Sherif, the e v y se t

l n to the Gran d Master by Mou ey Hasa . Sherif

t o o oo n was able address the Emper r in g d Spa ish , bein g descen ded from the M oors expelled by

f n Ferdi n a n d from the kingd om o Gra ada . On th e

F n in T k u i s Pellissier says that the re ch saw the ur s usef l all e , ” - - - Mémot7 es H ist r i e an d n an to K ed Din . o u s se t emissary heir q , P 47 ' en d O d of St Jo n . I r er . h . 1 App ix B 1 TH E CON Q UEST OF TUNIS BY CHARLES V . 4

2 8th Jun e the ﬂeet an ch ored off the harb our of ’ - U n ow o o n . o tica, called P rt Fari a The Emper r s

in n n o galley stuck fast the sa d , but Pri ce D ria m n to an d n a aged release it , the circumsta ce was hailed as a good omen den otin g the desire of the African s oil to v olu n tarily submit t o the will of

n n of for mid His Maj esty . O the appeara ce this

o of 6 00 o o o able ﬂ tilla Ships bef re G letta , Barbar ssa repen ted havi n g withdrawn his vessels in t o the

n an d u t to on e o Pr essida Tu is lake , p death L uis , a

n o n n w h o had Ge ese ge tlema , assured him that the

n in on Emperor would n ever c ome to Tu is pers . The s oldiers disembarked b etween G oletta a nd the

- sa lt pits . There an en tren ched camp was formed . The G oletta garris on made freque n t s orties again st

n in on e of Jiaffer the i vaders , which their leader, , ” ca r r a ea n n was killed . The Maltese , St . A e , was then brought as n ear as p ossible to the G oletta

o an d in o o f rt, her artillery a Sh rt time dem lished

of . n on n ot the greater part it The Turkish ca n ,

n o n on w on n o bei g m u ted heels , were c seque tly alm st u An ea n o n in . s seless attack by was ext rga ised , which the Maltese ships o ccu pied the p ositi on an d

n n n t o precede ce i variably co ceded the Order . The ” of n n can barque the St . A e carried three small n on an d o n o s , , appr achi g the Sh re , greatly harassed

o o n the besieged . At last the Emper r rdered a ge eral 2 A 4 TUNIS PAST N D PRESENT .

w assault, hich was led by the Knights . The

Coss ier n n of . o n Chevalier , carryi g the ba ner St J h ,

t o n G o an d was the first e ter the letta , it was his fl ag which first fl oated from the half- ruin ed battle

n me ts . The Turks ﬂed towards Tu n is by way of

an d o n the lake , G letta was sacked by the Spa iards . Charles then m oved al on g the right Side of the

csta n o a n — ed- lake ( g ) t w rds Tu is . Kheir Din met

o o n of him , a league fr m the t w , at the head eight th ousan d M oors or Turks an d a stron g force o f

- . n cd Arabs After a desperate e gagement , Kheir

Din was forced to fall back on Tunis . At that time there were several th ousan d Christian Slaves

d n on is n ow in the u ge s beneath the citadel , which

- cd- Din n called the Kasbah . Kheir felt the da ger of n to o an d o o to havi g resist a d uble attack , pr p sed

n o o massacre them . This pla was successfully pp sed

his n o . by sub rdi ates The Slaves , headed by th e

n Sim eon i n Maltese K ight , Paul , i duced their keepers , t w o n n t o n the oo of Spa ish re egades , Ope d rs the

n in pris on . Havi g pillaged the arms the guard

o l o n o an d h use , they expel ed the Turkish g ver r , after

f o wards obtain ed c omplete p ossessi on o the f rtress . They foun d the stan dard captured by the Turks

n o o n it on o at Sarmie t , and , h isti g the highest t wer of o n of the citadel , c mmu icated the news their victory to the Spaniards outside the walls . Kheir THE CONQ UEST OF TUNIS BY CHARLES V . 4 3

cd- Din o o h n ﬂed t wards B ne , w ere he had prude tly

n o o f left s ome of his Ships . The f ll wed a time o

n and o n e o rapi e murder , the alm st i describabl atr ci t ties of which it is imp ossible o relate . Charles did n ot call off his followers from their prey until they began to Slay each other in the quarrels which

i o of oo n an d arose over the divis n their b ty . The then on ly did the generals en deav our to restore o o of rder in the army , the c nduct which had , “ n of o duri g three days , resembled that a hide us ” n of n n Mou l e n n ba d briga ds . Whe y Hasa e dea v ou r ed to o oo - sh e in di pr tect a M rish Slave girl , g n an tly Spat in his face . The Tun isian s c ould n ever forgive eve n the restorati on of a Ben i Hafs pur

at chased such a price . The treaty by which Charles gave back the

’ throne of his fathers to his pr otég é was a very

o o n on on sh ort on e. The f ll wi g were its c diti s The release with out ran s om of all Christian

v o of an d o Sla es . Freed m faith c mmerce to

n n an to n o Christia s . ( 3 ) The Tu isi s abstai fr m

o to to n piracy . G letta be ceded Spai . An annual tribute of piastres to be paid to the

n n of to o Spa iards . The suzerai ty Spain be rec g n ised by a yearly presen t of t w elve h orses and

w on n to o t n n t elve falc s . Spai pr tec Tu is agai st

o to all f reign attacks . The castle at Tunis be 44 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT . o ccupied by a Span ish guard u n til the c ou n try w as n few c ompletely paciﬁed . Charles remai ed a

a o n d ys at Rades , but bef re quitti g the capital is said to have i nstituted an order of chivalry to “ ” c ommem orate his victory . The Cross of Tu n is c on sisted o f a ﬂi n t an d steel suspen ded from a " golde n chai n beari n g the w ord B a r b a ma f The

o for n on of Emper r sailed Italy, leavi g a garris a

o n m en an d o th usa d ten galleys at G letta . While Italian hist orian s were recordin g an d Italian p oets were si n gi n g the deeds of Charles an d the gl ories of n - ed— o the Spa ish arms, Kheir Din appeared bef re

on n of n n t o Mah , reduced ma y its i habita ts slavery , an n t o d retur ed laden with b ooty Algiers .

l l e Etudes P olitiques sur e Royaume de Tun is . Par Comte ’ ’ ’ K ell s i 1 n O Kell y . . 1 . o n O w 0 Al o 1 8 1 . k ph se Paris , 7 P 3 C u t y l ttle ’ gives s ome curi ous details of Mou l ey Hasan s V isi t to Brussels I n ’ 1 u n for aid an d in 1 0— n h e w as 53 4 , as a s pplia t Charles , 5 5 5 3 , whe an exil e an d h ad been deprived of sig ht an d bli n ded by his ow n d n k n dn o f E o to his n o n a chil re . The i ess the mper r u f rtu ate lly fo d o n e on to n o n H e d af r s el que t t stim y his really ble ature . refuse to o M ou l e n to do him o an d in o of all w y Hasa h mage, the f rest So n d him Si t o n d d ig es ma e at table With six cr w e hea s. HA E C P T R V .

SPANISH SUPREMACY .

N o sooner had the Span iards quitted T un is than

n on o ou t n Mo ul e i surrecti s br ke agai st their ally , y

n in f n of o n o Hasa ; dif ere t parts the c u try . H ly Kairwan at on ce s et the example by stoutly refusin g to recogn ise a prin ce w ho owed his thron e

on to Christian in terventi . The Sicilian troops sen t

o in 1 to by the Emper r 5 3 7 Susa were repulsed , an d it was n ot till tw o years afterwards that An drea D oria succeeded in r e- establishin g the auth ority of Mou l ey Hasan in the t own s of the

n An to Tu isian littoral . attempt crush the risin g of in n o an d Sidi Arfa Kairwa wh lly failed , the corsair Dr ag u t became the ack n owledged ruler of

l I n l G a ib r a . o o n Susa , Sfax , and the f l wi g year ( 1 5 40) D oria on ce m ore rec overed Su sa for Mou l ey

a n w h o o to o to H sa , nevertheless res lved pr ceed Europe in the h ope of persuadin g the Emperor to

n on on on his u dertake a sec d expediti behalf. No

oo son s ner had he left Tunis than his and heir, 6 A 4 TUNIS PAST ND PRESENT .

Mou le on o y Hamid , seized the supreme p wer , and added th e dif ﬁculties o f a civil w ar to th ose su r r ou n din g the already half- l ost cause of the Ben i

n to o Hafs . His father haste ed back the G letta ,

n o o of w ho but he fell i t the p wer the usurper,

t o n an d o n caused him be bli ded l aded with chai s . Mou l ey Hamid was in turn overthr own by his u n - cl — Malck an d on n n cle Abd , a c ﬂict e sued duri g w hich Dr ag u t once m ore obtain ed p ossession of the

n n o n n l th Tu isia c ast t ow s . O the o September

1 1 D on n oo or 5 5 Jua de Vega t k Mehdia Africa, an d his n Don established ephew , Alvar , as its govern or at the head of 1 5 00 men . Mehdia was

n o on t o give pr visi ally the Maltese Order, but it was ﬁ n ally aban d on ed an d its fortiﬁcati on s destroyed

' in 1 5 5 3 . Seve n years later a Span ish legion was

n n a in n of literally a ihil ted the isla d Dj erba . The pyramid of skulls which served to commem orate

on o in 1 8 6 this Arab triumph was ly rem ved 4 .

Mou l e i w h o n o his on y Ham d , agai rec vered thr e

o o n Mu h am ed son of - el - fr m his c usi , , Abd Malek ,

an d was attacked defeated by Ali Pacha, the

o n o of Al on of Turkish g ver r giers , the plains Bej a , an d was compelled to take refuge with the Span ish

on o in n o garris at G letta . He his tur was f rced t o to n an to n supplicate Philip II . se d army Tu is , in order to uph old the last representative of the

CHAPTER VI .

TH E H TH E K TRIUMP OF TUR S .

TH E Sultan Selim was s oon persuaded to gratify

of n an d on the wishes his Diva , attempt the liberati of n o n n Tu is fr m Spa ish supremacy . Si au the c orsair was selected t o complete the task which

- ed- Din th e o n Kheir c rsair had begu . The pachas of o an d on Trip li Algiers , as well as the little garris

n t o co— o in at Kairwa , prepared with alacrity perate f h iou s n n of Cer b allon t e p u dertaki g the Caliph . De had hardly time to recall the troops fr om Bizerta ( occupied by the Span iards ever sin ce the departure of Charles when the Turks appeared before

o o n o G letta, which alm st immediately fell i t their

n n f hik i n . o o o S l ha ds The f rtress the isla d , in

n an d on d the Bahira lake , was easily take , the 3 September 1 5 7 3 the citadel of Tun is ﬁ nally capitu

to n w ho on o o o lated Si au Pacha , ce m re h isted ver its half- ruin ed battlements the bann er of the

n o on n n to n cresce t . Bef re c se ti g a surre der, De Cer b allon saw his foll owers reduced to thirty

ﬁ n men ghti g . TH E TRIUMPH or TH E TURKS . 4 9

Alth ough n early ten th ou san d Span iards w ere killed or made pris on ers durin g this disastrous

n o to n o campaig , the Turks were all wed e j y their

on in an d n o n o c quest peace , Si au Pacha l st time in organ isi n g an admi n istration in the n ame of

o or the Sublime P rte . Hidder Hy der, the Turkish

n of n o n o n o captai Kairwa , was app i ted the ﬁrst G ver r

G n n or o n t n n e eral , with a Diva C u cil af er the ma er

of n in oo that already existi g Algiers . The tr ps were he n ceforward to be c on tr olled exclusively by

or o an d w as to Aghas Deys , f rty in number , a Cadi

n f n o n to n determi e civil dif ere ces , acc rdi g the te ets

of o n n n l M slem j urisprude ce . Seve tee years ater an i n tern al rev oluti on placed the executive p ower in

n of n w h o e t o the ha ds a Si gle Dey , was d clared

o o and have auth rity alike ver the city the army ,

an d to o o n o - n l or wh m the Pacha , G ver r Ge era , Bey , w as to be c ompletely sub ordin ate . I n all public d ocuments an d pro clamation s bel on gi n g to this

o w o n o of n peri d , the hil m ki gd m the Be i Hafs is

n o Od ak or of n u if rmly styled the j Eyalet Tu is , a term which in later times was freely tran slated

n by the word Regen cy . Ever si ce the 3 d of

’ 1 ha tha or r ida s September 5 7 3 , the F y prayer has been u n iformly reci ted in the n ame of the reig n in n of n n oin g sulta the Osma lis , while the curre t c

o n o a to has always b r e his cipher . Fr m th t day

V OL. 1 . D 0 N 5 TUNIS PAST A D PRESENT .

all n an h or this , Tu isi rulers ave received the

o o f n om o o n r be i vestiture fr Stamb ul , have g ver ed in virtue o f a Turkish j ir ma n or pate n t of appoi n t

n an d to me t , have ever girded their side the

w o of on o h n in to s rd h ur , whic is tra smitted variably

n n n an d o rege ts , lieute a ts , vicer ys by the supreme

of t n head the O toma Empire . CHAPTER V II .

D 1 TH E DOMINATI ON OF TH E DEYS (A . . 5 90

OF w ho on an a the thirty Deys , ruled aver ge a little m ore than three years each duri n g the seve n t een th n o o ce tury , a maj rity were dep sed , while o o n an d in n cases thers suffered a vi le t , ma y , a h orrible death at the han ds of their subj ects . Th e hist ory of this period of extern al piracy an d in

n oo n t ter al bl dshed has very little i teres , if it were n ot for in of on n the fact that , spite their c sta t challe n ges to Christe n d om abroad an d their cease

n on o n n o less disse si s at h me , the Tu isia c rsairs

o an d an d practically held all Eur pe at bay , lived throve on the blackmail which they levied almost with impu n ity on every p ower havin g c ommerce

o f n n n with the sh res o the Mediterra ea . The prese ts which took the place of tribute have really on ly

n on an d m en disappeared with the last ge erati , still livin g can remember the time whe n c on suls general an d p olitical agen ts were obliged to creep i n to the Beylical pres e n ce un der a w ooden bar ! 2 5 TUNIS PA ST AND PRE S ENT .

I do n o t i n te n d to attemp t to Sketch eve n in the briefest man n er the chron icles o f the Deys o f

n a on n o n o con Tu is , but sh ll ly me ti s me few facts n ec ted w with their rule , hich either refer directly t o n an or n t o o o o n E gl d , te d thr w s me light the m n o n o of o I n 1 6 0 . re rece t hist ry the c u try . 5 M

B r evcs in n a ccom a n ied b a n de arrived Tu is, p y a mb a ssa dor o the G r a nd Si nor in o to con f g , rder clu de a fresh treaty with Fran ce . Duri n g his stay at Tu n is Hammame t was take n an d l ost by the

f n d n o . o n a n to K ights St J h , its key s ha g this day

n n e of of h i o the chapels the cat edral at Malta .

1 6 0 of n n In 4 the ﬂeet the Order , u der the Pri ce ’ n d Osia n n n La dgrave , bur ed several Tu isia vessels

o o an o o bef re G letta , expl it which f rms the subject o f on e of the frescoes in the palace of the Grand

n Masters at Valetta . Three years later the Tu isian squadron was se n t to assist the Turks at the siege of n Ten Ca dia . years after this the Capuchin Mis si on w as established at Tun is u n der the auspices

n o n o an d protecti o f Fra ce . S me years previously the Deys had gran ted to E nglan d the burial — groun d of o n o St . Ge rge , the j ust utside the Carthage gate ,

n w in t of o n but o the hear the city . The rigi al deed of is o an d ou r n o n gift l st , ﬁrst k w treaty with

n o 1 6 6 2 in it is n ot Tu is is dated Oct ber , which

f th o n even men tion ed . S ome o e t mbs rece tly dis H F H E T E D OMINATION O T DEYS . 5 3 covered in this cemetery have c on siderable i n terest

n of 1 6 6 2 n (see Appe dix C) . The treaty (see Appe

n t o n n m dix D) , which was gra ted E gla d at a ti e

n n n n to n whe Fra ce was threate i g attack the Rege cy , seems t o have restrain ed very little the piratical

on of ou r n ew for depredati s allies , three years afterwards Admiral Bla ck b ombarded P or to - Farin a “ an d emptied the b ag n e o f all the E n glish an d

n n n Dutch slaves . The Fre ch bur ed the Algeria

in o o an d i n con ﬂeet the G letta r ads , succeeded cludin g a m ore fav ourable treaty with the Bey

in an d on on n on in 1 6 2 later the year , a sec d c ve ti 7 .

n n of Mu h am ed a in 1 6 8 Duri g the reig Tab k , 7 , he w as attacked by a prete n der to the thron e als o n h m a Mu a ed. o o n amed The f ll wi g liter l extract , from on e of the old registers of the British Con

n on a o of sulate Ge eral , c veys c rrect idea the dan gers an d difﬁculties of European s in Tu n is

n of n duri g the palmier days Tu isian Piracy .

DECLARATION of FRANCI S AK E R CON S U FRAN CI S The B , L , BARRIN G TON an d BE NJAM IN STEE LE Merchan ts I n this Citty an d Kingdo m e of T u n is Ab o ut an Advan ce I m p osed by Sidi Muhamet B ey up on the E n glish Nati o n a m ou n ti ng to Fiftee n Th ousan d an d eleven D ollars

th That on the 1 2 Jany in the y ear e of ou r L ord 1 6 7 7 His Excellen cy Sidi Mah am et B ey appeared with his F orces b e o of n to e of n n f re this Citty Tu is , the great terr ur the I habita ts , 5 4. TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT . a nd after three days a ssault ( bur n i n g d o w n e the Citty gates) h e re ndered himself abs olute Patr o n e there o f ; w hereup o n Taback D ey with su ch Tu r ks an d M o ores as c o uld promise themselves no security fro m him retired i n t o the Castle which

m n n n f n o n n M n they ai tai ed twe ty ive dayes , twithsta di g all i es a n d o ther Stratagems o f Warre dilige n tly pro secuted by M a l i am et B e to o n n o w om y reduce them , the wh le Citty bei g bec e

i o o rs n N on Jew es M n his P y , u elves , the Fre ch ati , , ercha ts etc s u dda in ly experie n ced the bad effects o f his the n u n limitted

o o for n of n P wer , which he impr ved the supplyi g his urge t a n ts ; th O n the 2 6 J any he se n t for ou r Nati on an d the Fre n ch t o atte n d him at the G ib b ellu ch ada where havi n g taxed the

w m n o o n and ou r M en latter ith a y friv l us Prete ces , us that o f \V n o U n H esse B e n ow arre had tra sp rted his cle , the y ( B o o to n n an d ashaw) fr m Trip li Avari , by which mea es He his br o ther Sidi Alli B ey became Capable to c on te n d with

for o n n of Kin dom e o an him the G ver me t this g , did with ut y reply forceable an d vi ole n tly seize on Charles Gratian o

on for n o ou r n n u s C sul the Fre ch t gether with selves , se di g Pris on ers to his Camp ab out eight miles distan ce from

n n S o o f o Tu is , sweari g by the ule his deceased he w uld cutt us t o n an d on o E n E in pieces that ig ht , seize the wh le glish state

o n on n ot k n o w m T r an n icall this C u try, whereup g what his y s ir itt an d des er aten esse o f on on him to p p C diti s might lead , ob leig ed us to have t o rec ourse to Soclasly with such o ther Frie n ds as w ee judged might have an i nﬂue n ce up on him to n o to asswage his fury, Pleadi g the respect he ught ’ t o o f ﬁr m d ow n e n and have the Articles peace by his ha d , t that the Rese n tme n t of his m aj y in havi n g his C on sul an d d Merchan ts so barbarously treated W certai nly provoke his t Maj y to vi n dicate his subjects in such man n er as perhaps his

c Ex cell y n o f on n too to might repe t this Acti , whe it was late ,

n S o n on all which they agreed , telli g us we p ke their Opi i s,

AN D RES TUNIS PAST P ENT .

n o o o o f o n t n B o Pri ce sh uld be P ssess r this C u try ha his r th er , with this an d such like extravagan t a n d di s pair ing discourses

n co man din to n oe an d n he the treated us , g us make reply , the o to he m o n n rdered us a third ti e carried away Pris ers , but bei g o n r em i ses o f com l an ce in o f o p p y released the terme f ur days , w e c ompleated the sume o f D ollars \Vhe n su ddam e n w o f B o Allil i s o o t o e es his r ther appr ach , bliged him raise his seige fr o m the Castle an d depart w ith the n ew Ki ng an d s u ch Tu i k s a n d Cogl ob y s are were in the Citty to atte n d his B ro thers m oti on s in Campag n i a Leavi n g us to B lesse G o d w ee

n o t in n n o u w ee were at that time his Camp, whe u d btedly

‘ h ad as m n o n n to Keﬂ I n ( a y thers were) bee se t . three days time e ach Armies m eett ; Mahamat B ey receivi n g a t o tall defea te n ew n D e an d o o f Slain e , the Ki g ( y ) m st his Turks , himself hardly escapi n g to his Castle of Keff so that this Kingdome an d Citty is again u n der the c omman d o f Taback

D e an d B e N ow n o u r N on t o y Alli y . the Ava ce paid by ati

M B e and o n ew n an d o uhamet y his Pe ple , with the Ki g thers in str u men tall to the acco m odation in ready m on ey cl eath an d Debts received from the Tayl ors am ou n ts u n t o D ollars

1 a n d for o f o n n E n , was the security the wh le remai i g g

E I n W itn esse to o f o o n n lish state . the truth the f reg i g li es th wee d o hereu n t o sett our hands in Tu n is this the 2 6 day o f

April 1 6 7 8 . FRANCI S BAK E R Consul FRANCI S BARRIN G TON M B S TE E E E NJ L .

a h n to Mu ham Ch rles II . must ave writte ed Tabak Dey an d Ali Bey on the subj ect of this

f r ﬁn d A H 1 A D 1 2 o o . . 0 . . 68 pr test, I that 9 3 ( ) they

o to n n t w o o n f rwarded E gla d alm st identical a swers .

’ The foll owi ng is Ali Bey s letter TH E D OMIN ATI ON or TH E DEYS . 5 7

To Charles the Sec on d by the Grace of G o d (Kin g of )

me s Great B rittai n an d others his Maj D omi n i on s the greatest an d m ost Powerfull am on gst the Kin gdom es an d N ati o n s o f the Messias the m ost w orthy an d m ost n oble Pro tecto r o f the B elievers in Jesus Christ Allj B ey h the Ge n erall of the Camp Kin gdom e of Tu n is his faithq an d kyn de frie n d se nds hearty Wishes of health Pr o sperity etc S ome m on ths dl yr me agoe I r ec fr om Maj a m ost acceptable letter wherei n y ou were pleased to bri n g a fresh to my mem ory the i njuries e my B r o ther Mahamat B ey h offered u n t o Fran sis B aker y

r C on sul a n d the rest o f y subjects here ; an d to take pticu lar n otice of the m on y he had vi o le n tly forced o u t of their han ds

r f l e I n an swer whereto I e n treat y m aj n ot to w on der at th ose n o o n of m o for oo a n u w rthy Pr ceedi gs y said br ther, he t ke

o o n o all n o o f pp rtu ity whilst I was abr ad , with the la d f rces mt this Crov (d oin g such service as was the n j u dged n ecessary for its preservati on an d welfare) an d came hither with a

n o f o w n for great umber utla s assaulted the u armed Citty , a little time made himself m aster there o f an d did m ost cruelly abuse an d plu n der every Xtian n ati on fo rci n g great sumes o f m on ey from them besides impude n tly attaqu in g o u r R oyall

n o n an d n Castle , but whe his attempts pr ved vai e he k ew I s n o o f n an d o o had tice his bei g here , he his f ll wr ﬂed away B u t I am ready to pfor m all the dutys of a true 11 d tl e 6 fr to yr m aj an d have fou n d a way to re n der to y said C on sul an d Merchan ts due s atisfatton for the l o sses they

d r f ‘e have suffer as I believe y m aj Will have bee n i n formed ’r o Ro n do bef re this letter kisses y yall ha ds . I heartily wish “e an d h ope that y our Maj will lett me be h on ored for the ,

o n n o o f ou r b e future with a m re freque t i terc urse letters , cause n o thi n g can be m ore g r atfull to me than either the

' yr m s mt r good n ews of Maj well bei ng or a n imploy in y

in n ow to n o services these parts . I am ack wledge the Receipt r tl e 6 r of man y fav ors from y Maj by y han d of y aforemen ti on ed 8 AN D 5 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

n an d n on o f o ne o subjects residi g here , e treat the additi m re . \Vee are in great w an t o f G nn pow dr an d Saile ca n vas an d r “0 ’ do o therefo re desire y Maj to pmitt Fran cis B aker y C on sul t o se n d us o u t such a supply o f each as w e have t old him o ur n esteem e n k in dn esse ecessitys require , this I shall a si gular a n d it w ill be as a tye o n o ur part to mai ntai n the an cie n t

an d {f n on n an d peace rie dship am gst us , which I ever had

o of V o n D in n 2 u mad Elaou l th ughts i lati g . ated Tu is 5 J ( ) 1 0 93 r y m ill m ost affection at true frie n d ALLY BE YR G en r all of ye Camps an d Kingdome o f Tu n is

A few weeks later Ali Bey quarrelled with

Mu hamed an d n Tabak Dey , the latter was stra gled

o f at the gate the Bard o . At this time the authority o f the Deys was fast fadin g before the

n o of an d n i creased p wers the Beys , the ext Dey ,

o n Ahmed Chelebi , was actually app i ted by Ali Bey ,

n the murderer of his predecess or . The British Age t an d o — n n n in n n d C nsul Ge eral Baker remai i g E gla ,

o oo n o to Th mas G dwy was app inted succeed him , an d o o o n to Charles II . wr te the f ll wi g letter Ahmed Chelebi

Charles the Sec on d by the Grace of G od Ki ng of En g

n S o n n an d n D n of la d , c tla d , Fra ce Irela d , efe der the Faith To E n B D e an d o etc the xcelle t the ashaw , the y the Pe ple

an d n o of n our o n Of the Citty Ki gd m Tu is , well bel ved frie ds

n n to to a d ally es Greeti n g . Havi ng bee pleased give leave OF TH E TH E DOMINATI ON DEYS . 5 9

ou r Trusty an d Wellbel oved Fran cis B aker Esqr ou r late Age n t an d C on sul Ge n erall residi n g with y ou to r etur n e back

n on n i n t o this ou r Kingdom e to atte d his private c cer es here . \V e have made ch o ice o f ou r Trusty an d VVellb elov ed Subj ect

e Th omas G oodwyn Esqr (as a pers o n of wh o se i n tegrity an d fi ttn esse to supply that place w e are fully satisfy ed) to succeed

h im an d o n ou r o on n ou r , have acc rdi gly by c mmissi u der Royall Sign et an d Sign e m an u all c on stituted the said Th omas G oo dwy n our Age n t an d C on sul G e n erall with y our G overn

n o o ﬁtt to n me t. We have theref re th ught acquai t y ou by ou r L t an d to R o n these et ers herewith , ec mme d Our sayd

n an d on n o ou n ou on o on Age t C sul u t y , desiri g y up all ccasi s

of ou r an d affa r es of o u r n t o service, the y mercha ts give him free accesse an d audie n ce an d to credit him in such thi n gs as he shall represe n t un t o y ou in discharge of his duty acc ordin g t o o u r o o n An d so w e o ou to Pr o said C mmissi . c mmit y the tection of n n ou r Ro S n an d the Almighty . Give u der yall ig et th Sign e Man u all at ou r Castle of Win ds or the 2 7 day of August 1 68 3 in the Five an d Thirtieth y ear e of ou r Reign e y our Lovi n g Frien d

L n n L S CH E S R . AR Je ki s L .

I n 1 6 8 n off o 5 the Fre ch ﬂeet appeared G letta , an d the Dey con sen ted t o in dem n ify them for their

o o an d to n au th or isa l sses by his c rsairs, gra t his ti on for the open in g a place of busin ess at Cape

o an o Negre . Next year James II . wr te aut graph

t Mu h am d B ak ta h e comm u n ica letter o e c . This tion was as foll ows

S on of G od n of E n n James the ec d by the Grace Ki g gla d , Scotlan d Fran ce an d Irelan d Defe n der of the Faith etc To o o Lo B D n D ei B ei an d the m st Illustri us rds the ashaw , iva , , 6 0 TUNI S PA ST AN D PRESENT .

o f the S o in Kin dom e o f n the rest uldiers the g Tu is , Our well bel oved frie nds Greeti ng l Iav in g I n pursua n ce o f what w e fo r t merly s ig n ify ed to y o u directed Sr William Soame B aron w h om e \'Ve had appoi n ted o ur Ambassad o r to the Gra n de

S n o to a o in o to on f su b ig r c ll at y ur City , rder c irme the peace sisti n g betwee n U s an d to re n ew to y o u the Assuran ces o f Our

n An d w w e an o n frie dship . hereas have lately received acc u t that Our said Ambassad or was seized with a V iole n t s ick n esse which oblig ed him to step his v oyage an d that he is si n ce r deceased “ e have th ought ﬁt hereby to sign ify to y ou that \'Ve have fully emp o w ered o u r Trusty an d well - bel oved

‘ o oo n Es n an d on n Th mas G dwy q . Our Age t C sul Ge erall

ou to conﬁr me ou An d o with y the peace with y , theref re we desire y ou will give him full Creden ce in what he has to s ay

in t o on n An d t o ou on o . y Our part, rder C ﬁrmi g the peace

do o in n n o \Ve we pr mise that We shall Our ame agree u t , Co nﬁr me an d in n of n n on to will ratify, pursua ce Our i te ti s L ive with y ou in perfect ffr ien dshipe an d a g ood C orre s pon den ce to the m u tu all be n eﬁt of Our Pe ople an d Subjects An d s o o n ou to o on o f respectively. c mmitti g y the Pr tecti

d ou G o . Almighty , We bid y farewell th Give n at Our C ourt at Wi n ds or the 1 2 day of July 6 1 68 6 in y sec on de year of Our Reig n e Yr l ovi n g frie n d n J ME S R Su n derla d P A .

on oo w n o n o in n Mr . C sul G d y l st time carryi g

’ ou t n o an d n the ki g s rders , sig ed a treaty with 9le 2 1 6 8 6 o o n Tu n is on the d Oct ober . The f ll wi g ’ c opy of Sir William S oame s instructi on s w as sen t him for his guidan ce

it Appendix E . OF TH E 6 1 TH E DOMIN ATI ON DEYS .

’ E n n W EX TRACT of S W I IAM SOAM S o . IND S O R ir LL I structi s , St September 2 1 1 68 5 .

Havi n g th ought it requisite that in y our Passage to

n n o ou o n an d o C on sta ti ple y sh uld call at Algiers , Tu is , Trip li , y ou are acc ordi n gly up on y o ur ar r iv all in the Road before an y of to n for ou r Con su ll an d the said Places se d , by him give

o to o n n L n n ow n otice there f the G ver me t , etti g them k , that in pursua n ce of what Wee sig n ify ed to them by Our Letters th of 1 2 of ou to the February last , We have directed y passe t o o E ou con ﬁr m e to that way y ur mbassy , That y might them Our Res oluti on s to m aintain e the peace an d goo d C orre s pon den ce established with them by the Late Ki n g Our m o st

D B o of B o ear r ther lessed mem ry deceased , Which Peace o oo on n an d n in o th ugh We l k up as substituti g bei g full f rce , Wee are willi n g h owever as an Argume n t o f the Si n cerity of n n on to n w in ow n n Our I te ti s re e Our ame , which may be d on e by sh ort I n strume n t referri n g t o the respective Treaties tll made V i z with Algiers the I o day o f Aprill 1 68 2 by Arthur

E L Admir all o f M n n S Herbert sqr ate the editerra ea eas , With th Tu n is by Sir J oh n Laws on Oct ober 5 1 6 8 2 an d c o nfirmed th an d re n ewed the 4 of February 1 68 % Wi th Trip oli M ay 1 1 6 S o n N o o Admir all in S 7 6 by ir J h arb r ugh late the said eas . It bei n g u su all up on such o ccasi on s to se n d Prese n ts to the on o f o o n n o n Chief Pers s th se G ver me ts , We have acc rdi gly ordered Prese n ts to be prepared an d put on b oard the Man o f to ou o ou n Warr which is carry y , but th ugh y may i timate to ou n do n ot n ou them that y have such Prese ts, We thi k fit y sh ould cause them to be delivered till y ou have fi n ished y o ur

B n an d n on usi ess that all thi gs shall be c cluded . The treaties y ou shall so re n ew y ou shall leave with ou r respective C on suls to be forthwith se n t by s ome safe Con

e n ou on v y a ce to us for r Ratiﬁcati .

Mr . Secretary Pepys appears to have writte n 2 AND 6 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

o oo w n to his on t Mr . G d y express satisfacti at the speedy c on clusion of the treaty '

“ “ M SAMUEL PEPYS TO M G OOD W YN AT TUN I S .

I‘

This serves to ack n ow ledge an d tha n k y ou for yr of th o 1 68 6 w for n oe o n o the 9 Oct ber, , hich calls ther a swer fr m 8 n m n ou n ot to o n mee tha y telli g y , that I did faile c mu icate ‘l the c on te n ts there o f to his M ay w h o w as very well pleas with ~ y our proceedi n gs on Occasi on o f the C on ﬁrmati on of the

t 11 d e G ov er n m w o yr d n in Peace with that , is h p by pru e ce y 11 e n of yr off of on on n n w for mi istry ice , will bee l g c ti ua ce y

e ’ sake of y Ki n g s service as well as the P ublick I n terest and y our particular is desired and wished for by " Your very humble serv P S . EPY S .

‘ ’ Adm y 2 1 st Fehl 1 68 ?

In 1 6 8 6 the Sultan c on ferred up on Mu hamed t h e f of as o . in title Bey, as well that Dey He died the

o o in n o fo f ll w g year, havi g received a Sh rt time be re

an o n o his death imp rta t letter fr m James I I .

F To TH E BASH AW O TUN I S .

James the Sec on d etc etc

n O ur n n o o Kin dome Greeti g. subjects tradi g i t y ur g have by their humble Petiti on represe n ted u n t o u s that there ar e c on siderable debts due u n to them by y ou for m on eys an d

o n o o n c omm ditys by them fur ished , which the wh le G ver me n t o w n ed t o be s o j ust an d reas on able that as an additi on to

o of B D a and the f rmer articles the late Peace, the ashaw, y

N N 4 TU IS PAST AND PRESE T .

G o vern ors o f the City an d Ki n gd o m of Tu n is Our VVell

B o n n G od el ved frie ds Greeti g . It hath pleased Almig hty ( by wh o m Ki ngs Reig ne) to call Us an d ou r most sere n e an d

o n o to Im er iall on of E n n d S o dearest C s rt the p Thr e gla , c t lan d an d I i el an d a nd \V e have accepted of the Royal Cr ow n e an d Dign ity at the humble request of the Lords C ommon s o f R n o w in n an d h the ealm assembled Parliame t , We ave th bee n s olem n ly crow n ed Ki n g a nd Q uee n on the 1 1 day o f

Aprill last in the prese n ce o f ou r said Lo rds an d C ommon s . \Ve thi n k it requisite to acquai n t y ou therewith as we have

o n all n n an d S in an d n d d e Ki gs , Pri ces tates Peace frie ship m w U and to ou on s , at the same time assure y , that We Our part do i n te n d strictly to keep an d observe the Peace that was lately made an d hath bee n si n ce c on ﬁrmed an d d o th n ow subsist betwee n o ur Kin gdomes an d y o ur G overn me n t n ot d oubti n g but that y ou will als o on y our part do an d cause to be d on e by y our Subjects what bel on gs to y ou for the mai n

n n an d n of n o do tai i g preservi g the said Peace i vi lably . We als o i n te n d very speedily to se n d a n oumb er of our m en of th w o on o b U s to n an d warr s me pers fully auth rized y , re ew c on ﬁrm the said Peace with y our G o vern me n t an d in the mean e time ou r C on sul residi n g there Will i n form y ou of the in o h ou r S n ow chan ge made the Passep rts whic hips use . We have received y our letter an d are s o rry that the men m on ey an d go ods which w ere lade n on b oard the English Ship called the Swan have been seized an d take n by a Fren ch

o o n o to c rsair. We sh uld have readily used Our e deav urs pro cure y ou satisfacti on for the same acc ordi n g t o Justice an d the amity betwee n Us y our Govern me n t w ere We in Peace an d fr ien dshy p with the fre n ch Ki n g again st wh om we th have th ought itt n ecessary on the 7 of M ay last to declare Ope n Warr by Sea an d Lan d for th ose Man y i njuries d on e by him to Our Subjects an d th ose of ou r Frie n ds an d Ally es ’ n ou to o on n t And so we C omme d y G d s Protecti . Give a t TH E O O F TH E 6 D MINATI N O DEYS . 5

t a o ur C ourt at Whitehall the 3 day of Jun e 1 6 89 in the ﬁrst y ear r of O ur B eign e Your l ovi ng frie n d W M ILLIA R .

B R LORD SH REW S URY To M CON SUL G OODW I N .

d WHITEHALL Ju ne 3 lr 1 68 9

’ I se n d y ou herewith his Majesty s letter to that Govern men t (with a C oppy there of for y ourself) which Y ou are fo rthwith to deliver an d to acc ompan y with such expres ’ si on s of his Majesty s Frie n dship for them as Y ou shall Judge m ost pr oper an d acceptable givi n g them an acc ou n t of the

’ late rev oluti on here an d of the last Ki n g s withdrawi n g him

n o n an d of n M on to self i t Fra ce , their prese t ajesties accessi the Cr own s of E ngla n d an d Scotlan d lettin g them als o k n ow that His Majesty hath declared Warr agai n st the Fre n ch Ki n g up on the u n an imous Addr esse an d desi re o f the Lords ’ an d C ommon s in Parliamen t an d h ow that (by G od s assist an ce) he i n te n ds to Carry it on V ig o rously b o th by Sea an d Lan d agai n st the said Fre n ch Ki n g Joy n tly with the States ’ Ge n erall wh o se ﬂeet is expected every day to J oyn e Our s in

n n o of D on of ou the Cha ell . A c ppy the eclarati Warr y have here i n cl osed which y ou must get tran slated for the better I n formati on of th o se Pe ople usi n g all y o ur skill an d dilige n ce to D isp ose that Govern me n t to b r eak e with the Fren ch Ki n g in this c onjun cture which may pr ove s o advan tage ous to them and seems to offer them a fair Opp ortu n ity of havi n g s ome r epair ation for th ose I njurys an d Lo sses w hich the subjects of that Govern men t (as w ell as th ose of m ost other n ation s) ff an d n n Let have su ered by the fraud i j ustice of the Fre ch . M e have an acc o u n t from time to time by every Con ve n ie n cy that offers of what occou r s in th o se parts an d may be for his ’ M S i in the n on n ajesty s erv ce prese t C ju cture .

O . V L I . 6 6 AN E TUNIS PA ST D PR SENT .

The fo rme o f Passes g oes als o i n cl osed which will be here after sign ed by at least three of the C o mmissi on ers o f the Admi ra lty w hich y ou must carefully explain e to th ese there t n o preve t all mistakes whe n their Shippes meet ours at sea. Sr Your very Lovi ng Frie n d to Serve y ou S H REW SB UR Y .

I n 1 6 0 W I I I o tw o o the year 9 illiam . wr te ther i i to . H s o letters Dey Ali Ra s success r , Tatar Dey , had the rare distin cti on Of bein g eaten by his su b

n on o o j ects . This eve t ly ccurred ﬁve years bef re ” the auth or of the Etat deS R oyaumes de Barbarie

an d in visited Tunis , he says it was described his

- presen ce by eye witnesses . He writes thus “ Mehem et n Bei accepted his surre der , but the

o w ho to n n o oo pe ple , were excited mad ess, s ner saw n in of fo of him , tha , spite the ef rts the Bey ,

on o to an d an they fell up him , t re him pieces , by excess of cruelty on ly belon gin g to these Barba ” f n his . o o ria s , eat ﬂesh He adds that the wid w

w h o Mehem et of Tatar , regarded as the cause her ’ n oo of his in husba d s death , t k a piece ﬂesh her ’ n o n U n . ha d , and rushed i t the Bey s prese ce p ’ n G od braidi g him with Tatar s death , She prayed that sh e might live to see him devoured as her

n n and to o husba d had bee , , emphasise her w rds ,

o actually ate the m rsel She carried . The eighteen th ce n tury opened with a war F TH 6 TH E DOMINATI ON O E DEYS . 7

of n an d w between the Regencies Tu is Algiers , hich was on ly put an en d t o by the P orte sen din g written orders t o the belligeren ts to cease h osti liti o on of n ow n S O l ow es . The p siti Dey had falle that the occu pan t Of the p ost in 1 7 0 1 had been for

f - o n merly a c of ee h ouse keeper . In the f ll owi g May the Bey Mourad with his son s were massacred at the in stigation of on e of his ofﬁcers while travellin g

n n to Bej a . By a stra ge coi ciden ce this tragedy o n n tw o ccurred at Oued Zergua, desti ed early centuri es later to become the scen e of the h orr ors of o th 8 1 I n 1 0 of the 3 September 1 8 . 7 5 the last

o o an d the Deys was dep sed by the Turkish s ldiers ,

o o n they elected in his stead their m st p pular captai ,

Heu ss ein B en w ho Ali , assumed the title Of Bey , an d foun ded the dyn asty which has ever Si n ce

n n n remained in p ossession of the Tu isia thro e . ( 6 3 )

V CHAP TER I I I .

TH E F T E H H BEYS O H EIG TEENT CENTURY .

advent to p ow er of H oussei n B en Ali and his dyn asty wrought li ttle or n o chan ge for the

in on o of o un better the c diti n the c try . The piracy of n of the Deys became the privateeri g the Beys , an d l o on civi disc rd c tinued as rife as ever, with the s ole differen ce that it was m ore or less con ﬁn ed

H eu ssein B en t o on e family . Ali himself was a

n o n a n d o re egade Greek fr m Ca dia , alth ugh he is o n n n fte styled El Turki , his desce da ts have very

or oo in n In little Turkish Arab bl d their vei s . 1 7 0 8 the depredation s of Tun isian c orsairs caused a temp orary suspension of p olitical in tercours e

n on with Fra ce , which was ly resumed after the

n f o w o executi o o a fav urable treaty t years later . if Rou sseau o on M . says that ab ut this time the relati s between the French C on sul - Gen eral an d his En glish c olleague became so strain ed that the former ofﬁcially ordered the Fren ch lau n dress to refrain

nn n nn 1 0 . A ales Tu isie es, p . 3 T T 6 H E BEYS OF H E EIGHTEENTH CENTURY . 9

’ o n n n n an d fr m washi g Mr . Richard Lawre ce s li e , the Fren ch baker was forbidden to supply him

n n d with bread . A fresh treaty with E gla was n o in 1 1 6 an d in 1 2 an n o o eg tiated 7 , 7 5 e v y fr m

n n the P orte obtain ed a c on ve tio for Austria . H eu ssein s oo n began to Sh o w an i n creased dis

o on to n an d o p siti break with Fra ce , his c rsairs frequen tly pursued their prizes to the c oast of

n on in 1 2 8 Prove ce . A squadr arrived at Goletta 7 e m n . n an d o u der M De Gra dpr , the Bey was c pelled to make Sign al reparation for the behaviour of his

n H eu ssein n 1 captai s . was dep osed i 7 3 5 by his n w h o in 1 0 t o an ephew Ali Pacha , 74 came o n n on - n pe rupture with the Fre ch C sul Ge eral ,

. n of M . Gauthier The Fre ch accused the Bey piracy on an d o n their ships , the Bey ret rted by chargi g the French with sen din g st ores to his n ephews .

Desfon tain es an d o o o n v M . s me ther hist ria s gi e a “ ff n on of ca n es b elli very di ere t versi the . The

n n an d n . rupture betwee Fra ce Tu is , writes M

Desfon tain es n of of , was caused by the wa t tact ou r on n n C sul . This age t was ruled e tirely by his

w ho o of o n mistress , was j eal us a Maltese w ma

to n n n on married a Fre chma . She i duced the C sul t o expel the Maltese fr om Tun is on a charge of

o o o on bad behavi ur . The latter s ught the pr tecti

1" Appendix F . ND 7 0 TUNIS PAST A PRESENT . o f the Khaz n adar b u t on n on , the C sul i sisted

n Th z n a . e Klra ad r re o arresti g her scued her by f rce , an d his d oin g s o bei n g con strued i n to an i n sul t to ” th e n ﬂ a o ou t. Fre ch g , the war br ke Whatever

o n of was the rigi al cause the dispute , the Bey

t o n to o to seemed determi e pr ceed extremities .

o . t n He rdered M Gauthier o kiss his ha d . The

an d n latter demurred , was threate ed with death if h e n n i th 1 persisted i his refusal . O the 4 May 740 he w as c ompelled to submit t o the humiliatin g

n Tw cerem o y . o French vessels richly laden were

n o off B on captured by the Tu isian c rsairs Cape , L a nd the islan d of Tab ar ca i was occupied and its

n o o on to on o Ge ese c l ists reduced Slavery , a rum ur bec omin g curren t that the Lom ellin i family medi t ated on to n M n its cessi Fra ce . . Gauthier ma aged to to o o escape Trip li , whereup n Ali Pacha directed his son to destroy the Fren ch c ommercial establish

n e . . n n me t at Cape N gre A M Sauri s , a lieutena t in n o n u nsu c the Fre ch navy, made a r ma tic but cessfu l effort to Obtain p ossessi on of Tabarca by

w as o in n stratagem . He br ught an appare tly

n to n o dy i g state Tu is , but he ultimately rec vered an d was released . The heads of the Fren ch w ho

’ in n n perished M . Sauri s adve ture were exp osed

M H o . o 2 2 . Pellissier ém ires ist riques, p . 9

t Appen dix G .

2 7 TUNIS PA ST AN D PRESENT . an d l z l . Su au e on su b or di M De , the C su , and his n ates escaped with difﬁculty over the terraces o f

n Mu h am ed the h ouses to the British Co sulate . w as in 1 his o succeeded 7 5 9 by br ther Ali . ” The British frigate Win ds or arrived at G oletta in 1 7 6 2 with an e n v oy t o an n ounce th e accession of o in I I I . on n n Ge rge , but the missi early e ded an

n n n to Ope rupture ; Mr . Clevela d decli ed kiss the

’ h n o to his n to Bey s a d , and bjected suite havi g leave their sh oes at the entrance of the audience

d n o chamber . The ispute termi ated in a c ompr

n o mise . The Bey excused Mr . Clevela d fr m the

o on on on on o f rmer cerem y, c diti that he br ught a n of o ﬁ to o an d o umber f cers duly perf rm it, bviated all difﬁculty as to the sh oes by receivin g the

n E nglish Missi on in a kiosque adj oi ing the palace .

n of n o An excha ge prese ts , as well as a ratiﬁcati n

f o n n on oo . In 1 6 o o . f rmer c ve ti s , t k place 7 4 M

Saiz ieu o n n n De , the newly app i ted Fre ch age t, ” n n achieved a n otable diplomatic success . Ve etia an d Fren ch ships- Of-war arrived alm ost simul

l n n to tan eou s y at G oletta . The Bey i te ded treat

i ieu o n o . Sa z b th alike, but M De succeeded in f rci g the Ve n etian captain to be con ten t with a salute of ’ n to an d to off seve guns , kiss the Bey s hand take his o o ot tw o sh es , whereas the French c mmander g

Rou u 1 6 . ssea , p . 7 TH E BEYS OF TH E EIGHTEENTH CENTURY . 7 3 gun s m ore an d was abs olved from all kin d of

n mon o humiliati g cere ial . But this satisfact ry state of n ot on an d in 1 0 n affairs did last l g , 7 7 Fra ce was

of n on ce m ore at war with the Bey Tu is . The immediate cause of h ostilities was a refusal on the part of the Bey to liberate C orsican slaves on that

n o n n o on An b isla d bec mi g a Fre ch p ssessi . Ara

o n o B en el has hist ria , El Haj Ham uda Abd Aziz , ” left in his Kitab - el - bacha a graphic accoun t of

n n the circumsta ces which atte ded this expedition .

n o n n The K ights of St . J h se t tw o of their ships to

n . an d o o assist the Fre ch ﬂeet Bizerta, Susa, P rt

n n o n Fari a had bee already b mbarded , whe a Turkish e n voy happe n ed to arrive at Goletta in order to procure t he services o f a Tun isian c on tin ge n t to assist the Sultan in his struggle with “

. n o Russia The Turkish age t , says M . R usseau , “ o o n of n on s ught the c mma der the Fre ch squadr , an d did n ot e n deavour to con ceal the fact that this

o n war w uld greatly displease the Sulta , as the French forces had ch osen the m omen t to wage war

n one o his r ovin ces n agai st f p , whe he was himself ’ n n His o f of on e ta gled with Russia . f ers mediati w n an d to ere ﬁ ally accepted a peace agreed . The con diti on s obtain ed were n ot particularly favour able — C orsica w as to be treated as part of France ;

H Appendix . 7 4 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT . the c oral ﬁshery was to be resumed u nder certain

on on b u t th e to o r e c diti s , Bey refused all w the

n o o e establishme t f the wareh use at Cape N gre . Presen ts were to be se n t by Fran ce to the Tu n isian

G o n n t on f ver me the o ccasi on o the peace . I n 1 7 7 5 the Maltese ﬂeet burned tw o Tun isian c orsairs off G oletta ; a nd the Fre n ch an d E n glish Con suls had a ﬁerce dispute as to which of them was e n titled to the place of h on our w he n they b oth

’ happen ed to be together in the Bey s presen ce . This quarrel seems to have o ccupied for some m onths the atten tion of the Cabinets of L on d on an d o n of o n o u n Paris . N thi g imp rta ce ccurred d ri g

o o n in 1 o n the f ll wi g year , but 7 7 7 the French pe ed n on f r n of egotiati s o the cessio Tabarca . The E nglish Govern men t became aware of these pou r

’ a r ler s o W o o to o p , and L rd eym uth wr te C nsul Traill on the subj ect .

To CON SUL TRAILL AT TU NI S .

d J MES 2 r M a 1 ST. A 3 y 7 7 7

I am to desire that y ou will give atte n ti on to what may pass with respect to the N eg ociation of the Fre n ch with the B ey of Tu n is for the islan d of Tabarca an d in form me of a nythi n g that may be i n teresti n g on that subject . His majesty d oes n ot thi n k proper to make an y prese n t to

’ n n Ro Ro the B ey s Son on his bei g i vested with the yal be , an d His Majesty expects that y ou will ﬁnd mean s to preve n t

6 AND 7 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

S n n o Y ou an d \Ve to You on e time ts t wards , that desire give o n oo o f n h all Occasi s Pr fs Our Frie dship . Wit reg ard to the o o n n in o L to ther particulars c tai ed y ur etter, We refer what Our Secretary o f State has Orders to c ommu n icate to y ou o n

\Ve o n u t o Our Part . rec mme d y o the Protecti on of Almighty

G od an d ou . n o , bid y heartily farewell Give at Our C urt at ‘ ’ 6 D S 2 . a of 1 1 I n n James s the y April 7 8 . the twe ty ﬁrst of R n Year Our eig . Your Lovin g Frien d

G E ORG E R.

Hillsb orough .

LORD H SB OROUG H TO ALI B EY ILL .

To M o E n Lo B w of in o the st xcelle t rd , the asha the K gd m of n n an d of o t Tu is , Greeti g ; Wishes m st perfec Health , true n an d o Mo t i an d E n L Happi ess Pr sperity . s H gh xcelle t ord . The Ki n g my Royal Master has c omman ded me to an swer that part o f y our Letter to His Majesty in which y ou claim His favour an d Protection for the obtai n i n g Paymen t o f Six hun dred P ou nds B ritish Mon ey due to y ou from Lawren ce

B o M to o L aw of to yd . His ajesty was pleased rder His ﬁcers proceed with out Delay in summon i ng to appear befo re them

L n B o w ho n o D an d the said awre ce yd , ack wledged the ebt,

o o n n n to n theref re w uld have bee se te ced pay it, if it had bee in o b e n o n to his P wer, but havi g made appear his t tal i ability

an o on o n of discharge y part there f, acc u t the miserable state to an d M n n i n which he is reduced , His ajesty bei g u will g that Y ou Yourself sh ould be a Sufferer by the Misfortu n es of any of S o to t o His ubjects, has rdered His High Treasurer pay S idi Mula Hamet the e n tire Su m o wi n g to y ou by the said

L w n B o o ou n o a re ce yd , but it is h ped y , will thi k it pr per hereafter to av oid such Tran sacti on s with Pers on s y ou are n ot f i n n h for it is n ot to su ﬁc e tly acquai ted wit , be expected TH E BEYS OF TH E EIGHTEENTH CENTURY . 7 7 that His Majesty can c on sider himself as resp on sible for

on the c on duct of all his subjects . I Shall be very glad all o ccasi on s to give proofs of my great Regard to your

o on an d and s o o n n ou to illustri us Pers Family , rec mme di g y th e o t on of G od n o pr tec i Almighty , I remai with the utm st Respect Most High an d Excelle n t Lord ’ Y o ur High n ess s Most obedie n t an d most humble servan t HILLSB OROUG H ’ ST JAMES S

2 6 Ap r i l

few on o in A m ths later Austria was c mpelled ,

- n to su e for n ou self defe ce , a treaty with Tu is thr gh

oo o ﬁ of the g d f ces the Sublime Porte . The Bey insisted on receivin g a n a nn u a l tr ib u te besides a

su m on an d large in ready m ey , was with great

’ difﬁculty persuaded t o gran t a ﬁv e m on ths respite

n n t o Austria mercha t vessels . A regular con v en

on n ot o o 1 8 n 2 ti was c ncluded bef re 7 4 . O the 6 th

2 May 1 7 8 Ali Bey died.

o his t son to on Ham uda , eldes , succeeded the thr e

o an on n on n ot o with ut y c te ti , but did Sh w himself disp osed to depart a j et from the tradition s of his

n o n n forefathers . The Da ish G ver me t requested permission t o h oist the n ation al ﬂag over its Con

n sulate , but the Bey asked sequi s as the

These letters are dated precisely on e hun dred years prior to th e

n of F n oo n o n o on 26 1 88 1 . e try the re ch tr ps i t Tu is territ ry April , N 7 8 TUNIS PAST A D PRESEN T.

of a o an d the D s l w as price the f v ur, ani h admira o bliged to leave G o letta in desp air . Then came a

- e s eriou s an d long lastin g rup tur with Venice . The B ey demanded an indemnity on acco unt of some Tu n isian passengers w ho had been wrong fully taken to M alta in a ship sail in g under the colours

of the. s w as on Republic, and j ust as this di pute the point of being adjusted a fresh quarrel ar os e concernin g the wr eck of a Ven etian v ess el at

G o a c l a o of on th e letta , which ended in de ar ti n war

a of B e the l sion of all e p rt the y , and expu V netian

R In e 1 8 citiz ens from the egency . Septemb r 7 4

s o of the R l i comm ed the quadr n epub c, and by

m r al Emo a i e d G ol e a All a em Ad i , rr v at tt . tt pts

a l ov fr u tl s an d th e shi s at sett ement pr ed i es , p

y d t a n th e ultim atel returne o the Adri tic . Duri g foll ow ing year th e Venetian s quadr on bombarde d

an d fa did l l e ama Sus . S x , but very itt d ge .

dm l E mo a t w a d eac e G o an d A ira f er r s r h d letta , sh elle d it dur ing th e nights of the 3 oth Oc tober an d th ov e b er en ti el fa ed to k e s N m , but r y il ta

s v a e of his u ce s. No e e w as o clu e ad ntag s c p ac c n d d ,

w mor a t ac an d in a ch 1 8 6 Sfa . a s o e M r 7 x nc e t ked , an al o The a e d ﬁn ly alm s t re duced to r u in s. s m

z at b f s ccessio r ta an d s The. f e e ell in u n B i e Su a . obsti nacy of th e B ey seem ed t o in creas e w ith each mi fo an d h e n ow aised his de a d for an s rtune , r m n

So A TUNIS PAST ND PRESENT .

1 7 9 1 Spain too purchased a treaty from its former

n n a t o o f n depe de cy a c st piastres . Duri g o u r w ar t n in I 6 an n o wi h Fra ce 7 9 , E glish squadr n surprised four Fren ch m en - of— war at an ch or off

o An n n in G letta . e gagement e sued , which three of n n o n the Fre ch ships were take . This pr ceedi g

o is very severely c mme n ted on by Fre n ch writers . At this time the Fre n ch Republic was represen ted

o on by a Special C mmissi er , the citizen Hercules , ’ and har e ff i C d A a r es . D v oiz e o e . a g , M The f rmer accused the latter of a suspici ous in timacy with

n on of o n é é o n to the E glish C sul , fav uri g migr s, g i g ” n n 0 Richa r d 0 mon r ot o mass and si gi g , , , up n which he was ordered to Paris to give an accou n t of on o to his c duct , which was , h wever , deemed be

Dev oiz e n to his o in satisfactory . M . retur ed p st

1 o o 7 9 7 . Three years bef re Ham uda Bey had

l Un an d dec ared war against the ited States , in 1 7 99 the American G overn men t deemed it expe dien t to put a stop to the depredati on s committed

n on their merchan t shippi g by a treaty . The followin g are the curi ous items of the price paid

iz o in 8 000 o for v . it , d llars cash ; d llars for 2 8 n n o of 1 2 1 secret service ; ca ns calibre , 4 , an d 8 ; can n on balls ; 3 00 quin tals of g u n

o 00 n of o p wder ; 4 qui tals c rdage , and a quantity of j ewels . TH n H E 8 1 E BEY S o T E EIGHTEENTH C NTURY .

While the chief P ower in the N ew W orld w a s th u s payin g tribute with all the forms of dipl o

to i of Old macy the pirat cal states the , the weaker n ation s of Europe were reapi n g the fruits of the system which con ven tion s thus ign obly obtai n ed

an d o Th e on ly served t o n ourish supp rt . Ameri

can had n n n Treaty hardly bee sig ed , whe the

n n o Mu ham ed ai B on Tu isia c rsair , R s mali , appeared with twelve Sh IPS before the defe n celess islan d o f

San o t o of n an d Pietr , the west Sardi ia , carried

n o n o o f n i t slavery early the wh le its i habitan ts .

This occurred in Ju n e 1 7 99 . Three m on ths after

o h o of u n wards Ham uda Pac a , by rder the S lta ,

n n an d in o n declared war agai st Fra ce , acc rda ce with his directi on s se n t his squadron j oin the

n t of E glish ﬂeet Off the coas Egypt .

V O L. I . CHAPTE R IX .

TUNIS B ETW E EN 1 8 00 AND 1 8 3 7 .

TH E h ostilities between the Regen cy of T u n is an d

2 the Fren ch Republic on ly ceased in February 1 8 0 .

o oon an t o o The Bey , h wever , s m aged pick ther h quarrels with is Europea n allies an d tributaries . The Dan ish Con sul fell i n to disgrace for offerin g Ham ouda s ome arms m oun ted in c opper gilt i n stead o f o an d n o n w g ld , thirty table Spa iards ere relegated t o the comm on pris on because tw o g u n - b oats sen t from Madrid con tain ed eighteen gu n s i n stead

n - on in 1 8 0 o f twe ty four . It was ly 4 that these

n o n on an d n o u f rtu ate pers s were liberated , the nly o n the G overn me n t of His Most Cath olic Maj esty

’ humbly te n deri n g for the Bey s acceptan ce a large

on n an d tw o chcb ccks n m ey prese t , each carryi g

- n o t w en ty six gu s . The Dutch ﬂeet als arrived with an e n v oy charged to ﬁx the an n ual pay me n t to the Pacha a nd if p ossib le t o comp ou n d for ” n su m in on it by givi g the Bey a lump ready m ey . U n der these circ umstan ces it is hardly surprisin g

8 4 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT .

l supp ort an e n deav our of Lady “illiam Be n ti n ck to purch ase the release of a n umber of Christian sl aves . After much hesitati on Ham ouda Bey agreed to a c on ve n ti on with Sicily which was t o have effect as l on g as the E nglish o ccupati on of that islan d con

An nn an d 00 . ti ed , nearly 5 slaves were released attempt subseque n tly made u n der th e au spices of Fran ce to obtain the liberati on of th e Neap olita n captives was n ot equally successful . The Bey refused to accept less than d ollars f or a tr ea t an d an d as o n n o y the slaves , the Neap lita e v y c o uld on ly o ffer the n egotiati on s fell

o n through . Ham uda Pacha died sudden ly o the

1 1 8 1 n n ot 5 th September 4 . Native an alists are agreed as to whether his c offee cup or the sn uff b ox of his secretary con tain ed the p ois on w hich killed him .

h n Ham ouda was succeeded by is brother Othma . Three m on ths later this u n fortun ate prin ce w as m assacred with his tw o s on s at the in stigati on of

n his c ousin an d success or Mahm oud . O the same

on o f n of day his wife gave birth to a s . The f spri g O thman Bey remain ed a prison er in the Bard o

1 8 n w as Mu ham ed Palace till 5 5 , whe he released by

n Mu h am ed son of n Bey , his amesake . , Othma Bey , on in 1 8 6 8 n of o ly died . The reig Mahm ud Bey w as n to see en d of of desti ed the the system piracy , TUNIS BETWEEN 1 8 00 AN D 1 83 7 . 8 5 the remembran ce of which will be fo r ever ass oci

of ated with the very n ame the Barbary States .

On 1 2 th 1 8 1 6 o o the April , L rd Exm uth arrived

o . on o n n at G letta A few m ths bef re , the Tu isia captain Mustapha Rai s had attacked on e of the

of o of n an d n o islets the c ast Sardi ia , carried i t

m an o n a n d n n captivity every , w ma , child i habiti g

o n ow it . The Great P wers decided that armed force was to take the place of caj olery an d bribes . I n accordan ce with this determin ation L ord EX

n m outh deman ded the ab olitio of Christian slavery . It happen ed th at at this very time Car olin e Prin cess of Wales was e nj oyin g the splen did h ospi tali ty of Mahm oud Bey i n his city palace . Neither

n n t o an d party seemed i cli ed yield , matters assumed

n on of a very threaten i g aspect . The mediati the royal guest was in v oked in vain ; Lord Exm outh

n n n was i exorable . The Pri cess se t the greater

of t o o part her baggage G letta , the British mer chan ts hastened t o embark o n b oard the vessels of

on m en - of- for the squadr , the war were prepared

on an d to o t acti , the Bey did his best c llec all avail

n ia n able rein forcements . The exciteme t Tu is

n n an d o on con became i te se , a paciﬁc s luti was sider ed alm ost imp ossible .

On 1 6 o o o n the th April L rd Exm uth , acc mpa ied

on - l der an d f . n O an r o by Mr C sul Ge eral g his sta f, p 8 6 P AN D R TUNIS AST P ESENT .

ceed d to d a The f - a f o f the e the Bar o P lace . lag st f British Age n cy was previ ously l owered t o i n dicate a res oluti on to res ort to a n appeal to arms in case f of an d n of “ alcs failure , the Pri cess expected every h our to be arrested as a h ostage . The an tecede n ts of the Bey were n ot precisely calcu lated to a u o n on e of ss age her alarm , but Mahm ud se t his officers to assure her that c ome what m ay he sh ould n ever dream o f vi olatin g the M oslem laws

' o f h ospitality . While the messe n ger was still with

o o n oo an d an her , L rd Exm uth e tered the r m

n n ou n ced the satisfactory termi ation of his m ission . On the foll owin g m orn i n g the Bey sig n ed a treaty whereby in the n ame of the Rege n cy he ab olished

n for ou n Christia slavery ever thr gh out his d omin i o s . Am on gst the reason s which in duced the Bey t o yield t o the pressure used by Lord Exm outh was

’ the dete n tion of the Sultan s e n voy beari n g the

ma n of n imperial ﬁr n a d robe i vestiture at Syracuse . The Neapolitan govern men t w ould n ot allow him to depart u n til the n ews of the successful result of

on an d ou the British missi had arrived , Mahm d felt it imp ossible to forego the ofﬁcial rec og niti on of his

n s u zerai .

of o f o to n The visit the wife Ge rge IV . Tu is is

o o n hardly yet quite f rg tte . The Bey gave her a

of on o o o of mem el ou k s guard h ur c mp sed sixty , and

i N D E TuN S PAST A PRES NT . s o n an d o n n in ter min heir. This epis de e ge dered a c o e on n ah o o n t s ble rr sp de ce . M m ud wr te a gry le ter t o the Pri n c e Rege n t a n d Sir Th omas Maitlan d o n th e subj ec t o f what he styled the irregular an d t n on of land r urbule t c duc t the said Con sul Og e .

’ Th e foll o w i ng is the B oy s complai n t in his ow n w ords Setti n g aside that it is improper to o ffe n d ag ai n st the usages an d customs of an y c our t

r in of O lan der g reat o small matters etiquette Mr . g h as exp osed himself from his m or e pride an d caprice t o receive a v i ole n t an d public affron t on the 2 o th i n st . with out its bei n g in my p ower to preven t it if it had n ot been for the pruden ce an d prese n ce of mi n d of my son w h o stopped the gen eral irritati on upon his havi n g in the m ost marked man n er together with his Vice - Con sul Alexis Tulin refused t o kiss

n of son an d n n on the ha d my heir Hasa Bey , sitti g the thron e an d receivin g the n s olem n ly ou r sacred

on n of cerem y , his i vestiture with the title Bashaw

o n n n u on o fr m His High ess the Gra d Sulta , p ath admin istered t o all the Divan an d gran dees of the

n n on Rege cy prese t at the cerem y , the Bashaw havin g bee n so saluted as is always the custom from

o n an an d n time immem rial by the Fre ch , Sp ish Da ish

n h l n der an d o o w o . O a C suls , preceded Mr g , als by the ” o on w h I o o o . n ther C suls f ll wed him the result Mr .

’ O lan der s on his g c duct was disapproved by superiors . AN D 8 TUNIS BETWEEN 1 800 18 3 7 . 9

The Bey on several occasi on s e n deavoured the n ext t w o years to ig n ore the pri n cipal pr ov isi on

’ in 1 8 1 o f o E o . E L rd xm uth s treaty arly 7 . the Tun isian Admiral with s ome pri v ateers actually appeared in the E ng lish Cha n n el an d there captured

w n n a Bremen ship . The cre were take to Tu is as

on an d on n n n o n to pris ers , the Tu isia s e deav uri g sell

in n n n their prize E gla d , their ships were detai ed .

o on o o on n o o an d A m st acrim i us c rresp de ce f ll wed , fi nally the Bey w as compelled to surren der the

m n i o an d to n on 1 th o Bre e sa l rs , sig the 9 Oct ber a “ declaration that his privateers c oule n ot en ter

n the chan n els or n arrow seas of E glan d . To accomplish this result the visit of several ships - of w ar to G oletta became n ecessary . Tw o years later the appearan ce of a Dutch ﬂeet emphasised the res oluti on arrived at b y the Kin g of H ollan d t o submit n o l on ger to the degradati on of payin g blackmail u n der the n ame of tribute to

f n his ally the Bey o Tun is . Three m o ths after w ards Admirals Ju r ieu an d Freeman tle c ommun i cated to Mahm oud Pacha the irrev ocable decisi on “ of o Aix - — to n o the P wers at la Chapelle , e f rce the

o n of of is n ot on cessati a system piracy , which ly

on t o n o f c trary the best i terests all States , but is also fatal to the prosperity of th ose which practise

” ’

. B o s n w as n n on o it The y a swer emi e tly c ciliat ry , 0 P AN D P 9 TUN IS AST RESENT . b u t he prude n tly ope n ed the e n tra n ce of the Porto F ari n a lake in o rder to place his ﬂeet of c orsai r s o u t of n o in o f n In 2 . 1 8 0 gu sh t a case emerge cy , an e n voy o f the Sultan on ce m ore imp osed a peace

n n an d w betwee Tu is Algiers , hich he termed hum orously zi nc p a ir vér ita b lc mcn t deﬁ nitive ” t cc tc j bis . Pursuan t t o instructi on s received from

on n n o o n C sta ti ple , Mahm ud greatly i creased his

an d 011 o w ar n n ﬂeet , the h ly agai st Greece bei g

o n n on n o pr claimed , a Tu isia divisi u der the c rsair Mustapha Rats j oi n ed the squadron of the Captain

in o Pacha the Archipelag . “ 1 2 n o n The year 8 3 is k w as the year of the hats .

n on o o n on Acti g s me mysteri us i spirati , the Bey declared that an y Jew detected wearin g the ordin ary

o o n Eur pean h eaddress sh uld be severely pu ished . This order led to the arrest of an Israelite merchan t

o o o w as on su fr m Gibraltar , wh se pr test str gly p

o n - n p rted by the British Co sul Ge eral . The Bey at ﬁrst was i n ex orable an d an n ou n ced his in ten ti on of expellin g all Jews from the coun try who

o n ot W w uld wear a black c oif. A rupture ith

’ En glan d was on ly averted by the Bey s con sen tin g t o i n termeddle n o further with the c ostume of Jews Tw e nj oyin g the protecti on of Great Britain . o

n w on on on an d Tusca Je s presumed this c cessi , appeari n g in beaver hats were seized an d s ou n dly

2 9 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT . s orry to s ee the humili a tion of an i n veterate an d

mo e n m a nd o n o al st h reditary e e y ; sec dly , he h ped t hat a su c cess or to the B oy of Algiers w ould be selected from am on gs t the desce n d an ts of H ossei n

B en — nu n Con — n Ali , idea which the Fre ch sul Ge eral

o n n n w as n l st n o Opp ortu ity o f e couragi g . It u der these circumstan ces that the treaty with France of

for 8 1 8 0 . the th August 3 was executed A clause ,

o to n con s me time kept secret, ceded Fra ce a s picu ou s sp ot on the site of th e Carthagin ian B y r sa or citadel for the erecti on o f a mem orial ! in on o of o chapel h ur L uis IX . The ﬁfth article of the con ven ti on rest ored t o Fran ce the coral ﬁshery as far as Cape Nég r e but the Bey protested

n an d o of on on agai st it , s me particulars the c diti s agreed on were n ever carried into effect .

n n of n Here all published a als the Rege cy cease , but the v olumin ous records of the British C on sulate

n f o an n of on n n Ge eral a f rd easy mea s c ti ui g them . The peri od I am ab out t o speak of is u n d oubtedly on e of o n t n o in o the m st i teres i g ep chs its hist ry , an d I regret I am able on ly to refer brieﬂy t o the

n n m ost imp orta t eve ts . The situation between

1 8 0 an d 1 8 8 0 can fe w o 3 be summed up in a w rds . Fran ce had already begun to cast a lon gin g eye on

n of w an d in the Rege cy . The Beys Tunis kne it,

n d I Appe ix . 1 00 TUNIS BETWEEN 8 AND 1 8 3 7 . 9 3

the recesses of their heart hated Fran ee an d Fren ch m en acc ordin gly . At the same time they dreaded

o o on in o n c mplete abs rpti the Ott ma Empire , but clu ng with childish affecti on to the qu asi — in depen d

n of . n n e ce their vassalship E gla d , perfectly aware of the maritime an d strategic imp ortan ce of the

o n on n n n c u try , c sta tly held the bala ce betwee the

o an d n an d m n P rte Fra ce , time after ti e preve ted by prompt diplomatic acti on the much - dreaded extin e

on o f n n ti the Tu isian Rege cy . At last a time came

n n s d n on whe Pri ce Bi marck said to M . Wad i gt at

n do ou n o t o to n Berli , Why y g Carthage Fra ce w as n ot l on g in taki n g the hin t an d as the old vet o of n n n n a n an d E gla d was wa ti g , Carth ge was take

n o in of n Tu is abs rbed Algeria . The tale this taki g is the immediate subject of this b ook ; the diplo macy which p ostp on ed that taki n g for ﬁfty years is the esse n tial feature of Tu n isian history duri n g

- of o t ac the past half cen tury . As a study p litical

I o n so n n tics , have f u d it i teresti g , that I regret

n o on few to bei g able to dev te ly a pag es it .

’ é d Affair es in In 1 8 1 . 3 the Charg , M Lesseps , the ’ n of n o f to n to ame Fra ce , f ered i trust the Bey s brothers the Beylical g overn men ts of C on stanti n e an d o o on Oran . His pr p siti was gladly accepted , an d to n n oo a large tribute agreed . Tu isia tr ps had bee n already despatched to Oran when the n ews S E E 9 4 TUNIS PA T AND PR S NT . arrived tha t the Fre n ch G over nme n t had repudiated

n n n the arra geme t . A temp orary arra geme n t w as

w a d c an d after rds suggeste , but the Bey rej e ted it c a u m n l imed a large s he alleged havi g given to M . “ ”

to n n . Tw o Lesseps bi d the bargai years later , Sir Th omas Reade (British Con sul - Ge n era l from 1 8 2 4) supp orted a c omplai n t of his Sardin ian colleague that the Bey had caused sixty of his I talian servan ts t o receive each 1 5 0 strokes o f the basti n ad o for ” n on of his delayi g the preparati supper . Fre n ch squadron s a n d frigates are n ow rep orted as

n n o freque tly arrivi g at G letta, but their Visits were ge n erally followed by the appearan ce of ships fr om

. ou r n n Malta At times i ﬂue ce was eclipsed , but it ge n erally became pred omin an t again when ou r

n n vessels a n ch ored i the Gulf. The i tricacies of

o n ot o to this p litical rivalry were , h wever , perplex

on o n w ho of much l ger H ssei Bey , , in spite the

o n of his o n n n t o c mplai t Eur pea atte da ts , seems

n I n o n have bee n a j ust an d kin dly ma . rep rti g his 8 on 2 0th 1 . o death the May 3 5 , Sir T Reade wr te The p oor Bey sen t for me yesterday to offer his

n o o last adieu but whe I arrived , alth ugh he rec g

n ised n n b e n to . me i sta tly , was u able speak I was

r on o the on ly C on sul he se n t fo . Up several ccasions

n on n o latterly whe I called up him , he ever mitted ex pressin g his m ost an xi ous wishes for the c ontin uation

S D TUNI PAST AN PRES ENT .

- 1. n ew Fre n c h C on sul G e n eral n amed Sch ew b el a l Ie n o of rrived . persiste tly refused , by rder the

’ n G o v c r mn eu t to Mu sta ha s n Fre ch , kiss Sidi p ha d o n n n h i n a the prese ti g s crede ti ls . As Bey had “ o u t his an { 0 b e kis sed in o n n held h d pe Diva ,

on o f Sch ew b el on o the c duct M . was c sidered a gr ss a ff on an d n o n on . o r t After l g a xi us deliberati , the Bey res ol v ed t o termin ate the v" exa m qu aestio by ab olishi n g altogether the Cerem on ial of b a isemain

far o n on o n n as as the Eur pea C suls were c cer ed . A

n o n oon an d th e w as Fre ch squadr s after arrived , Bey i nvited in a mysteri ous man n er to i nvoke its assist a n n o n n o of ce agai st s me u deﬁ ed pr j ect the P orte .

h n d an d as n to Sidi Mustap a decli e , usual haste ed n m on of hi i form L ord Pal erst s dilemma . The Fren ch con ti n ued their efforts t o wean the Bey

o n of fr m his Turkish allegia ce , but the defeat the ﬁrst Fre n ch expediti on again st C on stan ti n e pre

n ve n ted his takin g an y decided step . I December

1 8 6 o o on an d 3 a ri t ccurred am gst the Maltese , the Bey (wh ose sympathies were less E nglish than th ose of his brother) decreed the ban ishmen t of the w o o on en ma sses an d i difﬁ h le c l y , was w th great culty preve n ted from carryin g his order i n to execu

on on n to w ti . Sidi Mustapha c ti ued eakly waver

n n an d o an d n betwee the Fre ch th e P rte , the Fre ch

an d n o 1 8 n . the E glish , till Oct ber 3 9 , whe he died ( 9 7 )

CHAPTER X .

TH E REIGNS OF AH M ED BEY AND H I S COUSIN

M UH AM ED BEY .

on o f in 1 8 AFTER the accessi Ahmed Bey 3 9 , the Fren ch party in Tu n is used every mean s to obtain

n n o an d o the asce de cy . They dec rated redec rated

’ an d o o ecclesi the Bey s secretary , br ught a zeal us astic from Algiers t o obtain a prep on derati n g n i ﬂuen ce in the Roman Cath olic Mission . The turn matters t ook in Egypt an d Syria tw o years

t o t o s o n la er seems , h wever , have eri usly i terfered

n n n of 1 8 1 with their pla s . Duri g the spri g 4 the purp ort of the secret article in the treaty of 1 8 3 0

n an d n n t o tra spired , the Fre ch bega build the

. o o on t St L uis Mem rial Chapel the Car hage Hill . As the walls gradually assumed the shape of

on o encein te a str gly f rtiﬁed , the Bey became

o ou an d n th r ghly alarmed . Sketches pla s were tran smitted to E nglan d ; Sidi Ahmed protested and threaten ed to c on struct a martell o t o w er t o

o n an d n n for c mma d the sacred ediﬁce , ﬁ ally se t

V OL. G I . 9 S TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT .

“ Sir Th omas Reade to tell him that the French

o n in his d an d were the greatest th r si e , that he threw himself e n tirely u p on the g ood ofﬁces and

o on of n n on pr tecti E gla d . A m th later , with the

of on n o on view further c ciliati g L rd Palmerst , Ahmed Bey t ook the ﬁrst step towards the ab olition of n o in his o n o egr slavery d mi i ns . He issued a decree forbiddin g th e exp ortati on of slaves from

an d n o on n to Tunis , liberated all the egr es bel gi g

’ his ow n n n o n for establishme t . U f rtu ately the Bey s

of n n peace mi d , Tahir Pacha at this ju cture became

n on n n o . w as Gra d Vizier at C sta ti ple Tahir , rightly or o o t o on n n wr ngly , supp sed have a l g sta di g grudge again st the Beys of Tun is on accou n t of havin g been (throu gh the dipl omatic skill of the ’ Fren ch Chargé d Aﬂ air es) refused permission to

n of la d there after the capture Algiers . Be this as

oo o n it may, the Bey s n received a letter discl si g a scheme of the P orte t o reduce the Regen cy to the status of a simple provin ce . Ahmed Pacha imm edi

to o on ately addressed several letters L rd Palmerst , requestin g the mediati on of the En glish Govern ” n n on e n o can o me t . O ly thi g , he wr te , be w rse for n n o o an d Tunis tha its exti cti n by the P rte ,

n that is its abs orpti on by France . Fre ch ships n ow n o o n n an d remai ed at G letta alm st perma e tly , care was taken t o turn the cooln ess with the Porte

A D l O O TUNIS PAST N PRESENT .

“ i n sist on the establishme n t o f ever s o little r eg ula r tr ib u te w t c , hich might easily be remi ted , but whi h w ould prove to some E uropean P owers that the ” Bey an d the Rege n cy w ere n o t i n depe n dent . Turkish be arers of vizirial letters were always a

o n an d an seri us matter at Tu is , Ahmed Bey made alm os t pathetic appeal to En glan d to help him ou t “ ” of n ot an his difﬁculty It is easy matter , he “ ’ o o to n t ld Sir Th mas Reade , satisfy my suzerai s

W n e n v oys . he the last came t o take leave I off 000 do b u t n ered him 4 llars , he disdai fully

u m in n an d o to ref sed the my prese ce , I was bliged ” give him six . This particular e n v oy proved to

n diﬂi cu lt to m n an d n be exceedi gly a age , whe the

n ot o n did Bey did c mply with his dema ds , he his

to an n on best excite i surrecti . He had the pictures in his room pulled d own as an in sult to the faith ’ of an d o in of Islam , sp ke all public places the Bey s

r i T an n u n due par tiality fo nﬁdels . o such exte t

n - n r o a a nda was this a ti christia p p g carried , that

n o the Turkish emissary had hardly left Tu is , bef re

o o o a ri t ccurred at G letta , which was quelled with

o n fﬁ o c siderable di culty . The British Ambassad r

on n n o o to su c at C sta ti ple appears , h wever , have ceeded in in d u ci n g the Porte to take a m ore favour

w n of hi able vie of the c o duct s vassal .

o n of an o n o 1 8 N thi g y m me t ccurred till July 4 3 , M E A N D M UH A M E D 1 1 REIGNS OF AH D BEY . 0 w hen m uch excitemen t was caused by the i nvasi on of the Tun isian territory by a Fre n ch force in the

a a directi on of La C lle . Just at the same time n a ttempt was made to abs orb the wh ole of the

in of . Citadel Hill at Carthage , the limits the St

o o n an d n u on L uis mem rial buildi gs , a Fre ch sq adr

o o appeared bef re G letta . The Bey became very

n an d as n for o much frighte ed , usual se t Sir Th mas

n n Reade . At his request a letter was at o ce writte ” “ I t t o o n . t o o L rd Aberdee appears me , wr te Sir “ o o n of Th mas Reade , that the actual pr ceedi gs

n in t o n the Fre ch , regard this Rege cy at the

n o n n n o o n prese t m me t , ca t be viewed with ut a certai

of on for degree suspici , at the same time they vi olate the territory in s o open an d outrage ous a

n an d n a on t o o n n n ma ner , se d a squ dr c u te a ce by its presen ce the addition al deman ds of the Fre n ch

on t o on n t C sul with respect the m ume t at Car hage , they despatch an armed vessel c omma n ded by a very i n telligen t Algerin e decorated with the Legion of on o t o o o of n H ur visit the vari us p rts the Rege cy , an d his obj ect appears to be to mix with the Moors

é an d o o n at the caf s ther sp ts freque ted by them , an d haran gue them u p on the advan tages Algiers

o i n h p ssesses n bein g occupied by the Fre c . The

o o o st rm , h wever , blew ver , but the Bey issued a

o n o of o n n o decree f rbiddi g the exp rt c r , which i v lved A D 1 0 2 TUNIS PAST N PRES ENT .

the Rege n cy in an o pe n rupture o f dipl omatic rela

d a o f t i o n s with Sardi nia . The et ils the quarrel are

n n e n a n d n w as very u i t resti g , the differe ce after

a d n n on o f n n d mu ch del y a j usted by the i terve ti E gla . Ab ou t the s ame time the Bey man aged to pick a

s on n on - n per al quarrel with the Fre ch C sul Ge eral , w h om he a ccused of belab ourin g the coachman of

on e of n an d n u n ar lia the pri ces , applyi g the p

me n tary b estia t o the pri n ce himself. I n the fol l owi n g year a Malte s e miller murdered a serva n t

of on - n l o o n e o f the British C sul Ge era , t gether with

n n o ofﬁ Sir o his Tu isia p lice cers . Th mas Reade i n sisted on the crimin al bein g tried by the Bey in

o n o n t o n n on on n o pers acc rdi g the i ter ati al c ve ti ns ,

’ an d n é d Aﬂ air s . e M De Lagau , the Fre ch Charg , adroitly man aged to take ad van t age of the gen eral u n p opularity o f the proceedin g am on gst the European s to form a stron g cabal again st E n glish

n o n n i terests . All the Eur pea represe tatives seem

o n in o t have j oi ed this ass ociati n except Mr . J ohn

o a n on n o n H ward P yne , the America C sul , well k w

i n o o o of o Eur pe as the acc mplished auth r H me ,

w o . o o n S eet H me Sir Th mas Reade carried his p i t, an d the Maltese murderer was c ondem n ed an d

n n o . . ssen executed by the Tu isia auth rities Mr Ny ,

on on so to n the Dutch C sul , had g e far as i timidate

n in an d on in the wit esses the case, was summ ed

1 0 4 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT .

m or m a n n o n o f the e g iﬁce t fferi gs French , Sir Th omas Reade was determi n ed n o t to allo w an y slight t o be o ffered to British prestige in the

n n h s n 1 8 h o fol Rege cy . O t e 1 t Ju e 4 7 e wr te the l owi n g characteristic despatch to L ord Palmerston

MY LO D — 1 st Ma on n to R , Ou the y last the vessels bel gi g this Rege n cy havi ng ﬁred a royal salute in h on our of the

n of n o to an Ki g the Fre ch , I th ught it my duty require that equal ma r k o f respect sh ould be sh ow n to o u r m o st Graci ous f ’ o H . s S o n n 2 th . n n n o . M vereig the 4 ult , bei g the a iversary

a w o n on birthd y , hich was acc rdi gly d e . This is the ﬁrst year

n an d 0th n that such a practice has bee established , the 3 bei g

n n on - n f N S . o n t Ferdi a d , the C sul Ge eral aples adva ced the

n on of o n n o n same dema d behalf his s vereig , but salute havi g

n on n n d o t o bee ﬁred , the C sul , I u dersta , has addressed a rep rt h i ” s Govern me n t on the circumstan ce .

The Fren ch represe n tative n ow redoubled his efforts to in duce the Bey to break beyond h ope of

r on on o an d n n ou ec ciliati with the P rte E gla d , thr gh

o o en her ambassad r at Stamb ul , quite as actively deav ou r ed to impress up on the P orte the n ecessity of m ain tain in g the an cien t ties of frie n dship with

n o to Tu is . Sir Th mas Reade was fully alive the imp ortan ce of the p olitical i n trigue then bein g

o an d n ot to actively pr secuted , did fail impress

on n on of o his views the atte ti L rd Palmerston . On the 4th August 1 84 7 he thus addressed the Foreign Ofﬁce M M UH AMED 1 REIGNS OF AH ED AND BEY . 0 5

The Sultan sh ould u n derstan d that the best mean s of d o n of n o w to n estr yi g the effects Fre ch p licy ith regard Tu is , is that of e n c ouragin g an d pr om oti n g a stricter c on n ecti on f Lo d o n m n o . n with the G ver e t his vassal This , my r , I ve ture t o t o n n t o n n submi , is the ly practical remedy agai s f reig i trigues in this c ou n try ; an d sh o uld the B ey see a fran k an d open

o o o d o on can p licy bserved t war s him by the P rte , What reas he p ossibly have to trust a dan gerous n eighb our m ore than a ge n er ous an d far- placed master 13

’ On the 2 0th December 1 8 4 7 Her Majesty s ” steam frigate Aven ger was wrecked on the

n n o t t n n n Tu isia c as . Lieu e a t Fra cis R ooke an d three other pers on s were the s ole surviv ors of the

o B n . o e on e of catastr phe Mahm ud Ayad , the ’ n n o w o n Bey s mi isters , acquired c mplete i ﬂuen ce o n an d in o of tw o ver his mi d , the sh rt space years succeeded in reducin g the ﬁn an ces of the Regen cy t o of o on on Un a state h peless c fusi . der the pre te n ce of raisin g a l oan for the G overn men t he o n o t o o n to btai ed permissi n quit the c u try , which

n o on e he never retur ed . Ab ut year previ ously his father an d n ephe w had bee n obliged to seek refuge in on o on an d the British C sulate fr m his persecuti , L ord Palmerston ordered Sir Th omas Reade to give them protecti on an d in form the Bey that the Queen w ould n ot all ow a hair o f their heads to

o en ads n be t uched . The B Ay were o ce hereditary

of on to on e of rulers Jerba , and bel g the few 1 6 0 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT .

n n of n n n o remai i g families the a cie t Arab bility . They have ever Sin ce bee n c on sidered British su b

ec ts and n w G n S d i j , the ephe , e eral y Hami a , is st ll

an d o to of 1 2 th alive , pri r the crisis the May was on e o f the m ost trusted coun cillors of Mu h am ed es

Sadek Bey . The an of L ouis Philippe seems to h ave brought ab out a lull in the con stan t i n terfere n ce of Fran ce in in of co n the dest ies the u try . Sir Stratford Can n in g succeeded in placin g the relation s b e tween Turkey and Tunis on a m ore frie n dly foot in an d o n on of g , by a judici us expla ati the real n of n an d o n i terests suzerai vassal , c u teracted the distrust s own in the mi n ds of b oth by parties

i n I n i n terested n prom oti g discord . the summer o f 1 8 Mu hamed o n o of l 49 Sidi , G ver r the Sahe , was se n t as an e n v oy to offer to the Sultan prese n ts of the value of Sir Th omas Reade was

n on his an d o the deathbed , but the j ewels ther articles of value were br ought t o his h ouse to satisfy him that Sidi Ahmed was on ce m ore acti n g

n in accorda ce with his advice . Three weeks later

of Sir Th omas Reade died . By the especial desire Ahmed Bey his remain s were h on oured with as Sple n did a public fun eral as the res ou rces of the

- d-Din n w n . n e o Rege cy permitted Ge eral Kheir , an - n of o com ex Gra d Vizier the Ott man Empire ,

1 08 A N D TUNIS PAST PRESENT . t r n o to o t of y , he e deav ured f rget the perplexi ies his

n n n o c o sta t dipl omatic c omplicati o s . He empl yed

o n a n d n in o o b th Fre ch E glish military struct rs , s me o f wh om have published m ore or less i n teresti n g

n n arratives of their stay at his c our t. The E glish w ords of comman d brought in to use by Ge n eral

on n on t n n C sidi e , still survive am gs the few remai i g

n of n n o an d regime ts Tu isia s ldiers , I last heard them o n the day they were drawn up to con duct

n oo n o n the Fre ch tr ps i t the Tu is citadel . The o nly mem orial which still remai n s of the on ce rich an d o is n p pular Ahmed Bey , the disma tled palace of Mah am edia of o n the , which I have already sp ke in o a f rmer chapter .

his o n Mu ham ed Ahmed was succeeded by c usi ,

f on of o n the eldest o the s s H ssei Bey . He at on ce wrote a dutiful letter t o his suzerain deman di n g

n n n m the cafta , se di g at the sa e time

n of n an d o n n of i stead prese ts , a further c nti ge t 1 8 00 m en with h orses an d arms to assist the Turks

Mu h am ed Khaz n adar in . of the Crimea , the Vizier

n d o b u t m o of o Ahmed , retai e his p st , st the fav ur ites o f the late Bey were either arrested or dis

n o o o m issed . Ma y wh les me ref rms were suggested an d n n a on pla ed by Sidi M hamed , but their executi was impeded by the cares an d an xieties e n tailed

n o o o by his e rm us seragli , which literally surpassed F M M UH AM E 1 REIGNS O AH ED AND D BEY . 09 in exten t an ythin g k n own in history Since the time

n of o o of Kin g S ol omo . The fall Sebast p l seems t o

n on n n have awake ed c siderable e thusiasm at Tu is , an d a Te Deum w as celebrated in the Cathe

n n n an d dral , which was hu g with Fre ch , E glish ,

’ n th o Turkish ﬂags . O the 9 Oct ber the Sultan s

o an d n env y arrived , prese ted the Bey with his

n of n n o on of pate t i vestiture , the Gra d C rd the

an d w o n Medj idieh , a j ewelled s rd , in the prese ce of the civil an d religio us ofﬁcials an d the corp s

' r w n con su la t e. Sir Ed ard Bay es died in July

1 8 5 5 .

o . oo n ot His success r , Mr Richard W d , did arrive

‘ n 2 6 th n in th e follow in in Tu is till the Ju e g year . The man tle of Sir Th omas Reade could hardly

n on o or n o have falle a m re able e ergetic success r , an d he man aged to gai n in a Sh ort space of time

f I n the en tire con ﬁden ce o the Bey . August 1 8 5 6

Mu h am ed n to n n Sidi se t the Fre ch Pri ce Imperial , a cradle in Sil v er M oorish w ork an d the Tu n isian decorati on (which had bee n i n stituted by Sidi

in n set . of Ahmed Bey) , brillia ts The value this magn iﬁce n t gift was n ot less than I n

o oo n o n o of September , h wever, the Bey t k tice the

’ d o o e an . n Emper r s f te , M R ches , the Fre ch Chargé

’ d Affair eS o on in so o , viewed this missi seri us a light

n o on that he suspe ded dipl matic relati s . The Bey, 1 I N D O TUNIS PAST A PRESENT .

’ o o o n d to o o after f rty h urs reﬂecti , ecided ap l gise .

’ The langu age used in C ou n t VValew sk i s despatch w as s an d on n ot n very evere , if satisfacti had bee at d o n o . o to ce acc rde , M R ches was prepared embark o n n o th . e a Fre ch frigate Sh rtly afterwards ,

o n n for son on Emper r decli ed the Nisha his , the

’ grou n d tha t the Por te disp u ted the B ey s r ig ht to

r r n W o n c onfe deco a tio s . Mr . od was ow admitted to on n w of l g i tervie s with the Bey , the result

n n which s oo became appare t . Sidi Mu hamed res olved to preserve in tact his status as regards

o t o n n o the P rte , stre gthe as much as p ssible his

n n n an d to n on on allia ce with E gla d , gra t a c stituti

1 ‘ n t o his subj ects . On the 7 th Ju e 1 8 5 7 an eve n t

’ occurred which seemed to belie Sidi M u hamed s

an d o of o An assuran ces pr mises ref rm . Israelite

n Sfez n - carter amed Samuel , bei g ill treated by

o oo th e o an d o n s me M rs , cursed M slem faith r u dly

an d his o n n abused the Bey G ver me t . He was

on o in on w h o at ce dragged bef re the Bey pers , referred the case to the Cadi . After hearin g s ome native witn esses he was con dem n ed to death by h n molten lea d ou r ed dow n his thr oa t a nd avi g p , his b ody b u r n ed . His distracted wife appealed to th e on w h o n to on C suls , haste ed rem strate with

o t o T . o . o n the Bey It was , h wever, late haste matters the u n fortu n ate blasphemer had been b e

1 1 2 TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT .

of a on d t o f Equality t xati ; 3 , Equali y all classes a nd d n o n t on o th o e mi a i s bef re the law ; 4 , Religi us

o th on of o of freed m 5 , Limitati the peri d military

6 th on of o in service ; , Admissi Israelite assess rs crimi n al cases ; 7 th Ab oliti on of immu n ities en

o o 8 n j yed exclusively by M slems ; th , Establishme t of o o th of a mixed c mmercial c urt ; 9 , Liberty

o an d o on of on o o l o th c mmerce ab liti m p lies ; , Permission to foreig n ers t o exercise all trades an d

o on an d n o o n n 1 i th pr fessi s i tr duce f reig i dustries , Right of foreign ers to h old an d p ossess lan ded

f n o . o n o o o pr perty As a rec g iti n his c duct, th e

n o on o n d Mu h am ed Fre ch Emper r c ferred , Si i the

n o on of on of o o Gra d C rd the Legi H n ur . The En glish ﬂeet visited Tun is durin g the sprin g of

1 8 8 n to n 5 , but the Bey was u able retur the visit of o on n o n ot L rd Ly s , as an agreeme t c uld be

o to n w as t o c me regardi g the salute he receive .

n o n n on The E glish G ver me t , after much deliberati , rewarded the en lighten ed behaviour of the Bey by

n of o on a prese t c tt Seed , which was duly delivered

oo o on to him by Mr . W d with s me statistics c cern

of f o n in g the growth that use ul pr duct . I the m on th of Jan uary 1 8 5 9 Prince Alfred (the Duke of n n an d w as n n Edi burgh) visited Tu is , e tertai ed

h m d of n u n by Sidi Mu a e . The arrival the Pri ce d oubtedly awaken ed a very u n usual amount of M M MB O REIGNS OF AH ED AND UHA BEY . I I 3

n m n n o an d e thusias at the Tu isia C urt, the Bey himself placed r ou n d the n eck of his guest the diam on d medal worn on ly by members of the “ H u s in i of se te family . I hail the arrival your “ o n Mu ha med t R yal High ess , said Sidi , wi h a

o n n o o delight which w rds ca t p ssibly express . That

son of n of n an o u s the the Quee E gl d sh uld be with , that I sh ould have bee n afforded the pleasure of beh olding him i n my ow n palace is m ore than I

o t o an d ever h ped realise . Myself, my family , my

o o o wh le pe ple feel highly ﬂattered by y ur visit , an d con sider it as bein g in harm on y with the u n

o n o o o b u ded respect with which y ur R yal M ther, her

o n n an d on oo G ver me t, the British nati are l ked u on in o n Mu hamed o p this c u try Sidi , wh se

of n on n t o state health had bee l g very u sa isfact ry ,

on 2 2 d an d tw o died the September, days later his brother Mu ham ed es Sadek took the o ath prescribed by the new con stituti on in the pre

n of o of his n se ce the wh le mi isters , the civil an d o an d o n ecclesiastical functi naries , the f reig

n represe tatives .

V OL. I . ( N 4 )

CHAPTER XI .

M UH AM E D ES SADEK .

TH E ﬁrst act of the newly proclaimed Bey was to assure the British C on sul - Gen eral of his desire to main tain in tact his political relations with the

o an d - ed- Din n P rte , General Kheir was se t with rich presents to Stamb oul to demand the usual

n of n 2 th o pate t i vestiture . On the 4 Oct ber Mu h am ed es Sadek signed his ﬁrst Con ven tion with Fran ce on the subj ect of the c on struction of

o o n electric telegraphs thr ugh ut the Rege cy , and at the same time decided to carry ou t the plan s of his predecess or for givin g the capital a supply of water by the restorati on of the R oman aqueduct

o t o Zagh ouan . In N ovember L rd J oh n Russell an swered in a cordial mann er the letter of the

n n o n on to n Bey a unci g his accessi the Quee , but Mu ham ed es Sadek was greatly disapp oin ted at the c ommun icati on n ot havi n g assumed the character “ ” i to of an a o . s ut graph letter It me , said the

i o a m tt r of n n a . o a e Bey, ddressing Mr W d , u feig ed

1 1 6 AND TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

n n n of n its I depe de tly this circumsta ce , which had “ ” n on sig iﬁcati , the three tails , which are the n n of u of t n i sig ia a T rkish Pacha the highes ra k , w ere displayed t ogether with the Ott oman and

- n n of . Tu isia ﬂags . The ever watchful eye Mr

\Vood o o o , h wever, bserved that a regular thr ne had

n n o n o n - an d bee i tr duced i t the audie ce chamber , he haste n ed to request an explan ation of the p olitical

n n of n fol sig iﬁca ce the cha ge. The Bey replied as l ows IVe n ever imagin ed that the mere chan ge of the Shape of ou r state - chair c ould give rise to an idea of an y chan ge in the presen t state of the p olitical affairs existi n g between us an d the other

n n n o ou G over me ts . We i f rm y that this chair is a substitute for the chair which we usually sit up on in ou r on an d on ou r o cerem ies , which predecess rs

for n of have sat centuries . The cha ge shape can

of n o on n for its o n o be c seque ce , imp rta ce c nsists

on n ot the in the rules which it rests . We have ”

o in n and s o n o m ou . least sc pe the cha ge , we i f r y

I n of n n can n o spite this little i cide t , there be d oubt that the u n ders tan din g between the Bey an d the P orte from this time became on e of the m ost satisfactory character . The Bey durin g the summer of 1 8 60 submitted t o oo o for o on of Mr. W d a pr j ect the elab rati the c on stituti on already promulgated by Sidi Mu hamed. M D E 1 1 MUH A E S SADEK . 7

It was n ow prop osed to form a Chamber or Sen ate in great part of a represen tative character the Bey was on ly to act he n ceforward with the advice of his

n w ho in n to on Mi isters , their tur were be resp sible

n n n on to the Assembly . The ﬁ a cial admi istrati was to be improved by the i n troducti on of a budget an d

an d o of an d n civil list, a c urt appeal crimi al

I n tribun al were to be in stituted . September much excitemen t was o ccasioned in Tun is by the attempt “ ” of on e Sh er ef El Hashem ( the Damascen e ) to excite a j eha d or religious war again st the Fren ch

n n on e from the Tu isian fro tier . El Hashem was of the heads of the Kaderia c on fratern i ty at

i' B aghdadf but n ot w ithstan din g he r an the risk of off n n - o u o n deeply e di g this all p werf l c mmu ity , Muh am ed es Sadek arrested him an d con demn ed

to in o to o u t him death , rder faithfully carry his

n o n o o n obligatio s t wards Fra ce . The last w rds Sp ke by El Hashem were these You have sacriﬁced

to o n i w h o my life please y ur Christia all es , will

oon n or ou w ill b e themselves s ave ge my death , f y ” in en l Tw o the la st of the lin e of H u sse B A i .

o on weeks later the Bey was received by Nap le III .

l o n in n at A giers . Dec ratio s brillia ts were ex

n o an d i Mu cha ged between the h st h s guests . hamed es Sadek was profuse in his promises of

See page 24. 1 1 8 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT .

co d o t to n an d n n r ial sup p r Fra ce Fre ch i terests , a n d n \Vood n o i o eve Mr . was relucta tly bl ged t rep ort that the i n ﬂuen ce of Fran ce is n o w in the a n n o of of sce da t . S me the remarks the Emperor w n ot o o an d l ere f rg tten by the Bey , especial y an a t on tw o or d sser i , three times repeate , that the Turkish Empire was s oon destin ed to i n evitable

on oon his dissoluti . S after return he requested f “ t o o t o oo . Mr . d c me see him at the Bard o After repeatin g w hat the Emperor had said

o You see ab ut Turkey , the Bey remarked , that I am forced to c on ciliate my formidable n eighb our

n in o t w o m on by all the mea s my p wer . Any c o m Arabs on the fr on tiers have the p ower to brin g ab out a seri ous misu n ders tan din g between u s but had my c oun try been separated from Algeria by

s ea on an d o o the , my c duct my p licy w uld have ” n On 1 o been very differe t . the 5 th N vember the

t o oo o f Bey han ded pers on ally Mr . W d a c py o the amen ded c on stitution he was ab out to promulgate ” for n o to n . tra smissi n the Quee We trust , he “ o o o n l bserved , y ur august s vereig wi l appreciate the difﬁculties an d obstacles atten din g the tran si t ion from an old t o a t otally n ew form of govern

n of n n o n me t . At the wish E gla d , my c usi Ahmed

o a on ab lished sl very , and it is at her suggesti ,

ou ou n ow n expressed thr gh y , that we gra t liberty

1 2 P E 0 TUNIS AST AND PRES NT .

on on n ew an d o the c stituti , the Chamber , m re

n ew o n n especially the c urts , became i creasi gly

n o an d o m ob n n u p pular, a tumultu us eve i vaded

n off n the preci cts of the Bard o . The e ders were

n on on on n subseque tly pard ed , but the c victi gai ed

o n o n gr u d that seri us troubles were at ha d . Durin g the followi n g year the Bey resolved to sen d a special e n voy to con gratulate the Sultan

n hi n Abd cl Aziz o s accessio to the imperial throne .

In Ma 1 8 6 2 o o n y the ﬁrst l cal l a , which was after

to of so wards be the cause much mischief, was

on an d o o of c tracted , ab ut the same time s me the Algerian tribes led by Spahis in the Fren ch service attacked the Tu n isian clan B ou ghan em on the

n f n Tunisia side o the fro tier . This greatly irritated

an d o o o the Bey , he received very fav urably a pr p sal

IVood t o n n o on n on by Mr . e ter i t a c ve ti permit ti ng British subjects to h old real property in the

’ n n Kh ami r s o in c ou n try . Duri g the autum the r se rebellion against the Bey owin g to the imp osition

n o - I n of of an extrao rdi ary p ll tax . spite the natural difﬁculties which the de n se forests of their c o - n in o untry present , the heir appare t a sh rt time succeeded in restorin g order . It was just at this j un cture that a timely visit of the Prin ce of

" Wales an d the Crown Prin ce an d Pri n cess of Prussia created a very happy impression on th e MUH AME D ES SADEK . 1 2 1

’ n on n n Bey s mi d as regarded his relati s with E gla d , an d very formal assuran ces were give n him that as long as he foll owed the p olicy he had already ad opted he might always coun t on the frie n dly

f n Tw o on ofﬁces o Great Britai . m ths later the

n n of in n an d n prese t Ki g Italy arrived Tu is , duri g the festivities which ensued somewhat surprised his suite by i n vestin g the Bey with the i n sign ia of

o n o on the An n un ziata . Vict r Emma uel s me m ths afterwards conﬁrmed by paten t the sp on tan e ous

o n on his son n mi ati made by . The pecuniary em b arr assmen ts of the Bey s oon passed beyon d the

of o o n an d 1 8 6 on reach l cal l a s , in May 3 , after l g n o on o o o eg tiati s , he b rr wed fr m Messrs . Oppen heim an d Erlan ger for fiftee n years at the n of o i terest twelve per cent . Fr m this date began the l on g series of fin an cial difficulties w hich have n o t a little con tributed to the virtual abs orpti on of the Regen cy . Durin g the summer the Bey had occasi on to c omplain of three Specific raids on his subj ects “ o c mmitted by Algerian tribesmen . These i n cur

” C‘ on oo n o n si s , remarked Mr . W d , are u f rtu ately

o n o n an d n ow n bec mi g m re freque t , ge erally lead to rem on stran ces an d misun derstan din gs between

’ n an d the Fre ch auth orities the Bey s G overn men t .

o o is to sa In the last aggressi n rep rted , it , y the 1 2 2 AND TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

n n oo least, si gular that the Fre ch tr ps at Tebessa d ” id n ot i n terfere to preve n t the attack . The Bey at last Sig n ed the c on ven ti on all owi n g British subj ects to h old landed property in the coun try . This dipl omatic success was hardly of less imp or t a n ce than the ab olition of slavery an d the constitu

on an d o so n o on on ti itself, the m re as Similar c cessi had ever yet been before gran ted in any Moslem cou ntry The year 1 8 64 was ushered in by a rev olution

o to n of the Arab tribes . In rder pay the i terest due to Messrs . Oppenheim and Erlan ger the p oll tax payable by every Tu n isian subj ect was raised

o 6 to 2 to l fr m 3 7 piastres , and the attempt evy this wh olly ex orbitan t deman d termin ated by a

o o . n o seri us rev lt Bej a was besieged , Matar fell i t

n of n n an d o n o of the ha ds the i surge ts, the G ver r

o n to o o Kef, pr ceedi g j in his p st, was killed by the

f B u h n m o o a e . warlike tribe the g . M De Beauval w h o n o had succeeded M . R che as Fre ch Charge

’ d Affair eS o of n of , within a few h urs the ews the o n n n to utbreak reachi g Tu is , we t the Bey and dema n ded in the n a me of the E mp er or the a b r og a “ ” i n o he c n ti t n n t o t o s tu io . o f Y ur Orga ic Laws , “ o an d o of the he said , are wh lly s lely the cause

n o n of o prese t disc nte t . The Arabs are tired y ur regular tribunals and prefer your summary j ustice

1 2 A 4 TUNIS PAST N D PRESENT .

a y n o on n ot of n of re ll u der the pr tecti , Fra ce , but

n on — n l an d do the Fre ch C sulate Ge era , that he m an ded the dismissal of the Vizier Mustapha an d Gen eral Kheir - cd- Din as the supp orters an d pr o m ot r s f n - n d e o A gl o Turkish views a interests . The n ego tiati on s with the revolted tribes t ook a

o n an d o n o o fav urable tur , the b xi us tax was repealed

n n by proclamati o . Mea while several British ships

o f . war arrived as well as a Fre n ch squadron . M De

on to o n Beauval at ce repaired the palace , acc mpa ied

o o of an d by the Admiral , s me fﬁcers his staff,

o on Cam en on o n o in C l el p , f rmerly military i struct r

’ n n r the Tun isia army . The Fre ch Chargé d Affai es re n e w ed his deman d for the abrogation of the

n an d f n Orga ic Laws the dismissal o his Mi ister.

o o The Bey abs lutely rej ected the f rmer request , “ but observed that as he had made a con stitution to n n an d n o o on please E gla d France , he had bj ecti to n o tw o o n n u make it , pr vided the G ver me ts were

on o on am n n agreed the subj ect . C l el C pe o then v o n n o n an d i le tly de unced the Prime Mi ister, said “ that while he had bee n heapi n g up riches the coun try had grown too p oor to main tain the stan d ” in for its n So an g army necessary defe ce . warm altercation then en sued that the Bey and Sidi

o t Mustapha were bliged o leave the r oom . The Italian ﬂeet n ow hastened to j oin the English M UH AMED E s SADEK . 1 2 5

ou n o o o n an d French vessels . Alth gh h stile m veme t

in n o was made by the tribes the i teri r, the rebels

on o th an d o sacked Sfax the 3 April , bliged the European col on ists to take refuge in the ships lyi n g

n to n off the tow . Their wrath seems have bee par ticu larly directed again st the G overn men t farmers

d on o o an d o an d o an m p lists , their h uses st res were “ ” n t o n pillaged eve the ails . It was agreed that if disorders occurred at Tu n is the marin es of the

n n an d n o o E glish , Fre ch , Italia ships sh uld pr ceed thither by b oat to assist the male i n habitan ts in c on structin g barricades an d defen di n g the European

on of o o n quarter . The critical Situati the wh le c u try

o on n n did n ot deter M . De Beauval fr m c ti ui g his

to e n deav ours still further embarrass the Bey . He put his various deman ds in the form of an ultima

an d n . to tum , se t M Jules Lesseps with it the

I n o to o on of palace . rder facilitate a s luti the

n n on difﬁculty , Sidi Mustapha te dered his resig ati , and the Bey ﬁ n ally threate n ed to abdicate in four days . This seems t o have brought matters to a dead

to n l ock . M . De Beauval attempted i duce the

to n o o G o o Admiral la d tr ps at letta , but bef re he

t o do n n n had time further mischief, E gla d , Fra ce , an d Italy had agreed to a yow t acti on regardin g

for n t Tun is . The time the Fre ch o take Carthage 1 2 6 A TUNIS PAST ND PRESENT . had n ot o f n yet c me . A week later Haider Ef e di , the C ommission er Extraordi n ary of the P orte to “ n n o of n i quire i t the state affairs at Tu is , arrived

o n o at G letta with three Ottoma ships . Bef re the

' n n o d D H erb in ham vessels ﬁ ally a ch red , A miral g

n on oa an d n o o on we t b rd , e deav ured , b th by persuasi an d to n f n to n threats , i duce Haider Ef e di refrai

o n n o o on fr m landi g . The Turkish e v y pr l ged the discussion sufﬁcie n tly to en able him t o t ake u p an

n o o on an d n to adva tage us p siti , the quietly refused

o o on c omply with the pr p siti s made to him . The adve n t of Haider Effen di added n ot a little to the

f on n n diﬂi cu lties o the situati . Duri g the m o th

o on on n n of May the rev luti c ti ued u abated . The rebels at Sfax pron ou n ced the dep ositi on of the Bey an d o o n ﬁa oP an d o h isted the Ott ma o ) the Eur pean c ol onists at Susa three times t ook refuge in the European Ships in the roadstead on the false alarm

n of a gen eral risin g . Mea while the Bey held l ong

on n n an d u c fere ces with Haider Effe di , sed every exertion to prepare a small force to march i n t o the

n disturbed districts . Duri g all this time the four

m n o an d on o ﬂeets re ai ed at G letta the c asts , while the t ortu ous diplomatic game was bein g played

n o n n d n ou t o a o n o . at Paris , L d n , Turi , C sta tin ple ’ L ord Russell s prompt an d vigorous action had at B ’ the onset n ipped M . De eau v al s schemes in the

1 2 P AN D 8 TUNIS AST PRESENT .

n n as th e of n on E gla d cause the i surrecti , which it was alleged had bee n excited an d fostered as an excuse for brin gi n g the Regen cy u nder th e direct

o f o t o o oon rule the P r e . This the ry , h wever , was s

n t n B en desti ed o receive a rude sh ock . Whe Ali G hadam decided t o aban d on the r ole of an agita t or and to o to o , asked be all wed retire fr m the world an d Spen d his days up on a small pl ot of grou n d on which he w ould build a z a ou ia of the

Ti an ia o oo o n in j br therh d , he v lu tarily placed the han ds of Mu ham ed es Sadek three extra ordin ary

o letters which h e had received fr m M . De Beauval

o on e o n n n o n on thr ugh Gi va i Mattei , the Fre eh C sul

f m to n o n t o Sfax . They erit be ha ded d w o pos ter it as n n of o n n y u ique specime s dipl matic i ge uity , an d the m ore s o as their authen ticity n ever appears t o have been den ied . It need hardly be said that the Fren ch n aval and military officers were en tirely

n o n of or an o on ig ra t these y similar c mmunicati s .

i l r s t 1 L ter a T an la ion . LETTER N o. ( )

d o M D e B I n n of on e G o . . n the ame the Fr m eauval , Fre ch

on in n to o ur o an d n S C sul Tu is , bel ved , respected , lear ed eid

h dam n B en M o B en G a . Aly hamed After greeti gs , we have to n o ou o n i f rm y , ﬁrst , that we s lem ly swear by the Almighty w ho se n t the go spel with Christ that we will n ot hide from

ou r o n n y ou an ythin g n or the wishes of G ver me t . The arrival of our Ships of war at the G oletta is with the object of forci n g

ou o n n to to o m n i o t y r G ver me t accede y ur de a ds, W th u which M UH AM ED ES 2 SADEK . 9

o o o on a n d o - n im y ur pr perty, y ur pers s , y ur well bei g will be

1 n B e to o o per iled . Whe we asked the y c mply With y ur to o d to o n n desires , he desired have f ur ays c sider his a swer, at the expirati on of which time he replied that y ou had n o t

n to o made the dema ds that we had stated him , but that s me

evil - d oers were el r cu latin g these rep orts ; in pr oof there of h e me n ti on ed the arrival of the Kabyles in o rder to pay him

to o o . their accustomed h mage . We were bliged wait After

o - S of a few days , s me self styled heikhs the Kabyles came ,

B e n o o o o . On u s f ll wed by thers their arrival , the y i f rmed

o n w e n ow t o n o that all the tribes were c mi g, which k be i c r

n n n rect, as we are aware that these i dividuals are the i habita ts

of o of n o n an d on n sh res the eighb uri g lakes , c seque tly are

o l of n o o n o o n to pe p e imp rta ce , their s le bject bei g receive the r obes (in vestiture) promised them by the G o vern o rs as

o on o n n on n well as the pr tecti f the Gover me t . We feel c ﬁde t that this circumstan ce d oes n ot weake n y our u n i on an d co n federacy for the attai n me n t of y our o bjects as well as the

o of o n n ow n ou h pr sperity y ur c ou try . We Will acquai t y Wit n n o n w e what Will stre gthe y ur cause , i asmuch as the facts n n to n o f o n o r M n arrate te d the rui y our c u try . Y u i isters m En o o o have ade a treaty with the glish just bef re y ur rev lt , the ﬁrst c on dition of which is that the E nglish shall have the

to o an d o o o o right p ssess h ld imm vable pr perty, such as h uses ,

an d n Y ou v o o f farms , la ds . will be depri ed , theref re , this

n of o o o n do n ot ki d pr perty, because y ur f rtu es equal theirs .

For n n for ou n n o ffo to o ne i sta ce , a ﬁeld which y ca t a rd pay

o n an d in w o n to o m an th usa d piastres, hich , acc rdi g y ur n er o f n ou o on s o w on e k aﬂi s of farmi g, y c uld ly (measure) an d n o o f E n can ffo to Wheat a ther barley , the glish a rd pay ten o n for o o of th usa d piastres , because by a superi r m de

n o n o on an d o o h farmi g they c uld pla t c tt ther rich pr duce , whic ou n n to do n or o . S on y have either the mea s the cust m ec dly , they desire to c on struct railroads Similar to th ose in ou r ow n V OL. I . I I 3 0 TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT .

o n to n in o on n i in o c u tries , remai their p ssessi u til the r c me S o ff th e o n to hall have paid the capital , acc u ts be accepted n n n to os as prese ted by them . This is just the ma er take p sessi on of y our c ou ntry for acc ordi n g to their laws wh oever obtai n s an u n i n terrupted p ossessi on o f an ythin g for twen ty

o o o of an d o of o l years bec mes the pr priet r it ; the l rd the s i , n o n n n n o twithsta di g the legal i strume ts he may p ssess , may

for on n ask the Almighty its restituti , their laws givi g greater

to o on n to o n to o n in weight p ssessi tha d cume ts . Thirdly , pe

n n for o of n n Tu is a ba k with a large capital , the purp se le di g

on n on n o o n o m ey at i terest, thereby c verti g all y ur pe ple i t “ o n ou t o o debt rs, thus carryi g the Arabic pr verb that y ur ” o o o o o n an d credit r bec mes y ur l rd . F urthly, that all la ds

o n n o S an d o m n m u tai s where g ld , ilver, lead , ther i erals are o n n to En n f u d shall appertai the glish , they havi g the right o f o n on o w n on n w rki g them their n accou t . The c seque ce w ill b e that any on e might be disp ossessed of his ow n lan ds by

S n S o t o an n their researches, i ce , h uld hey disc ver y mi erals , the

n o o to on of la ds will bec me their pr perty, the exclusi the

o f o o n n rights the true p ssess r , i asmuch as the mi eral

o n d n o to o n n t gr u s have bee s ld them by the G ver me . These n o n on n o on e w h o an n of efari us tra sacti s, which has y feeli g

n can o o n of o n huma ity t lerate, have ar used the a ger my G ver m n an d o in n n to o n dis e t , its bject se di g the ﬂeet is btai the m o f M n an d o on o f n L issal the i ister the abr gati the Orga ic aws ,

o n A o up on which the af resaid treaty is fou ded . S the abr gati en of the c on stituti on will carry with it the an n ulme n t of the aforesaid treaty as well as the fall of the Mi n ister w h o

its of G od n ot is maker, with the aid there is the slightest n for is e l n on 1 o ecessity these d gr ac fu tra sacti s . must als

n ou n o o n acquai t y that Fra ce , my p werful c u try, makes great

o for of o n an d for eff rts the welfare all c u tries , particularly

of n o n to o to an d o that Tu is , wi g its pr ximity Algeria, als for n f s in i e n o the pri ces o the H us e t dy asty . I have als

2 1 3 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT .

I n t w n ow o to our n ow . hat has c me k ledge the ﬁrs place , we

w o w e W l ll n ot n n o ou s ear by the g spel that hide a ythi g fr m y , a n d o n ou in o n in that we are ﬁrmly supp rti g y all y ur dema ds , all o f w e o n ou w e S which c cur with y , but that hall greatly

ou n an of n b e regret if y reli quish y them , bei g persuaded it will t o o n a n d to th e S n o f o oo y ur i jury Will lead heddi g y ur bl d , o n on which the Mi n ister desires ab ve all thi gs . Am gst the matters discussed at the D ar cl B ey (reside n ce of O ttom an Com missi on er ) was the requisiti on t o the Sultan to se n d ten th ou~

’ n o to ou W n ow ou r o n n sa d s ldiers attack y . he , h ever , G ver me t

n w o o o to n became acquai ted ith it , it f rced these tr ps retur

o M an d to fr m alta , it addressed itself at the same time the

S n to o n o n o on to ou ulta , wh m it made k w the ppressi which y

an d in on n o f ou n were subjected , c seque ce which y had rise

o n ts on to deman d y ur rights . The Sulta acceded to i rem str an ces an d i n trusted to us the settleme n t of y our affairs

B e o tw o n — ﬁr st with the y . Fr m this we derive adva tages ,

o an d on n on of of y ur welfare , , sec dly, the preve ti the arrival

oo in o n ot u s n Turkish tr ps Africa , which d es suit . Whe the M n of b e n S i ister became aware it, despatched Ge eral y Hussei n to Susa to Spread the n ews that the Fre n ch were

n o on of to aimi g at the p ssessi Africa , with a view create

n n n o n to o o e mity betwee us , havi g f u d us be y ur supp rters. S o o n for in n on o h uld y ur dema d Turkish terve ti bec me public, o u r opp osition to the arrival of Ott oman tr oops will be there

n o n o ou M n by weake ed . We als i f rm y that the i ister has “ ” se n t y o urself B en B eshir to Rej ia for the purp ose of

n n n ou so t on of i citi g the tribes agai st y , tha up the arrival

ﬁn d to o n B e o the camp it may them prepared j i it . theref re

on o w e ou of on n y ur guard , as have apprised y all that c cer s

ou I n o of E o of y . sh rt, we swear by the head the mper r

n o M n n in o o n Fra ce, that sh uld the i ister remai y ur c u try he

W on o will c ompletely destr oy y ou . ith salutati s fr m the c omman der -in - chief of the Fren ch ships of war stati on ed at M UH AM ED E S SADEK . 3 3

th e o o n on - n in n an d G letta, fr m the Fre ch C sul Ge eral Tu is ,

n in n fr om the Fre n ch Col on el residi g Tu is .

1 0 Mohar r em 1 2 8 1 .

L E o ETT R N . 3 .

’ ' - B To o &c. S 1 en Mo the bel ved , well guided , , e d Aly hamed

h dam B en G a . We i n form y ou that we have previ ously se n t y ou several to n o n o n in letters which we have received ack wledgme t, on n of ou n to c seque ce which we address y the prese t letter , the effect that we still adhere to ou r w o rds an d give y o u o ur

o n do n ot d ff o ou ﬁrm supp rt, si ce we i er fr m y , as Will be n t ou t o verbally explai ed o y by the bearer . We have request

’ ' y ou on the receipt of this letter to c ome to Seid Aly el or to o o n u m to on o Hattab, s me ther place ear T s, there c v ke an an d on o to for in o to assembly , , am gst thers, ask me , rder n t o o n n so o n e able me j i the meeti g, that y ur dema d may be

o B e n ot n submitted thr ugh me , that the y may agai say that

ou n ot an d h n n y had made such suc dema ds because , whe ever

to o n n ot to n to I speak him the subj ect, he desires me liste public rep orts .

n o n n We believe that the camp will be delayed , twithsta di g that its departure is purp o sely a n n ou n ced that y ou may hear o f an d o on o n o n ot d it p stp e y ur adva ce , as y ur arrival is esired , i n asmuch as it w o uld stre n gthe n ou r pr oo fs agai n st them

M n an d o to ou . n o (the i isters) , which are fav urable y Pay ’ n on to M n n atte ti the i ister s stateme ts, because all his acts are c on trary to truth they are all i n trigues directed again st

of n o o u o f l ou. I n a l y brief, the bearer the letter will i f rm y o ur n n on in o n w o n i te ti s y ur behalf, he bei g a trust rthy frie d

f o o n ou t o ours . Whe n y ou c me he will acc mpa y y ; liste n o i n to an d do n ot n o o o . him , act pp siti his advice

S on o n on - n in n o alutati s fr m the Fre ch C sul Ge eral Tu is , fr m 1 3 4 TUN IS PAST AND PRESENT .

o n - ia - of n o tt the c mma der chief the Fre ch ﬂeet at the G le a,

d n o n n in n a n from the Fre ch C l o el residi g Tu is .

D a ted 1 5 Al ohar r em 1 2 8 1 .

n o n o “Tillau mez The Fre ch Admiral , C u t B uet , had for s ome time felt misgivin gs as to the b ona

’ B eau v al o n of zdes of . s a d f M De p licy , the perusal these letters an d other authen tic rep orts i n duced him to make such represe n tati ons t o the Imperial G overn me n t as pro duced the i n deﬁn ite p ostp on e me n t of the establishmen t of that pr ep on der a n ce n a tu r elle w n an d n n , hich agai agai ﬁ ds a place even

o on n of . Dr ou n in the c rresp de ce M y de Lhuys .

n o on - i Mea while , alth ugh the rebelli was well n gh

ou t on o . stamped , the ﬂeets still remained the c ast

n n o o Who The came a ther dipl matic struggle . was t o o ? n oo m b e g ﬁrst If Fra ce t k the lead , it ight said She was driven away by T u rkey an d E n glan d ;

o n t n o supp si g Italy was lef behi d , there was a p ssi b ility of her carryin g ou t a purely platon ic occu pation on her ow n acc ou n t ; but if the Turkish

o on n o o C mmissi er we t bef re the rest , the M slem p opulati on would c onsider that he was ﬂyin g from

f o n o . o o n the gia urs After weeks c rresp de ce , a programme w as drawn up with the assen t of all

n o t w o L o parties . It is a e rthy fact that rd Russell a n d oo n o n Mr . W d i duced the ther i terested parties t n o o leave the English ships behi d t keep the peace .

1 6 R 3 TUNIS PAST AND P ESENT . es Sadek i n formed Haider Effen di that recen t eve n ts had con vin ced him that the only chan ce of preservi n g the Rege n cy from his n eighb ours was t o foll ow the advice of E nglan d and stre n gthen “ n his c o n ection with the P or te . Assure my Im ” “ oo o t o perial Master , h e said , that I l k f rward an early o pp ortu n ity of placin g our relati on s on

an d on of an d a ﬁrm basis , bey d the reach cavil dispute . On the 4th November a lamen table accide n t o ccurred t o eight ofﬁcers an d four m en b elon gin g ” to n o o Orla d . Their b at was swamped

n n o on to o an d n on retur i g fr m an excursi the c ast , e

f n of o the b odies were ever recovered . Frie ds the

o n n i for o o n deceased fte i qu re s me mem rial at Tu is .

on w as n N e ever erected here , but a tablet ear the Auberge de Castille in Malta records the date of the catastroph e an d the n ames an d ran k of the v ictims .

’ The Bey s gratitude to E nglan d was alm ost

o n an d o o n b u dless , he addressed the f ll wi g letter t o n n to o n on o the Quee , in a swer a c mmu icati fr m ’ L ord Russell expressin g Her Maj esty s satisfacti on

n at the restorati on of peace in the Rege cy .

Praise be to G o d To the exalted s overeign w h o is praised b oth for her v an d ff ar e o ou s irtues their e ects , which as gl ri s as they surpas MUH AM ED E 1 S SADEK . 3 7

o of ion off n of o o n the p wer descript , the spri g p werful s vereig s ,

o om n o o an d en o ou r n at wh se c ma ds b th sw rd p bey, frie d the

B n M a L V i o n of . n ady ct ria, Q uee Great ritai y her reig be

an d of her n n exalted , may the praises excelle ces ever cease t o be repeated on o to o o n After the salutati s the m st suitable y ur r yal ra k , which is exalted ab ove all descripti on . We have received from y our illustri ous Mi n ister in Your ’ M n of o o o n n ajesty s ame a pledge y ur graci us fav ur , ema ati g fr om that amity which has bee n estab lished an d c on s olidated in o o f an d n n n the c urse ages , which , havi g bee tra smitted as an n n an d n o n i herita ce by fathers a cest rs , has ever bee fruit

of n ff an d to o f o . ful be eﬁcial e ects , has led paths pr sperity That pledge is the gratiﬁcati on which Your Majesty in her ben ev olen ce (the full exten t of which the b ou n ds of a letter can n ot p o ssibly detail) has felt in c on seque n ce of the rest e ra ti on of peace in this kin gd om an d of the return of the popula

on to o n ti their accust med obedie ce . The admirer of y our exalted character feels c on vi n ced that ’ Your Majesty s wish is in u n is on with what is c on tai n ed in n to o S n n n on the said ki d letter, the effect that y ur i cere i te ti is the mai n te n an ce of ou r prese n t usages with out dimin uti on

n For o n of an d n or disturba ce . this expressi clear ma ifest

n ﬁ en b e e c ce w e Shall be ever grateful . ’ Writte n by Your Majesty s ever faithful h u mble servan t of G od M M o Essadek B B e o o , the uchir hamed asha y , p ssess r of n n n o the Tu isia ki gd m .

The 1 1 th Ju mad cl Thani 1 2 8 1 .

th o 6 1 I N vemb er 1 8 4 .

The Bey n ow resolved to sen d an e n v oy to Con stantin opl e to than k the Sultan for his sympathy

n n on an d for on duri g the i surrecti , especially a d a tion from the Imperial privy purse of 1 8 AND 3 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

At the same time G en eral Kheir - cd - Din had private n on to n o o an d i structi s bri g ab ut , if p ssible, a clear deﬁn ite u n derstan din g as to the fu ture relati on s between the Rege n cy and the P orte It was arran ged that the embassy Sh ould leave G oletta on

1 o On o n n of 1 2 th the 7th N vember . the m r i g the

n . M . De Beauval called u expectedly at the palace He n o s oon er entered than in an imperi ous mann er h e enj oin ed the Bey n ot ’ to sen d an y agent to

o Stamb ul . The discussi on waxed warm bet w een

an d o Mu ham ed them , De Beauval at last t ld es Sadek clearly that he w ould bar the passage of

n - cd- Din Ge eral Kheir by force . He refused to ’ n on n an d take the Bey s ha d leavi g, quitted the

oo n an d n n r m with a gry Sig iﬁca t gestures . A

n o n an d cabi et c u cil was held immediately, it was ’ to n n o t res olved haste the e v y s depar ure . Next eve n i n g Gen eral Kheir - cd- Din wen t on b oard the

n n Tu isia steamer the Beshir at dusk . At that “ ” time the Fren ch iron clad I n vin cible was lyin g off o o n on n G letta . The c mma der at ce se t a

n on o w h o n to n messe ger b ard , i timated the Ge eral the desire of M . De Beauval that h e Sh ould put off

o n n on o his j ur ey till i structi s reached him fr m Paris .

— cd- Din to the Kheir demurred such a request , and

n o . an d Fre ch fﬁcers left the Ship It grew dark , the I n vin cible began to burn blue -ﬁres and dis

N D 1 40 TUNIS PAST A PRESENT .

011 an d o in o l , were emb died a c nﬁdentia vizirial

on n n letter , which c tai ed a disti ct assurance that

’ u p on the B oy s ap plication a regular ﬁr man would

r an ted. ow t be g It was , h ever, decided tha the wh ole matter sh ould be for the pr ese n t kept a pr o foun d secret . Pri n ce Arthur of E ngland arrived

n n n an d o at Tu is duri g the spri g , was , as usual , m st

o n n an d in on of h spitably e tertai ed , the m th May Earl Russell decided t o eon fer on Mu hamed es

n f Sadek the Gra d Cross o the Bath .

o o o t This fact , c upled with the m ral supp r he had d oubtless received from E n glan d durin g the cam

i f on a n o . p g M De Beauval , made a deep impressi “ n n o s ee up o his mi d . Whenever my pe ple my ” t o o of breas c vered with the ribb n the Bath , he “ t o an d o . o said Mr W d , they will appreciate u n derstan d the fresh protecti on they have thereby

an d to o for o acquired , wh m they must turn succ ur an d coun sel in their m omen ts of perplexity and embarrassmen t . The Bey was stron gly urged to i n vite the

o of w ho n Emper r the French , was meditati g a

on to to n n sec d visit Algeria , i clude Tu is in his

o o o u n to pr gramme , but he th ught it m st pr de t

t n on t n o on limi his atte ti s o a co gratulat ry missi . Taib Bey ( n ow a pris oner in the Bardo palace)

n d K Appe ix . H MED E M U A S SADEK . 1 4 1

n o on o on an d represe ted his br ther this ccasi , re

iv ed n o of on of on o ce the Gra d Cr ss the Legi H ur .

n o Whe he came back , Taib t ld the Bey that the “ Emperor had twice remarked to him that he sh ould much like to visit the site of an cien t

to o o n t n Carthage , elucidate s me p i ts wi h refere ce ” o of of a n ot to his hist ry the life C esar. I did “ to fail tell him , added Taib , that they were all

o an d h n o n pl ughed up , that t ere was thi g whatever ” e n n o to be s e . The Fre ch ab ut this time success fully pressed up on the Bey a secon d telegraphic

on n on n of 1 8 6 c ve ti . Duri g a great part the y ear 5 active n eg otiati on s were carried o n to obtain a un an im ous c on sen t of the P owers to the issue of

ﬁr m an n n an d the betwee Tu is Turkey , but the opp ositi on of Fran ce preven ted any agreeme n t bein g arrived at . The Bey on the 3 1 st July received with great cerem on y the i n sign ia of the

n of o on an d o Bath at the ha ds L rd Yelvert , alth ugh he is probably m ore decorated than an y o ther

n m an w o n livi g , he has al ays sh w a marked pre

n for n o n fere ce his E glish rder ever Si ce . His

on o w n ot n to of satisfacti , h ever , was desti ed be on n n on o l g durati o . The i surrecti had h pelessly crippled his ﬁn an ces a letter h ad bee n in tercepted

o on on . o o f n to fr m his C sul at B e , M Allegr , f eri g stir up an i n surrecti on on the frontier in the i n terest I 2 4 TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT . o f Fran ce it was n o l on ger a secret that Marshals R an d o n an d MacMah on were agai n urgin g on the Emperor the n ecessity of assertin g Fre n ch rights o n an d on 2 1 st ver Tu is ; at last , the September , Baron Saillard arrived at G oletta as the bearer of

o n o of n and o an u ltimatum . The G ver rs Tu is K ff had admi n istered the basti n ad o to tw o Algerian

n n o subj ects in the Tu isia service , s me Arabs had

o o an d o t n n attacked a c ral b at , a f res had bee bur ed

o Saill ar d o n l on the frontier . Bar n was c nseque t y in structed to deman d from the Bey pr ompt an d

n Mu ham ed sign al satisfacti o . This time es Sadek surre n dered at discretion : the ofﬁcials complain ed of n n were dismissed , the ve erable Prime Mi ister was sen t t o the Fre n ch C on sulate - Gen eral t o ask pard on

o o Saillar d an d o w as fr m Bar n , a n tice issued that he n ceforth Algerian Arabs u n der all cir cumstan ces

o n w uld be treated as Fre eh subj ects . At this price

of n o n n the Bey Tu is btai ed a other respite . . I n 1 8 6 6 the ﬁn an cial troubles of the Tun isian

G o n n o o n n n o n o ver me t came m re pr mi e tly i t tice . The state b on ds remain ed u n paid ; the European

n o an d n on e mercha ts pr tested ﬁ ally , M . Musalli ( ’ of the Bey s i n terpreters) was se n t to Paris t o n o o n o o eg tiate a l a . M ney pr ved very difﬁcult to ’ an d n w as get , eve the Bey s steamer the Beshir

for seized debt at Malta.

1 AN D 44 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

n an d t o o f on of ge t pa ri tic the s s Hussein Bey . He i i n dulged n dreams of becomin g the real leader of

th e b b u t o Arab tri es , he wh lly failed in his attempt

to realise them . The Bey n ow conceived that a

o n t n on widespread c spiracy exis ed agai st his pers , a nd his suspici on s were Shared an d fostered by

a Khaz n adar w ho had of of M hamed , held the ﬁce

n for o n Prime Mi ister ver thirty years . O the 5 th

n S Reschid an d S September, Ge eral y General y

n n tw o of o o n n Ismael Su i , the m st pr mi e t members

of o n in the Beylical C u cil , were arrested their

o to o an d n h uses , dragged the Bard , stra gled by

th e o n on c mm o executi er . The city gates were Shut

n on of o an d o duri g the perpetrati this utrage , bef re

an of o n on o n y the Eur pea C suls c uld leave Tu is ,

o b oth the victims had ceased t o live . N o ccurre n ce had ca u sed such widespread disapprobati on sin ce the

ew Sfez ten o j udicial murder of the J years bef re .

VV err on to o to o Mr . y at ce repaired the Bard rem n

Mu h am ed strate with the Bey . es Sadek declared

oo of t of that he had ample pr f the guil the accused , an d as on o n ot n that , the c stituti n had been agai

in o n on in 1 8 6 put f rce Si ce its suspensi 4 , he was n ot n to n b ou d bri g them to trial .

n o an d on n h The fami e , ch lera , typhus c ti ued t eir

n o 1 8 6 8 an d an d ravages far i t , the Bey the Beylical Govern ment were alike on the verge of M UH AMED Es SADEK . 1 4 5

to n n . oo to ba kruptcy Mr . W d hurried back Tu is e n deav our to preve n t the appare n tly i n evitable col

n on to tw o o n o n of 1 8 6 lapse . I additi the f reig l a s 3 and 1 8 6 an n n 5 , the Bey had created i ter al debt w ith vari ous European merchants by a series of “ operation s called c on versi on s . These l oan s an d the usurious in terest paid up on them were by n o mean s

on of n on n o n the ly cause the ati al i s lve cy . The i n surrection had in volved the G overn men t in extra o n n rdi ary expe ses ; the State Treasurer, Caid Nessim ,

o n to o n n had cr ssed the Mediterra ean Legh r , leavi g a deﬁcit of twenty -ﬁv e million s of fran cs an d the

n an d n 1 86 6 1 8 6 an d 1 8 68 pestile ce fami e Of , 7 , had preven ted the c ollection Of the usual am ou n t o f n n o n d reve ue . But there was a ther a m ore seri ous reas on eve n than these : the Bey was s ur o n Mem elou k n an d o r u ded by Mi isters fav urites , w ho i n variably e n tered his service with out a

i an d n o o o n in p astre , heaped up e rm us f rtu es the

f n n o . n midst the ge eral rui The Prime Mi ister ,

o o Mustapha , himself was a Greek Slave fr m Sci ; an d the tesker a or order for the purchase of General

— cd- Din n n o n o Kheir , whe a ha ds me Circassia y uth of n in sixtee , has lately ﬁgured as an exhibit the

as to B en on dispute the Ayad successi . Ahmed Bey in 1 8 5 5 left of fran cs in the

n to his o Tu isian treasury , be dissipated by success r,

V OL. 1 . x D 1 46 TUNIS PAST AN PRESENT .

Mu hamed n ﬁ in o the Mag i cent, carg es Of beauti

o n and n - ful Ge rgia , Turkish , Circassia Slave girls

om o l n on fr Stamb u , leavi g ly a very small surplus to be swallowed u p by Fre n ch e ngi n eers in brin g ing pure water to Tun is over the aqueduct of

o o of on to Adrian . Fr m the h ur his accessi the

on Mu hamed es w as o in o thr e , Sadek alm st the p wer

of Mem elou k o w h o o n in Of a series fav urites , f u d foreign l oans that source Of proﬁt w hich the dimi n ished revenues of the c ou n try n o lon ger afforded . In 1 8 68 it was already evident that the Bey m o his o o ust c mp ound with credit rs . The clam urs of n n an d n on o the Fre ch , Italia , E glish b dh lders

o n ot on n d an d c uld much l ger pass u heede , very serious rem on strances were addressed to the Tu n i sian G overn men t by the foreign represe n tatives .

’ The Fren ch Charge d Affair es at ﬁrst s ought to prop ound a scheme exclusively u n der Fren ch

n ow as 1 86 n or auspices , but , in 4 , neither Italy E n glan d w ould consent t o be ign ored in the

n n n arra gement . It is u der these circumsta ces that the I n tern ation al Fin an cial C ommission came in to

n v tw o o on n existe ce , in irtue Of pr clamati s beari g

th 1 8 6 2 d 1 8 0 an d date the 5 July 9 and 3 March 7 , made with the con curren ce of the three i n terested ’ o n r o e P wers, u de wh s guarantee the Bey s decrees

CHAPTER XII .

TH E F T E BEGINNING O H E ND .

A GENERAL excitement amon gst the Arabs very n aturally followed the comme n cement of h ostilities between the Emperor of Fran ce and the Kin g

Of Prussia . The Bey did his utm ost to please

o an d b th parties , , as might be expected , succeeded in n o an d satisfyi g neither . The travellers R lfs

B o milian VVetstein were den ou n ced by M . De t as G erman emissaries Of SO dan gerous a descripti on that their daily walks were watched by a detach

’ n of n o an d o a r ou e me t Tu isian s ldiers , a l cal caused a c opi ous in terchan ge of telegrams with Berlin by an n ou n ci n g his in ten ti on of formin g a F oreign Legi on in Tun is to take service u n der the G overn

n of o n to me t T urs . After an u successful attempt

n o n n reach the i teri r , the Germa sava ts were

o to o n - n an d c mpelled leave the c u try in self defe ce , the Tun isian C on tin gent seems to have died a

TO o natural death ab out the same time . c unter balance the effect of the n ews of the disasters of TH E OF TH E END 1 BEGINNING . 49

B milian an d . ot u on Sedan Metz , M De fell back p the ancien t scare Of a meditated Turkish in vasion

o o o n n h fr m Trip li ; n twithsta di g whic , the Bey Sh owed an in creasin g determin ati on to Obtain fro m the Porte the executi on of the v izirial letter

1 8 6 Of 4 .

or tw o o o n A year bef re , the Bey in a weak m me t had gran ted tw o imp ortan t c on cessi on s of arable

n an d n grou d to Italian Fre ch subj ects . An Italian agricultural c ompan y Obtain ed an estate

edeida n n o n at J , while a Fre ch citize , the C u t de

n in o on o n Sa cy , was put p ssessi Of the fruitful d mai f on n of M o ed er dah . Sidi Tabet , the ba ks the j B oth these kin dly acts on the part of the Bey were destin ed to e n tail imp ortan t results ; the former ’ became the in direct cause of the Bey s haste n i n g

n for ﬁr m an an d his dema d the Imperial , the latter

on n ot to n of 1 8 8 1 has c tributed a little the eve ts . The Italian con cession na ir es were hardly i n stalled at the J edeida whe n they put forward claims to exercise such j urisdiction over the i n habitan ts as

o on an im er iu m in im er i o w uld c stitute p p o. S me l ocal disputes with the Arabs livin g on the pr o

to an d perty induced them precipitately retire , prese n t an elab orate claim for con seque n tial dam

on o n n n o n d ages acc u t Of u reaped harvests, u b r her s , and n o n even u hatched eggs . Sign r Pi na pulled 1 5 0 TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT . do n ﬂ a an d a n w his g , It lian ewspapers talked quite as loudly of an expedition and occupation on

of o o n behalf the S cieta C mmerciale , I dustriale ed

A ol n in 1 8 1 n gric a , per la Tu isia 7 , as the Fre ch press did in c on nection with the S ocié té Mar seil

a n n o laise ex ctly te years later . Mai ly thr ugh the

oo fﬁ o o an o w as g d O ces Of Mr. W d arbitrati n agreed u on in w in of n n p , hich , spite ma y disadva tages ,

Mu h am ed es Sadek came Off vict orious . The Bey s oon perceived that he was n ow likely t o en ter on a n ew phase Of existence as a p olitical b on e Of c on ten ti on between Fran ce an d

an d - cow for n o o h Italy , a milch adve turers fr m b t

n n 0 cou n tries in search of i dem ities . N time was therefore to be l ost ; an d in the followin g September Ge n eral Kheir - cd- Din was sent on ce m ore to Stam

o to ﬁrman o n t o b ul seek the , acc rdi g the terms Of 6 n 1 . B tmili the agreeme t arrived at in 8 4 . M De o an

o pr tested , but the Bey Observed that the step h e h ad taken was ren dered abs olutely n ecessary by the pressure lately brought to bear on him by the “ ” — - frien dly Powers . Kheir cd Din return ed with ’ n w as on 1 8 the Sulta s rescript , which read the th N ovember 1 8 7 1 in the presen ce Of on e Of the largest an d m ost brillian t assemblies which ever ﬁlled the f audien ce - hall Of the Bard o pal aceﬁ

A ndi L ppe x .

A 1 5 2 TUNIS PAST N D PRESENT . w as o of o an d o desp iled his pr perty , he pr bably ow ed his life to the stron g represen tati on s Of th e

an n n Itali G over men t . A attempt w as made to a him his w rrest but ife , the sister Of Ahmed Bey ,

on n to her n an d n passi ately clu g husba d , threate ed to foll ow h im through the streets with u n covered face an d dishevelled hair if the s oldiers took him

- cd- Din n from h er . Even Kheir shra k from such

0 on e saw a scandal as this . N ever Sidi Mustapha

n after his disgrace . His j ewels a d plate (in clud in g s ouven irs from half the s overeign s of Eur ope)

o o six on were s ld by public aucti n m ths later , but the su m realised was i n sufﬁcien t t o pay the debt

to ow e t o n n he was declared the Tu isia Treasury .

n ow an d o Mustapha is dead , lies beside his r yal brother -in -law in the mausoleum of the Beys of

Tun is . Meanwhile the Fren ch u ndertaking at Sidi Tabet had hardly made m ore progress than the

n I n on on im Italia farm at Jedeida . c siderati Of

o n of o o an d pr vi g materially the breed h rses , c ws , ” in n of n h ad n sheep the Rege cy Tu is, the Bey give a gran t to the C oun t de San cy Of fourtee n hu n dred

of o t n in o n on hectares the m s fertile la d his d mi i s .

n h ad o n to ow n o n M . de Sa cy , acc rdi g his Sh wi g , n o t o ou t on o an d o capital lay the pr perty, alth ugh his on on w as on set ou t for c cessi purely pers al , he TH E TH E 1 BEGINNING OF END . 5 3

to ﬁn d n f r of Paris a part er o the Haras Sidi Tabet . He ﬁn ally succeeded in i n terestin g in Tu n isian

an n . n agriculture America lady , Mrs Mary Fra ces

on w ho t o o R alds , desired f rget amidst fresh scenery an d pastoral pursuits the an n oyan ces of a lawsuit en sep a r a tion de corp s et de b iens which had been

in n . on lately tried the Parisia c ourts . Mrs R alds

to n n an d for came Tu is with her part er, a time th e ﬁrm of San cy - Ron alds presided over the destin ies of w n a dairy farm ith c o siderable success . But Tu n is h ad n ot l on g the privilege Of derivin g a f o o o o . p rti n its supplies fr m Sidi Tabet . M De San cy ceded his rights to a member of the ex

n an d n n imperial family Of Fra ce , Lieute a t Lucien Napoleon The od ore B on apar te - Wyse became a partn er in the fresh ass ociati on kn own to the

n on - o Fre ch tribunals as that Of R alds Wyse . Fr m

n the day that M . Wyse became the guidi g

n n spirit Of the farm at Sidi Tabet , everythi g we t

on n n to wr g . The Tu isia s refused purchase their

an d ou of an n Mr o e s . butter , eggs, p ltry y but

on an d o on R alds , bef re three m ths had passed

o o away the partners were alm st at pen warfare . Their s omewhat u n roman tic daily corresp on den ce formed a n otable feature in the vari ous ca u ses

’ ’ celeb r es which ensued . A Sin gle specimen is

ﬁ n suf cie t . 1 5 4 TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT .

T M R . R . M. WY SE O S ONALDS

’ ‘ I D I AB EI d Octob er 1 8 2 . S T , 3 7

M D AM — I n ou n S o n n A , se d y a bli d heep which has gr w thi , and h o u o o n on whic y had better sell , as well as s me i s which

n o o n o n ou ow to remai ed ver . J h als se ds y ﬁve c hides dis

f n o O o and o n . p se . Please se d me a pl ugh s me k ives Accept L B VY E u o n N V . my respectf l c mplime ts . . . . S

IV se o n M . y bec mi g dissatisﬁed with the business , s old a p orti on of the stock,whereup on Mrs . Ron alds

o . pr secuted him criminally M . De Vallat was st on y —hearted e n ough to throw every p ossible difﬁ

in w a of n for an d . culty the y her dema ds j ustice , M

IV se for n y triumphed a time , and sued M . De Sa cy

for n n ot o . selli g rights , which he did p ssess His

n ot o to of on on success was , h wever , be l g durati .

n an d Mrs on n B oth M . De Sa cy . R alds had frie ds Th in an d l . e high places , M . De Val at was recalled

n f n u i n cide ts o the agricultural adve t res Of Mrs . R on alds an d her partners for a m omen t seemed to

m an d for Obscure the graver atters at stake , a time

n r ond r n ce a tu r elle o o n eve the p ep e a n was f rg tte . The Bar on de Billin g was appoin ted to the vacant

on - G n to n ir r ev o C sulate e eralship , and came Tu is eably pledged to work ou t a Sancy - Ron alds p olicy

n n d with e ergy a zeal .

n n o 1 . M . De Billi g j oi ed his p st in May 8 74 The various j udgments pronoun ced in the aﬁa ir e

1 6 AND 5 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

of 1 8 a the autumn 74 M . Oscar G y arrived at Tun is with an aggressive scheme in his p ocket . While the Baron ess de Billin g was givi ng her attenti on to

of o the weightier details Tunisian p litics , her

n and o for husba d M . Musalli supp rted the plan

n an d on o n rebuildi g Carthage , ce m re utilisi g the ’ o C th on or harb our of Rome s an cien t rival . The

o n e to o o Bey, h wever , tur d a deaf ear their pr p sals ,

n a d M . Gay was forced to p ostpone his proj ects for o o n o a m re c nve ient seas n . While the great Ron alds - Wyse controversy had

o o of an d apparently abs rbed the attenti n France , while the peculiar features of the Billin g r eg ime

n the n W oo were diverti g even Tunisia s , Mr . d had

n n ot been idle . An E glish compan y had laid d own a small railway j oin in g G oletta to Tunis an d the Bard o ; an English bank had begu n its o on o n n n perati s, n twithsta di g the a athema Of M .

cor s consula ir e D e Vallat and the rest Of the p , and English capitalists were preparin g to light

o of n n e the t wn Tu is with gas . In the mea tim

f o - n o fo the frien ds o M . B naparte Wyse relaxed ef rt

d he t o o o of . n an t pr cure the rem val M De Billi g , ’ o f n d n n om rescue Of Mr s . R nalds Of e i g part er fr

’ his u n comfortable quarters in the Bey s c omm on

on o pris on . The c troversy between the Bar ness an d the Tunisian Premier hastened the inevitable TH E OF TH E END 1 BEGINNING . 5 7 en d an d o n o , the Bar n de Billi g was s mewhat d abruptly recalle .

1 eo o Rou stan Early in 8 7 5 M . Th d re became ’ C on sul - Gen eral an d Char ge d Affair es of the French

. w as Republic at Tun is . M Wyse released to carry on in n an d o his appeals Fra ce , study the pr j ects

n n Mr s on n for the Pa ama ca al ; . R alds left Tu is “ for an d o n in n n ever , the impr veme ts the Tu isia ” breed Of h orses an d cattle at Sidi Tabet were for

n o n the m ome t forg tte .

’ or o n o n in o n n F a sh rt time thi g M . R usta s li e Of

on o n o n o d in acti bet ke ed the c mi g st rm , but alrea y 1 8 7 5 his extraordi n ary i n timacy with the Musalli “ family was vi olen tly attacked in the Gazette du

an d w as o to n Midi, he bliged retai M . Pelletier , a o r action er to n o con l cal legal p , a swer the exp sures tain ed in that paper by a series of articles in the “ to n n Peuple . Elias Musalli came Tu is early

an d t a o o of n ﬁve thir y years g as a s ldier fortu e.

w as o He a C pt by birth , had received a fair

on in on e of n an d educati the Egyptian semi aries , brought a rec ommen dation from a high Ofﬁcial at

C on stan tin ople . He became the pr oteg e Of the

n an d o to o o Prime Mi ister Mustapha, r se the p siti n

- o n o n ffi Of Sub Direct r in the Tu isian F reig O ce . Thirty years ag o he married the Sign ora L ouisa

Tr av er se w o n l o u , an Italian lady , h se u iversa p p 1 8 AN D 5 TUNIS PAST PRESENT.

l ar it o n y materially assisted his pr gress . Duri g the

l n n on of o an d o g admi istrati M . R che the Sh ort

n n of o n n i terreg um M . M uli , Ge eral Elias Musalli played a pr omin e n t part in the trials and ditﬁ

culties of n o n an d r en the Tu isian G ver ment , he dered m ore or less valuable assistan ce to all the parties i n terested in the ﬁn an cial operati on s of

1 f 1 8 6 3 an d 8 65 . As a matter o course General

an d on n Musalli became rich , after the fashi Of Tu i

n n t ho . w sia gra dees buil himself a palace At last , ’ “ n Char e d Affair es w ho ever, there came a Fre ch g ” n n ot o h k ew J sep , and General Elias Musalli fell

o n u n of n — cd-Din an d thr ugh the i ﬂ e ce Ge eral Kheir ,

. Villet an d B o mili n the h ostility Of MM t a . His ﬁ n al dismissal was caused by an unfortun ate mis

. o o o take M . Musalli had f rg tten the exact am unt ’ of the Bey s d on ation to a ball given for the beneﬁt

of o o an d the Eur pean h spitals , advantage was taken Of a discrepan cy between the Offerin g which was actually put in to the c ollection plate an d the

su m w G n to hich the e eral had received, abruptly i nform him that his serv ices were n o l on ger re

V illet Leb lu n t n o quired . MM . and were u r mantic e n ough to give a m ore un charitable an d matter O f- fact version of this u n toward acciden t during

u stan - o o o n the Ro R chef rt trial , but all hist ria s must agree that its immediate result w as to de

1 6 0 AND TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

o to n to Trip li the Rege cy , and raising the Bey the

o o of p siti n Khedive .

fo n n o n the Be re a ythi g c uld be deﬁ itely settled ,

o - o o u t an Turc Russian war actually br ke . By extraordi nary i n fatuation Italy j oined Fran ce in an attempt to persuade the Bey to cast to the win ds

ﬁr m a 1 the n of 1 8 7 . E ven while con tradictin g a rep ort that Italian troops were bei n g assembled at

w to o on n Naples with a vie a p ssible descent Tu is , the I talian Consul - Ge n eral did n ot c on ceal from

n n the Bey that u less he was very prude t , Italy migh t be compelled to assert her rights o ver the ” n Rege cy . The Gran d Vizier at on ce wrote to demand from the Bey the assistance guaran teed in the ﬁr man of

n f t con 1 8 7 1 . A C ou cil o S ate was immediately v ok ed in which the Sheikh - cl - Islam called on the members to supp ort Mu hamed es Sadek in per

n hi u n n formi g s d ty t owards the Sulta . A le gthy

n an d o of n on debate e sued , the p ssibility a desce t Tun is by the Russian ﬂeet was p oi n tedly alluded to to on n o of . It was at last decided c ﬁ e the acti n Tun is for the presen t to a volun tary m on ey con tr ib u tion of n n . The circular the Sultan explai i g the m otives for the H oly War was read in all the

o o o on 2 d n m sques thr ugh ut the Regency the Ju e ,

o n to and wi g the enthusiasm excited by it, nearly TH F TH E E D E BEGINNING O N . 1 6 1 tw o million s of piastres were c ollected an d sen t

n w in n t o o . Rou stan o on Stamb ul M . vai pressed

n o n n t the Bey the ecessity Of pr claimi g his eutrali y, but his e n deav ours were ren dered fruitless by the

on n of IVO Od os in reas i g Mr . , wh e valuable services Tu n is were rewarded with the Kn ight C omman der

d . of . an o Ship Of the Order St Michael St Ge rge .

in o n to Nap oleon III . is said a weak m me t have on n to an d on e or t w o of ce Offered Tu is Italy , the

’ Bey s advisers would have preferred an Italian Pr o tec tor ate to u n of 1 8 1 b u t the T rkish suzerai ty 7 , e v er sin ce the fall of the Empire it is clear that n o Fre n ch dipl omatist ever seri ously e n tertain ed the

of an n n in n i n idea Italia part ership Tu is a affairs . S ome in deﬁn ite p ourp a r ler s as to an ultimate divi

on of o to n fﬁ si the sp ils , seem have bee quite su cient t o preve n t Italy from givi n g her cordial supp ort t o that c on s olidati on of the relati on s betwee n Tu n is and Turkey which was SO emin en tly calculated to ward

n off the ﬁ n al catastrophe . In the Italia G ree n B ook Of 1 8 7 7 Mazzin i thus puts forward the pre te n si on s Of Italy as regards Tun is with praise worthy frankn ess : On e of ou r pri n cipal paths to o on of on to pr gress will be a missi civilisati , be carried ou t at the ﬁrst p ossible opp ortu n ity o n

o LlIl lS ’ o o o on to the sh res of T . Just as M r cc bel gs

n an d to n so does Tu n is the Spai Algeria Fra ce , ,

von 1 . L 1 2 6 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT . he o the cen tr e o the Zlf editer r emerm on to y f f , bel g

ta o n ﬂ a o on o n I ly . The R ma g ﬂ ated M u t Atlas

of an d u to after the fall Carthage , p the ﬁfth

n cen tury we were m asters of the cou try . The

n n ow cast on an d Fre ch have their eyes up it, they

too in o t n ot will have it a sh r time , if we are ” w on in n ot o n n up an d d oin g . Italy was r g j i i g E n glan d in 1 8 7 0 to lin k the fate Of Tu n is in dis

o t of an d she o s lubly wi h that Turkey , was d ubly wron g when she ad opted a p olicy Of militan t

o o on o n n n sh e pr v cati t wards Fra ce , u less i deed was prepared to resist by force the in vasi on of th e

o n o of n n in an c u try . If the w rds Mazzi i represe t y

n o of n in 1 8 con way the Opi i n Italian statesme 7 7 , cern in g Tun is the action of Italy in the Rege n cy

o n can Seems alm st inexplicable . At all eve ts there be little d oubt that from ab out this time the ancien t rivalry of E nglan d an d Fran ce in Tu n is gave place t o the m ore an imated an d acrim on ious c ompetiti on

n n n o of betwee Fra ce a d Italy . The hist ry the latest phase of this rivalry is that of the Fre n ch i n vasion .

’ The Sultan was hardly satisﬁed w ith the Bey s

n n an d n n pecu iary assista ce , urge t dema ds arrived

r an d o o n fo men h rses . Just at this critical m me t Gen eral Kheir - cd- Din was requested to g o to his h o t o o m an d n use rep se hi self, return whe the Bey H had further need Of his services . The real causes

1 6 4 TUN IS PAST AN D PRESEN T . in the an n als o f the Fren ch i nvasi on that his his

o m n n t ry ust be o l on ger n eglected . Twe ty years a o b o in an d g , a little y a tattered shirt battered r ed w as n for o too ob tr u cap , Ofte cuffed s mewhat s iv ely pickin g up cigar ends in the European cafes

- of Tu n is . A be n evole n t Maltese tavern keeper

of o an d for fe w on gave him a suit cl thes , a m ths he

’ g ot m ore kicks tha n herhhshish from his master s

W n n customers . he tired Of servin g i nﬁdel wi e

n of an d bibbers he became the appre tice a barber, then the servan t of one of the Ofﬁcers Of the T u rkish

Guard . This same little b oy is Mustapha B en

- n of n n G n Ismael , ex Prime Mi ister Tu is, K ight ra d

o of L on of on o n o don of Cr ss the egi H ur, Gra d C r

o n of an d n o on of the Cr w Italy, Gra d C rd the Civil

on of of n Mu hamed Divisi the Military Order Spai . es Sadek w as the ﬁrst t o perceive his natural

n him o of abilities, and tra sferred fr m the service

he o on n L o n t Turkish c l el to his ow . ittle m re eed be said of his career till we ﬁn d him in 1 8 7 7

n n o an d o Tu isia L rd Privy Seal , by s me peculiar ’ “ ﬁction s ometimes described as the Bey s son - in “ an d o o son law at thers as his ad pted .

’ A fortnight after Kheir- cd- Din s d own fall a th ousan d mules and h orses left G oletta on three

o f n ot Turkish transp rts for the seat o war . I am in cli n ed t o believe in the charge freely brought TH E OF TH E E N D 1 6 BEGINNING . 5 again st Kheir— ed- Din Of trimming in favour of Fran ce whe n the Turkish cause became alm ost d an d n o su ﬂi cient esperate , I thi k his past hist ry is a guaran tee for his l oyalty to the Bey and the Sulta n

to the of o n o n t o up time his d w fall , but his g i g

Paris in Oct ober to con fer with M . Rou s tan seemed

’ to an on for on be ample j ustiﬁcati the Bey s suspici s .

- ed- Din n ow n n Kheir was ready , as subseque t eve ts

o to do n n to n on sh wed , a ythi g reve ge the wr gs he had received from Mu ham ed es Sadek an d M u staph a

B en n on Ismael . Mea while fresh requisiti s arrived

o on n n o a nd 000 m en in fr m C sta ti ple , 4 were prepared

’ o n to n n d n bedie ce the Sulta s comma . The Russia Con sul n o w became the ce n tre of attraction in Tun is

’ an d th o f o n n n The e bject o M . R usta s bla dishme ts .

f n n d n o . an very existe ce M Nysse , bli d , crippled ,

- n o o o n on e o n n bed ridde , was alm st f rg tte , till m r i g in December 1 8 7 7 he received i n structi on s to b reak off dipl omatic rel ati on s w ith the Bey . M . Rou stan tried to make the declaration of war as theatrical

o in o to see n o as p ssible , rder if at the eleve th h ur he c ould i n duce Mu ham ed es Sadek to break O ff

n o efﬁ his c on n ection with the Porte . A ther very cien t i nstrume n t of t o rture was n ow brought t o bear on — a n the already terriﬁed Bey , the Hav s Age cy an n ou n ced the immin en t b ombardme n t Of G oletta by the Russian squadron . T UN IS PAST AND PRESENT .

Rou stan w n on o to o to see M . e t ce m re the Bard

' h ff f N ssen s o m n on an d t e e ect o M . y c m u icati the

H na oo to d o n n t avas me ce . He was d med isapp i tme , M u ham ed S adek w ould n ot forsake his s u zerai n an d ”

. You sa n n n to Caliph y I am i depe de t, said he “

. Rou stan o oo for M , where are y ur pr fs this state me n t My p ositi on has bee n deﬁn ed by the

ﬁr m an t o am o o n t o , but apar fr m this I als b u d take int o c on siderati on the se n time n ts of my pe ople f ” as followe rs o the faith of Islam .

1 8 n l The year 8 7 ope ed with a misfortun e . Ear y “ in February the Fre n ch steamer A u vergn e was

in n o oo of an d wrecked the eighb urh d Tabarca ,

n m n n subseque tly pillaged by the ou tai tribes . Alth ough the Tu n isian G overn men t paid an i n dem

i n - n t of n . n y fra cs, M Sai t Hilaire has si ce ” e n deav oured to make the case of the Auverg n e on e of the charges c on tai n ed in his i n dictmen t

n again st Tu n is . N o s oon er were the Fre ch claims settled than an Italian questi on arose over the hull

- n u of the ill fated ship . The Bey was i j dicious

n o to la b on e ugh sell the wreck as she y y public aucti .

o u n o for S me spec lative Italia s b ught her a triﬂe , an d n o a to w e t t Tabarc effect a salvage . At the

of o to n an d sight s me Arabs they retreated Tu is, preferred a c on seque n tial claim for damages again s t “ n u n o n n on a the u fort ate Bey . This sec nd i ter ati l

N 1 68 TUNI S PAST A D PRE SENT. m er cial o o ll p rti n Of the scheme , and was reca ed t o n hi m u o France . N twithstandi g t s eas re the

n o l . Rou stan n ow ol Bey was i ex rab e . M res ved t o take the management of Mustapha v erv seri o l in B e t o e us y hand . The y was asked s nd a

to to li the r l mission Paris fe citate Ma sha President . As Kin g Humbert had been already congratul ated

a n o on o for by Mustaph , there was reas able gr unds

f s a o o - el - re u l . A dec rati n Of the Abd Amau in

m on for al MacMahon dia ds was prepared Marsh , an d tw o ordinary Nichan grand c ord on s for

W d l y n o an G C . G l M . addi gt n enera hanz enera

l a to Mu sta ha s e Musal i was ttached p suit , and t ook with him a rec ommendati on for the cross of Ofﬁcer o f the Legi on of H on our on his o w n

u n D n P e al v er v acco t . uri g his stay in aris s ver imp ort an t matters w ere discu ssed . The exte nsion o f the Compagnie des Batign olles li n e to the fr on

i w as a u o n an d e t er greed p , it is believ d that

a v e n n u al sa o Mustaph recei ed eith r Fre ch at r i ti n ,

n to on o r an o rder enti tli g him protecti . He r e turn ed to Tunis we arin g the gran d cross o f the

f ono o d n o o f con Legio n o H ur . The pr ud isti cti n ferring u po n him the gra n d cord on w as reserved

- n l lila re . for M. Sa i t i

Then e the B Con ess and the co e cam erlin g r . nv r

b b s sation s o f Lord Salis u ry a out Tuni .

1 68 AN D TUNIS PAST PRESENT . m er cial o on of an d p rti the scheme , was recalled t an o n m o Fr ce . N twithstandi g this easure the

n o . Rou stan n ow o Bey was i ex rable . M res lved t o t ake the man agemen t of Mustapha very seri o u sl in n to n y ha d . The Bey was asked se d a

o to to missi n Paris felicitate the Marshal Presiden t . As Kin g Humbert had been already c on gratulated

h n o on o d for by Mustap a , there was reas able gr un s

f A o on of - el - n re u sal . dec rati the Abd Ama in

am on d for MacMahon di s was prepared Marshal , an d tw o ordin ary Nichan grand c ord on s for

W n on an d n n n M . addi gt Ge eral Cha zy . Ge eral

’ to Mu sta ha s an d Musalli was attached p suite , t ook with him a recommen dati on for the cross of ofﬁcer of the Legi on of H on our on his o w n

o n n in acc u t . Duri g his stay Paris several very imp ortan t matters were discu ssed . The exte n si on of the Compagn ie des Batign olles li n e to the fr on

w as on tier agreed up , and it is believed that

n n a on Mustapha received either Fre ch atur lisati ,

n to o on or an order en titli g him pr tecti . He r e turn ed to Tun is wearin g the gran d cross of the

f on o o n o of con Legi on o H ur . The pr ud disti cti n ferrin g u p on him the grand cord on was reserved

- for M . Sain t Hilaire .

n C on o Then came the Berli gress , and the c nver sation s of L ord Salisbury ab out Tunis .

1 0 AN D 7 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

o n o n n The f rmer made a swer, because Pri ce Bis marck was the n in the dark as to the Cyprus con f v en tion “addin ton n d , while M . g a swere , what he

d n n o afterwards publicly repeate , that Fra ce had d on n o n ot o an o esign Tu is , but c uld all w y ther

o n o to n Eur pea P wer i stal itself there , and thus m n o n on i peril her Algeria p ssessio s . Thereup came

of on n on on the news the Cyprus c ve ti , which the

n n n n on Fre ch press bega attacki g M . Waddi gt , asserting that the E nglish occupation o f Cyprus

n was a rebu ff for Fre nch dipl omacy . The Italia

w m o an d o n papers ere still re excited , blamed C u t Corti for n ot return in g from the c on gress w ith s ome

n in o n - o n of isla d his p cket . This was the starti g p i t

n on a nd of on on the Tu is questi in Italy , c versati s ,

' n ot on n o an d W n ly betwee L rd Salisbury M . addi g

ton b u t w n . W n on an d o n C o , bet ee M addi gt C u t rti .

\ a din u ou n M . V d gton declared thro gh t that Fra ce

n o n of nn n un o n ot had desig a exi g T is , but w uld t olerate any E uropean n eighb our there .

R u an o on . o st Just bef re the c gress met, M received i n formati on that there was a probability of G ermany

1 mm edi makin g an effort to secure Bizerta . He ately suggested to b oth his E n glish an d Italian c olleagues the n ecessity of urgen tly requ esti n g their respective G overn me n ts to ad opt a j oin t action

i n n aga nst Teut on aggression . Duri g the sitti gs TH E BEGI NNING or TH E EN D . 1 7 1

n o w v n or at Berli , h e er, he received a letter detaili g “ p u rp ortin g to detail the Take Carthage c on ver

\ h n o he o s ation s . Vit in a h ur was at the Bard “ detaili n g the last performan ce o f la p ciﬁde Alb ion

“f oo u t o the affrighted Bey . Mr . d was h rriedly

n for an d on om n n t se t , at ce c mu icated the curre

I n o rep ort to the E nglish F oreig n Ofﬁce . a Sh rt time a reply was received de n yi n g categorically that any offer of Tun is t o Fran ce had been made

by E nglan d at Berlin . The c on te n ts of the de

s atch o h r o - of o p , t gether wit a p Turkish speech L rd

B eacon sﬁeld in u n n , were published the T isia

o n n a a n d u n on G ver me t G zette , this pr de t step al e

n n on e or o o f preve ted the Bey accepti g m re M .

’ R oustan s prop osals . That L ord Salisbury mean t to i n clude the t otal absorpti on of this c ou n try when he sp oke of the legitimate exten si on of Fren ch in ter

can n n m ests, hardly be asserted eve by his e e ies , but that an y deviati on at all w as ever made from the pruden t p olicy so ably carried ou t by Sir ‘ o w Th omas Reade an d Sir R . vV od must al ay s be a

subject of regret .

On 2 8 th 1 8 8 B en the July 7 , Mustapha Ismael

I n o o n on became Prime Min ister . the f ll wi g m th Sign or Mussi arrived at Tu n is on a p olitical missi on

of on o n o v o c siderable imp rta ce . His f rmer isits t the Rege n cy were paid in the capacity of age n t t o 1 2 7 TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT .

o n V andon i w ho a certain C u t , had preferred an e n orm ous an d prep osterous claim again st the Tun i ’ sian G overn ment for ser v ices re n dered as the Bey s

on u n o on on o c s l at Ge eva . This c nsiderati al e Sh uld have preve n ted the ch oice of Signor Mussi to treat

o on matters of a dipl omatic character . With ut

n n o o com eve feeli g his way , Sign r Mussi at nce mu n icated to Mustapha his ideas b oth about French

g on a nd o of n an d a gressi the best meth d checki g it ,

o of on on of the wh le his c versati was , as a matter

’ o n to d Orsa c urse , tra smitted by telegraph the Quai y the same even i n g . He then asked for the cessi on to of o Italy Bizerta , which was at nce refused . Next day he submitted a plan for c on stitutin g Bizerta a free p ort u n der the j oi n t guara ntee of the

o o n o n o three P wers . He als e j i ed b th the Bey and his Mi n ister to make n o kin d of c on cession in ’

n n to . n h Fra ce relati g M De Sa cy s demands , whic

o n were again becomin g tro ubles me . Havi g alm ost

o n o n n t o n n o thr w d w the gau tlet Fra ce , Sig r Mussi

n to on — retur ed Italy . A m th later the ex Prime

- - Min ister Kheir cd Din was summ on ed to Stamb oul .

n n to n i M . Ferdi a d de Lesseps came Tu s early in

o 1 8 8 on N vember 7 , charged with the especial missi of c on vertin g Mu h am ed Sadek to the d ogma of an

nl n . L o I a d Sea . Failure with M de esseps is alm st

o o o an d imp ssible , but he f und b th the Bey Mustapha

1 AN D E . 74. TUNIS PAST PRES NT of this alm os t i n credible act of folly can easily be

n . u s an i im agi n ed . The milita t M Ro t recognised n

n n o Maccio an d n t this display a milita t Sig r , we as fast as his carri age c ould carry him to i nduce the Bey to enter a formal protest agai n st Italian

n m n n aggressi o . An immediate estrange e t betwee the tw o consu ls dc comb a t was only avoided by

o of IVood o the happy mediati n Sir Richard , by wh se advice the Bey c on te n ted himself with sen din g a frie n dly message to Sign or Maceio requestin g him ” n d n ot to o it agai . Ab out this time a chan ge seemed to come over

n an d o u n the Prime Mi ister Mustapha , he Sh wed mistakable i n dicati on s of restiven ess in the matter

n on n o of Fre ch pretensi s . I have never bee able t e n tirely fath om the m otives for his n ew lin e of

on to c duct, but I believe it was be attributed partly t o on on n of the str g pers al feeli g the Bey , which he

n ot o f n d to n n of dared f e , partly the i ﬂue ce the partisan s of the Panislamite m ovemen t at the

o an d to an on c urt , partly affr t which he received

Rou stan . fr om M . The year 1 8 7 8 was n ot destin ed to pass away

u m n l with out its ca s s he a d u tima tum . The hero of the n ext epis ode in Tu n isian history was the

o S n of n ow o - o o n ﬁr m C unt de a cy, the alm st f rg tte

f - To o o o Sancy Ronalds . c ns le the cou n t for the TH E r TH E END 1 BEGINNING o . 7 5

“ troubles which atten ded his ﬁrst effort to improve

of n n o an d t . Rou stan the breed Tu isia h rses cat le , M in July 1 8 7 7 in duced the Bey to gran t him an other on on of n on to c cessi la d , which he agreed keep a

o u certain quan tity of st ck . The rights he acq ired

to on an d w as were declared be purely pers al , he ex empted from the paymen t of all the usual taxes an d

To o n n duties . av id all future disputes the Tu isia G overn me n t in serted the followin g clauses in its “ — n to for decree , viz . I st , That the gra t was be feited i so a cto on 1 st 1 8 8 p f , if, the July 7 , the number of an imals agreed on were n o t forthcomi n g

2 d so on to con , That the estates c ceded were be sider ed n n o to n n as Tu isia pr perty , subj ect Tu isia

and t o o n of law , be treated as still f rmi g part ” n the Beylical d omai s .

n o t I n February M . De Sa cy wr e a letter to the

n in Prime Mi ister, which he stated that he had

n n to n n on o n bee u able fulﬁl his e gageme ts , acc u t of the in terrupted c ommu n ication with Europe ” on n on o- an d c seque t the Russ Turkish war , because the Bey had n ot put him in p ossessi on of the wh ole

n for d la d stipulated . The ﬁrst excuse was absur ,

d o o . on n an o n . the sec d u true, b th c tradict ry M De San cy received a civil an swer decli n in g to accept

an d o o w n to his pleas , in July a c mmissi n e t Sidi Tabet to ascertain the real state of things in accord D 1 7 6 TUNIS PAST AN PRESENT .

f on o n an o . ce with the terms the c cessi n Eve M .

‘ De San cy himself sig n ed the p r oces— ver b a l attestin g his o w n failure to carry ou t the c on dition s he had

on n u in agreed up . The Bey the p blished a decree , w hich he declared the gran t at an end. A l on g d o o n n n . c rresp nde ce ext ensue , duri g which M

Rou stan a d miscmcor dia m made several appeals , an d ﬁn ally the G overn me n t determi n ed to expr o

r iate n or n to o law p M . De Sa cy , acc di g the l cal he

to . o to n to had agreed abide by A n tice quit, se t

n on u - G the Fre ch C s late eneral , was treated with

on o an d n of con c temptu us silence , the age ts the ccssimm a ir c were foun d to have leased ou t por ti on s of the estate in deﬁan ce of the conditi on s

of o n on on . w o to the rigi al d ati The Bey r te M .

Rou stan n n to o on sayi g he i tended take p ssessi , an d he received an an swer asserti ng that the

n n o an d an on e la d was Fre ch pr perty , that if y ventured u pon it he w ould ﬁnd a Fre n ch j anis

w as n sary on the b order . A reply se t c ouched in o on o n the m st c ciliat ry terms , declari g that if any oppositi on w as offered the person s sen t to o o o on an d take p ssessi n w uld at ce withdraw ,

onﬁ o to a o o on c ne their acti n plat nic pr testati .

o n on th a o Acc rdi gly the o December , deputati n ,

o o of n o B acou ch c mp sed the Austria C nsul , General ,

n c e e e of M . O ill , the Fr nch M mber the Financial

1 8 N D 7 TU N IS PAST A PRESENT . m or d n o iscarried were elayed , a Fre ch squadr n as

o n l G o an d usual appeared Opp rtu e y at letta , the “ ” frie n dly p owers w ould or c ould do n othi n g but give ad v ice The Bey surre n dered at discreti on ; Mustapha n ext m or ni n g asked pard on in the pre sen ce o f a g api n g cr owd at the Fre n ch Con sulate

n an d . Rou stan nn o n . Ge eral , M a u ced that M l “ a ddin g ton w ould be satisﬁed with the dismissal

’ of on n in the ly E glish subj ect the Bey s service ,

n n m f h n . o o n Mr . Sa tilla a A c mittee t ree Fre chme an d tw o Tun isian s w as app oi n ted to fully i n vesti

’ of on n g ate the effects the Turkish war M . De Sa cy s “ philan thr Opic attempts to improve the breed of ” n o h o Tunisia h rs es an d cattle . W at they rep rted

’ in s n n n . ever tra spired , but the re ult M De Sa cy s

n w a on b e n gra t s fully c ﬁrmed . Next year tra s ferred all his rights to the well-kn own Fren ch com

n S ociété M a r seilla isc n ow pa y called the , which has ki ndly u n dertake n to improve the Tun isian breed of o an d an d or o h rses cattle , pays sh uld pay M . De

n n the n Sa cy a very satisfactory ann uity . Whe Italia s tried to treat the Jedeida as Italian s oil in the Fren ch were l oud in their profession s of h or r or at s uch an n - fo r on n a u called aggressi , but whe Sidi Tabet , by

’

on of . o n e a n o ﬁcti M R usta s , b c me a Fre ch pr perty in

8 8 o n I 7 , it was regarded as the legitimate devel pme t of a perfectly j ustiﬁable prep on deratin g in ﬂuence ! TH E BEGINNING OF TH E END . 1 7 9

1 8 o n n The year 79 , which pe ed with the Sa cy

n n saw in n on of i cide t , April the i augurati the

n o . Fre ch railway i n to the i n teri r M . Oscar Gay de Tun is return ed to the Regen cy in May to prose

’

n . o n o for cute, u der M R usta s auspices, his pr j ect

n ew n n o d a a Carthage . Si ce he ﬁrst u f l ed his ide t in I n o . n S o M De Billi g 74 , he had re dered it m re

n in o of attractive by maki g a cathedral , mem ry the

an m f n on e o . Afric arty rs , its salie t features The M lli d u sa s id to . their best help M Gay, but the Bey had o had quite e n ou gh of the St . L uis Chapel on the B y r sa to in duce him t o set his face agai n st the

n . . Rou stan o h ad n o u I n pla M , h wever , difﬁc lty pr ocurin g him substan ti al c on solation for his dis

o n n n . app i tme t . The Bey i vested M Gay with the

n o on of Nichan an d gra d c rd the , gave him a

n prese t of fra ncs besides . With praise

o n m w rthy fra kn ess M . Gay has hi self published the history of a p orti on at least of this pri n cely gift .

of . n As a mark his gratitude , M Gay left a certai

u r n s m with Gen eral Musalli fo his wife . The Ge eral

n o o to an d agai f rg t deliver it , Madame Musalli was

oo n n in n t o G a . f lish e ou gh to c omplai writi g M . y This letter formed on e of the exhibits in the Rou stan

o o t R chef r case .

In o n April Sir Richard Wo d quitted Tu is . He was at least spared the pai n of see i n g the u n tow ard 1 8 AN D 0 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

n d f o f e o all his lab ours . The mem ry o his work in

n an d d o the Rege cy yet lives , his ipl matic successes w n on n ow ill n ot easily be forgotte . It is the fashi

” t o Speak of such m en as Sir Richard Wood as

on n to old oo an d n n bel gi g the sch l , as bei g behi d

u o an u n the age . It may be tr e , but it is als den iable fact that d u rin g the ﬁfty years Sir Th omas f Reade an d Sir Richard “ood represe n ted G reat

n in un n o f n n on o Britai T is , the ame E gla d was h ured an d esteemed from one end of the c ou n try to the other .

1 8 : TUNIS PA ST AN D PRESENT .

to B o n S Mou r ab et Secretary the y ; Ge eral y ,

G o n o o f n : G n S Z er ou ck ver r Kairwa e eral y Arbi , Preside n t o f the M u n icipal C ou n cil ; an d Sheikh

' ' M u hamed B eI ra m n o of Ou kf or , Admi istrat r the

a n of n Ch ritable Trusts . The ecessity discussi g all prop osals made in the c ou n cil afford ed the Bey

a n n x n Rou stan or excelle t e cuse whe either M . Sig n or Macei o urged him to take some imprude n t step ; but in Aug u st the Prime Mi n ister was in du ced to obtain a con cessi on for a state M on te dc

Picté w u t n o n of n , hich p i t the ha ds a Fre ch subj ect the virtual m on op oly of paw n br oki n g operati on s

h n n on - n r o in t e Rege cy . The Italia C sul Ge eral p

an d o n on tested , the scheme , alth ugh si ce c ﬁrmed ,

n has n ever yet bee carried in to effect .

o o In September Mr . Th mas Fell wes Reade

’ in t h n arrived Tunis , af er t irty years disti guished

in on n to service the c sular departme t , succeed Sir

Richard Wo od as the British p olitical agen t . Born in the Ab dellia Palace at the T u n isian waterin g

’ f o o . B place the Marsa ﬁfty years bef re, Mr eade s app oi ntme n t was n aturally p opular with all classes

of an d so B e the Arabs, especially with the y . His

h ad w n to n to n dream in life al ays bee retur Tu is , an d there gain the same p ower an d good n ame as his father p ossessed before him ; i nheriti n g the p olitical creed an d stron g sympathies of Sir Thomas TH 1 BEFORE E STORM . 8 3

o to n n an d n Reade , he h ped mai tai i crease the En glish i n ﬂue n ce already fo stered by Sir Richard

VVO Od. o on to see Mr. Reade , h wever , ly came the en d alike Of Tu n isian in depen den ce an d British

w n n o ow prestige, but hile kee ly shari g the s rr Of the

un n o T isia s themselves , he has faithfully beyed the o o o rders f his superi rs . A few days later a Greek Con sul came t o Tu n is for an d o o to an the ﬁrst time , pr p sed the Bey

n of o Mu ham ed o n excha ge rders . es Sadek ly

o so Rou stan an wished he c uld easily satisfy M . d

Sign or Macei o . A Tu n isian ge n eral w as at on ce

’ n in o n V alen si se t the c mpa y Of M . , the Bey s

on of Nichans to sec d interpreter, with a case

n . on of n . Athe s After the cerem y i vestiture , M V alen si addressed the kin g in a speech begin n in g “ with the followi ng se n te n ce — I a m charged by

o n of n to n o my august S vereig , the Bey Tu is , i f rm y our Maj esty that sin ce the arrival of the Greek

on a lmost a ll the a ssa ssins a nd b r i a n ds in C sul , g ” hi i i n en tir el disa ea r ed s dom n o s ha ve y pp . The

n o oo on on o n ki g , h wever , t k the reflecti his c u try

n on in n an d thus accide tally c veyed excelle t part,

u n n on n ot o ot n in the T isia missi is yet f rg te Greece .

i e v n Early n 1 8 8 0 M . G ry arri ed at Tu is t o o n on on for o o btai a c cessi a p rt at the G letta, but the Bey decli ned for the prese n t e n tertai n i ng the 1 8 4 TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT .

o . Rou stan o N ot to o on . pr p sal be utd e by M , Signor Maccio a sked for permission to lay a tele

o B on t o b u t graphic cable fr m Cape Sicily , he was n ow en croachi n g on o n e Of the m ost valuable an d

of n n m on o o an d serviceable the prete ded Fre ch p lies , h h t e Bey dared n ot gran t his request . Mu amed

w as o on in es Sadek d ubly wr g ; the ﬁrst place , the

n on o o an d on o Fre ch m p ly is a my th , sec dly , it pr ved t o u o on of be the excl sive p ssessi the telegraph , w hich m ore than an ythin g else facilitated the

on of 1 8 8 aggressi April 1 . The three telegraph con cessi on s made by the Tu n i

n o n n t o n n ow o sia G ver me t Fra ce are bef re me . The

2 th of o 1 8 on ﬁrst is dated the 4 Oct ber 5 9 the sec d , the 1 9th of April 1 8 6 1 the third merely provides for on an d on n a telegraph stati at Bizerta , c tai s the

o n same provisi n s as the precedi g on es . The ﬁrst c on cession con sists of on ly ten articles . I n the ﬁrst article the Fren ch are all owed to c on struct a lin e

o n to n on an d r o fr m Tu is the Algeria fr tier, it is p v ided on o on n n o n that, its c mpleti , the Tu isia G ver m n o on of b m n e t may Obtain p ssessi it , y rei bursi g

n o n n or o s o rn the Fre ch G ver me t f its utlay . Of te

or ar n n on at p y a ature was this ﬁrst gra t c sidered , th

in o an d it is expressly stipulated , the f urth ﬁfth articles of on n on oon n n the c ve ti , that , as s as the Tu isia

o n n o n n n em G ver me t btai ed the li e, the buildi gs

1 8 6 P AN D TUNIS AST PRESENT .

I f the G overn me n t of Tu n it ad ever c on templated the creati on of a m on op oly in favour of Fran ce it w ould n ot have reserved the right to acquire itself the lin es a t an y m ome n t . The gran t is merely

in e an d n o permissive its t rms , creates exclusive

n or can a n privilege whatever, y such privilege be i n ferred fr om the m ost strai n ed c on structi on of the con tract . Sign or Macei o had every right t o resen t the d on of n in o n ecisi the Bey , but he was u wise l si g his temper an d i n dulgi n g in a bitter quarrel with the

n f of on to Prime Mi ister, the ef ect which was ly

o o f impr ve the p ositi n o his Oppon e n t . The Fren ch had l ost the harb our an d the Italian s

an d o n ow n o w o the telegraph , b th tur ed t ards s me n ew on o n o t ﬁeld Of c test . N thi g c uld sui this

‘ purp ose better tha n the little E nglish railway

w n u n an d n bet ee T is the sea . If the Fre ch secured it they w ould p ossess an outlet for their exten sive

n of n o an d o of c om li es the i teri r, c mplete the circle m u nication betwee n the sea- c oasts of Tu n is an d

n Algeria ; if it were purchased by the Italia s, the system of Fren ch railways in the c ou n try w ould be‘

’ like Muhammad s c ofﬁn suspe n ded bet w een earth a n d n an d o o in n heave , Italy w uld h ld her ha ds th e approach to the Tu nisia n capital . Both parties

n o to b u an d n o o were a xi us y , the E glish pr priet rs 1 8 BEFORE TH E STORM . 7

— equally willi n g to sell a t a p r ice. The Com

n m en dator e Ru b attin o sen t over Mr . Sa tillan a t o

n n o on n E n glan d to c omme ce eg tiati s . A prelimi ary

n n an d . o agreeme t was sig ed , Mr H dges , the Secretary

n n o n n Of the Tu isia Railways C mpa y (Limited) , we t

o n . n t o R ome t arra ge the details Mea while M . Gery g ot win d of the march stole n on them by

o o n n o their c mpetit rs , i vited by telegraph a ther

n of n o t o o o to an d age t the ve d rs c me ver Paris, then an d there c on cl u ded a purchase o f the railway for m u n A telegra s dde ly called Mr .

o o ta a n a H dges back fr m I ly, and the It lia p rty felt they had bee n in turn o u t w itted . Just as Mr . H odges was leavin g Rome a paper was thrus t i n t o

n d m o o o his ha . It was a for al auth risati n fr m the Min ister of the I n terior to deliver to Sign or Rubat “ ti n o c opies Of all telegrams se n t or received by

m n d the E nglish a H o ges sin ce his arrival at Rome . It was stipulated in the c on tract en tered int o with

M . Gery that the tran sacti on must receive the approbation Of the Cha n cery Divisi on Of the High

u l — ﬁeld w n C o rt o f Justice . The batt e bet een Fra ce an d Italy over the sp oils of the Bey Of Tu nis was c on sequen tly tran sferred for a time from the Sh ores

’ of t o o n n o n I nn Africa the s ber preci cts Of Li c l s .

o n o Ru b a tin o an d G e oon n B th Sig r t M . ry s plu ged

n o of o n an u n i t the thick the fray , and Italy f u d 1 8 8 AN D TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

expected ally in the person of Sir Richard Mali n s .

M r n . Sa tillan a came to E ngland to do battle fo r

n a n d he t n o on n n to the Italia s , lef st e u tur ed requite the cruel treatme n t he had received from

M . Rou stan at the time of the De San cy u ltima tu m

f he a year before . The caustic sarcasms o t judge attracted as much atte n ti on to the case at h ome as

n of n n an d n n the murderi g Fre ch , Italia , Tu isia n ames by the E nglish lawyers excited amusemen t

o - n n n n abr ad . At last Vice Cha cell or Mali s a ulled

’

on w . G an d o the c tract ith M ery, it was rdered that

n o b u on for n the li e be res ld y public a cti the ma ifest , and n ou t n n of , as it tur ed , substa tial be eﬁt the shareh olders w ho had origin ally purchased it for

al o h This s e was ﬁxed for the t July . The Fren ch an d I talian Cabin ets exchan ged mes

on an d on of sages the subj ect , at the suggesti Italy

e an n o a n o it w as agreed to leave M . G ry d Sig r R batti t o ﬁght the bat tle ou t am on gst themselves . As th e

R u stan o . o fatal day appr ached , M felt there was

o n on an d oo o of for s methi g wr g, t k the b ld step biddin g the Bey in writin g to tran sfer the li n e t o

n of the Italia s , whatever may be the result the

’ 3 on in on on n aucti L d . The exciteme t caused by this

n o w n ma ifest had hardly subsided , he a telegram reached Tun is stati n g that the E n glish railway had

o Ru b attin o for been purchased by Sign r ,5

1 90 TUNIS PA ST AN D PR ESENT .

n the w as on o n - o ear est , Bey ly all wed twe ty f ur

to o o w as so on to h ours reply . The pr p sal c trary the Spirit o f the origi n al c on cessi on to the E nglish

o n on ou to c mpa y , that the Bey summ ed up c rage

Rou stan w a o to an d . s w reject it , M bliged withdra

o on to n to n o Ru b attin o his bj ecti the tra sfer Sig r ,

’ because it was fou n d ou t that after all the Bey s

on n w as n ot s in e a n on n ow c se t a g it . The pressure broug ht to bear on the B ey by M . Rou stan an d

o n o his satellites was alm st u bearable . Bef re the end of August they obtai n ed c on cessi on s for a harb our in the Tun is lake (which w as to c ost an

n o o su m an d n n o o n e rm us , prese ted ther adva tages than a pr obability of causin g epidemic fever durin g

on on an d o n of n its c structi , a t lerable certai ty killi g G oletta an d the Ru b attin o railway when c om

leted as for to p ) , as well railways Bizerta and

ne . Rou stan Susa . It is ge rally believed that M also received a formal promise that all c on cessi on s for public works in the Regen cy sh ould he n ceforth " be ﬁrst offered t o Fren ch capitalistsf Affairs r e

n in n o mai ed this u satisfact ry state till December, when we heard rum ours of troops bein g massed on

Rou stan the w the fron tiers . M . reassured Bey ith

it n n This su rmise n ow tu r s ou t to have bee corr ect. Th e luck y

on o o s n on o n SOOI é té B On e-G a r e r e m p li ts were e ther tha the lema, p é r n M. G s e ted by y . E M I I BEFORE TH STOR . Q an n o w n Ofﬁcial de ial , but his w rds ere appare tly belied by the appearan ce of a Fre n ch squadr on a t G oletta .

n é on n o . At this very m me t M L Re aud , Deputy

to n n in n . w as the Fre ch parliame t , arrived Tu is It at on ce rum oured that he w as i ntrusted with a

on to B e an special missi the y , that he was emissary of an d o to n M . Gambetta , that he was c me bri g

t o matters a crisis w ith the Italians . These rep orts

’ n o Mu sallis an d o n ema ated chieﬂy fr m the M . R usta s

d n d on n a n . n oo u pers al frie s , whe M Re aud t k p

o n n n n his ab de at the Fre ch Reside cy , the u i itiated de up their min ds that Tu n is was on the eve o n R u stan f . o on great eve ts M . at ce presen ted

n to M n a nd oon M . Re aud the Prime i ister, it s ’ became everyb ody s secret that the cut - an d dried draft Of a c on cession had been prese n t ed to the Bey for sign at u re . The Bey became very

an d on o m n much perturbed , at ce c m u icated with

n of an d n n the represe tatives Italy E gla d . There

n o o n for th e was certai ly s me gr u d this alarm , as

o on of n pr j ected Credit F cier M . Re aud c om bin ed in itself the imp er ium in imp er io of the Italian

o n an d of the Agricultural C mpa y , the ambiguity

' I n d n on . o n De Sa cy cessi s a w r , M . Re aud asked for an exclusive permissi on to iss u e ban k - n otes to the value of all sums advanced by him as l oan s in 1 2 S P A N D 9 TUN I AST PRESENT .

o n y an d G o nm n to the c u tr , required the ver e t give a guarantee in order that the ba n k sh ould l ose ” n o n o n on thi g by the l a s it c tracted . I have the

d i n extenso o m e t n raft bef re , but every hi g is

n w G é r had summed up i these ords . M . y already

o f w an d n ot o . g a pr mise all the rail ays , M Re aud wan ted a promise Of every ﬁ nan cial Operati on pre

sen t an d to c ome . The Bey himself suggested the

om d f e mean s of escape . Fr the usty archives o th

o n o w Bard were hu ted up the pr tests hich M . De B otmilian had i n duced all the cor ps consu la ir e

o m n n n o n k t ake agai st the far less i cu ous E glish ban .

o 2 d 1 8 seven years bef re . On the 3 May 7 3 , the

’ Fre n ch Chargé d Affair es had declared that a permis

n to n n of L on on to si on gra ted Messrs . Ra ki g d issue

n - n o o o n le a ba k tes was illegal , c mme exp sa t pays ” n on n o a é o an d des si istres c seque ces tr p faciles pr v ir,

on 2 d of 1 8 8 0 u n on the 3 December , the same f cti ary

n n n ot on o o asked the same G over me t ly t all w M . Ren aud to issue ban k - n otes to a practically u n limited

o to n n m am unt, but guara tee him agai st all ulti ate

n u n t n to an l oss Whe n M . Re a d we ext day receive

n u t o n o n an d a swer , the Bey p the pr tests i t his ha ds said he w ould act acc ordin g to the advice c on tain ed

in t o . n them , and refused Sign the draft M Re aud f had been good e n ough to prepare or him . The Bey asked his secretary to return the original scheme

( 1 94 )

CHAPTER XIV .

TH E ACUTE STA G E OF TUNISIA N POLITICS .

SIGNOR N ACCIO open ed his campaig n of 1 8 8 1 w ith

o n He three strategic m veme ts . made his peace with

an d n Mustapha , gave the weak but willi g Prime Mi n ister the question able ben eﬁt of his advice an d coun sel ; b e persuaded the Bey to se n d the son of

o t o n of l o his predecess r meet the Ki g Ita y at Palerm , an d he gave c on siderable en c ouragemen t to the

M osta kel o n n ow n , an Arabic j ur al which bega

u t o in n On mysterio sly appear at Cagliari Sardi ia .

th n n H eu ssein o n the 7 Ja uary, Pri ce , acc mpa ied by Sign or Macei o an d a represen tative deputati on

o t n o on for on fr m the I alia c l y, embarked Sicily “ ” o d o Stafetta Ten b ard the Italian espatch b at, days later they retur n ed to Tu n is completely satis

u f on n ﬁed w ith the res lt o their missi . The ki g had assured Pri nce H eu ssein that Tu n is could always

on on o n n an d o of reck the c u te ance supp rt Italy , an d had i n vested him with the gran d c ord on Of

on the order of SS . Maurice and L azare . In additi TH E OF 1 ACUTE STAGE TUNISIAN POLITICS . 9 5

to n o n n the ﬂatteri g tale t ld by the pri ce , the hi ts dropped by Sign or Maceio w ere emi n en tly calculated t o r o of o o on aise h pes the m st fallaci us descripti . Alth ough it has n ever bee n proved that Sign or

o o n M osta kel con Macei actually f u ded the , his n ection with it did n ot very l on g remain a secret .

n o Pes tal oz z a n o f n Sig r , the i terpreter the Italia

on - n n o o C sulate Ge eral at Tu is , had a sh rt time bef re brou ght from Syria tw o C opts n amed Zai n zain an d

B okhos an d tw o o o n t o n , these w rthies c mme ced pri t

o o n u of an a patri tic j ur al , the mam feat re which was Arabic h otchpotch of everythi n g u nkin d which had been written ab out Fran ce in Europe duri n g the few d n n i n o ays precedi g its appeara ce . S g r Pesta loz z a o of an d n supplied s me the articles , was trusti g

n o to in n of n e ugh leave his MSS . the ha ds Ge eral

’ Mu salli s M osta lcel on n c ompatriots . The c tai ed

o n and n n o n to few rigi al ideas , certai ly thi g excite

ou n n ot the smallest religi s e thusiasm , but it was pleasant for the Fre n ch to have a weekly b u dget of n o o their faili gs spread br adcast all ver Algeria . They had a fair e n ough grievan ce agai n s t b oth

no o an d n u d o o n Sig r Macei his i j ici us sub rdi ate , but

t o n n ou t f - they tried o make a m u tai o the m ole hill .

o to in o o n Eur pe was asked believe s ber seri us ess , that this i n sig niﬁc an t Sardi n ia n leaflet was calcu lated to exci te a religi ous war agai nst the Christian s 1 S P AN D P 9 TUNI AST RESENT .

o e l l os e fr m Tan giers to Baghd ad. Th i ta lc l did n o t a an c t he ta n a o t to fan dv e I lia c use a j , but it served the ﬂ ame w hi c h the success of Sign or Ru b attin o h ad n d an d t o on the o n ki dle , c ﬁrm suspici s which t h e to o had ‘ a t . pilgrim ge Palerm excited . \ u M Rou stan heard his Arab serva nts lau ghi n g over th e a cc ou nts of his visits to Madame Musalli an d his

’ d nn - Mu sta h a s n w to o m i er parties at p , he k e wh he o n n o n an d a o n l wed the a ya ce acted cc rdi g y . The

n oo had n ot ot to n o De Fre ch tr ps g Tu is bef re M .

s S an cy aw oke M . Rou tan on e m orn in g to sav that Zain z ai n had Offered to tell the secrets of the

M ostalcel for on d on w B okhos a c si erati , hile repaired to P aris to make the best bargai n he c ould for

’ Sign or Pestal oz z a s MSS . A Sh ort time afterwards

o dossier to o n an d he s ld his a patri tic ba ker, it was

n in Pa r is n con ﬁ ally published the ewspaper , but tain ed n othin g beyon d the veriest bath os . The

’ o n ly result of this departme n t of Sign or Maccio s d o to n to on ipl macy was irritate the Fre ch , put m ey

n o o of tw o n n n an d i t the p ckets Leva ti e adve turers, t o m aterially i n crease for three days the sale of a

n Parisian eve n i g j ou rn al .

’ Rou s tan n ot n n o on n M . was i active duri g his pp e t s

n absen ce in Sicily . By his advice the parties i ter ested in n n o o n Tu isia c mmercial devel pme t , liber ally subventi on ed a large secti on of the Fren ch

1 8 P D E 9 TUN l S AST AN PRES NT .

? pared to accept her protec ti o n The B oy k n e w t he firs t part o f the stateme n t w as a diplomati c

ood a nd s o do the o . a l en tb falseh , ubted wh le After g y c onvers ati o n he ﬁ nally declin ed to al ter the sta tus “ l u Ii-e all in an f G od o. o g are the h ds , he said ,

a n d o to o o t an d u all if f rce is verc me righ j stice , I c an do is to leave my fate an d that of T u n is to

Him .

n n w as n ot o d n to E gla d , h wever esti ed be a mere spectator of the game Of chess betwee n the Fre n ch a a l le E n n d Itali n consu s ( comb a t. The ﬁda case s oon threate n ed to make her als o on e of the p arties

o d o of t the ispute . The st ry this fresh phase o f the Tun isian question can be t old in few w ords .

M r . o A British subj ect , Levy , had p ssessed , and

‘ for n successfully cultivated ma y years, a large estate on th e o n of n c ast Of the rege cy Tu is, called the

h n o n n in o n Su a . o y Eur pea s h ldi g la d this c u try , a s in o n in n on con all thers , are ame able tra sacti s

e n n to less loci h in c r i g it the , w ich , this particular n n n o n e f he d . O o t i sta ce , is the Muhamme a c de best k n own an d m ost frequen tly practised prin ci

of law shoo a or - on ples that is called f , pre empti , which may be sh ortly described as the right of a part n er or n eighb our t o acquire an y property s old in w or o o hich be has a share , which is c ntigu us TH E OF P 1 ACUTE STAGE TUNISIAN OLITICS . 99 to o w n on n o n his estate, payi g d w the purchase

on on o n n m ey agreed by the rigi al ve dee . This right is as frequen tly res orted to throu gh the l ocal c ourts at Tu n is by Eur opean settlers as by Arab

o n - cd- Din o n pr prietors . Ge eral Kheir was the w er of a very importan t d omain b orderin g on Mr .

’ an d n o n d n o on of Levy s estates, eve surr u i g a p rti

n h i n E d o s o n n ﬁ a. his la ds , w ich pr perty k w as the

n 1 8 8 n D u ri g the autum n Of 0 Mr . Levy e tered i n to n o i on for h an d n o eg t ati s its purc ase , Obtai ed pr mises of supp ort from his friends to raise the required

n n n capital . Sudde ly the ews reached Tu is that Kheir — cd- Din had s old his estate to the S ocié té

n n n om n Marseillaise , the Fre ch ﬁ a cial c pa y which

n h ad already succeeded M . De Sa cy at Sidi Tabet for on on on a large sum , but the express c diti that the sale was to be effected accordin g to

n n t o Muhammedan law . Mr . Levy the determi ed n o of sli oo ct an d n o oon had i v ke his right f , s er the S ocié té Marseillaise c ompleted the formalities of purchase (which they did in the man n er pr escribed by the law an d immem orial custo m of Tun is) than

d on an d he made the requisite eclarati s , was , with

n on of the d in o on of the sa cti cadi , place p ssessi

o n n the E nﬁda . The rigi al purchasers were ext obliged by the requiremen ts of M u hammedan l a w to o to d sue Mr . Levy bef re the cadi test the vali ity Q Q Q P A N D P S T UNIS AST RE ENT . o f an d so on o w the of h his right , c sci us ere y t is , that t a a ft on o f n d o n e e in hey had ctu lly le a z e la , m tre w all o n the th e o o f idth , r u d estate still pr perty

- d - c Din in o d to . ou t of Kheir , r er place Mr Levy

the o of on ou n o . ho w categ ry c tigu s eighb urs It,

n ﬁction n o n o ever, tra spired that this must ig mi i usly

a o n a o n t of os n n s f il cc u Mr. Levy p sessi g garde

’ ’ w n Enﬁda an d cou ( l cta t ithi the , a p was hastily

o on . o tan res lved by M R u s .

u t in o o Mr . Levy was p p ssessi n on the 1 2 th

n . On o o n n Ja uary the f ll wi g day , he left his age ts in o on - cl - B e an d a h use the estate called the Dar y , furn ished them w ith a written auth ority to h old it

n n o to n o his behalf. He the pr ceeded pla t trees on

ff n of o h d an d di ere t parts the estate , pl ug ﬁel s , p form other acts required by la w Of an exerciser of

- i o n pre emption n p ssession . Duri g his absen ce the

n of n o n o n age t the Fre ch C mpa y arrived , acc mpa ied

’

n n . o n d a . o an n by M R usta s cha celier, a M R bi ,

’

o n I n n . n r o armed drag ma . vai Mr Levy s age ts p

an d o tested , exhibited their auth rity , which had bee n duly executed by Arab n otaries ; they were

n h ow o o o . o f rcibly ejected fr m the h use F rtu ately ,

h o v for . n o w o e er, Mr Levy , the Arab taries aec m pan ied the Fren ch party refused to c omplete the

o n of L v n on . deeds Of sale , acc u t Mr evy ha i g

e on an d to legally exercised pr empti , this appears

2 0 2 AN D TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

Sir Ch arles Dilke i n formed the H ouse of C ommons that the E nglish an d Fre n ch G overn me n ts had agreed that the questio n sh ould be dealt with by

o n n w o o the l cal tribu als , u der h se j urisdicti n the m er o o o n m ad att pr perly c mes , and L rd Gra ville e i n simila r stateme t in the H ouse of Lords . Both

G an d o n Mr. uest L rd De la Warr had rece tly visited T un is they were b oth aware Of the system Of terrorism pursued by the Fre nch represe n tative t owards the Bey ; an d they had both carefully

n n o of i quired i t the merits this particular case . O n it bein g a n n ou n ced that the Fren ch iron clads

n n to n . u n had bee se t Tu is , Mr G est e ergetically

on an d tw o h al o n rem strated , British s ips were s se t there . The Fren ch vessels were immediately with “ ” n an d n an d o n draw , the Thu derer Dec y retur ed t o for n Malta . Mr. Levy was the time bei g left in o on of the o an d n discom p ssessi pr perty , his ﬁ al

o m n n n on ﬁtu r e p stp on ed to a ore co ve ie t seas . The E nﬁda dispute attracted great atten ti on in

an d o o n o Italy , it was h ped that by ad pti g s me

a n of c omm on course of action the re lisati o M .

’ Re n aud s ven gean ce might be averted . The u n reas on able c onduct of Sign or Maceio very soon

n on ou t n placed an y such c ombi ati Of the questi o . “ His n ext quarrel with the Fren ch was the straw

’ ” o o which br ke the camel s back , and , as luck w uld H 2 T E A CUTE STAGE OF TUNISIAN POLITI CS . 0 3 h the n n in on ave it , Italia s were e tirely the wr g . Ten years before the Bey of T u n is gran ted t o

o e an d Man car di th e on on for Messrs . T lm c cessi a

a - l - o e r ilway lin e to H ammam e Lif. Mr . T lm was d an d Man car di had n ead , Mr . quitted Tu is eight

o Ru b attin o om n in y ears bef re . The C pa y , its ﬁrst

fl o ot n o . ush Of vict ry, g a tra sfer Of his rights fr m Mr

M r i n n n an ca d o o . , but eve he had l st the rigi al gra t

o n to t of on it had Acc rdi g the spiri the cessi itself, lon n to ff an d n o on g Si ce ceased have e ect , reas able m an f v n w ould ever have th ought o revi i g it . As s oon as Sign or Maceio lear n ed that the Fre n ch railway to Susa w as to pass through H am mam - el

b e on n o on n n on e o Lif, c ceived the ti Of gai i g m re advan tage by st oppin g the works o n the plea of an

n n Man car di TO i fri gemen t of the grant . this en d the dead an d buried c on cessi on was brou ght

o w an d in on n o f o o o t f r ard , c seque ce a vig r us pr tes

o n o o w as n to fr m Sig r Macei , the Bey i duced suspe n d further progress pen di n g a search for the m - n an d n n di d n d o . issi g title eed . The , the ly , M Rou stan determin e to furn ish the G overn men t with s ome m ore tan gible pretext for promptly extin guish in an d n o o an d g Italy Sig r Macei , at the same time putti n g the Fre n ch p olitical an d c ommercial p r e p on clé r a n ce na tu r elle at Tu n is bey on d the p ossi b i lity Of further cavil . 2 0 4 TUNIS PAST A N D PRESENT .

The c on sul for the Bey of Tu n is at B o n e was

o ne o o had , J seph Allegr . His father held the same

o o him a n d n u n n l p st bef re , while eati g T isia sa t, had actu ally pr op osed in w riti n g to ra ise such an i n surrecti on as w ould amply j usti fy a Fre n c h

n a n i v si o an d a n n exati on of the c ou n try . The

o n o w as s n of a n o y u g Allegr the Off pri g Arab m ther, a n d his life had bee n chiefly spe n t am on gst the

- a of n half sav ge tribes the Algeria fron tier . Sidi

B n i Yusef e Ali (M . Allegro has sin ce def n itely assumed this n ame on Ope n ly professing the M osle m faith) had for years dealt alm ost professi on ally in o d an d b rder rai s , was equally clever either at

n m or n o exciti g the suppressi g them . Bef re the

of Rou stan of B en arrival M . the abilities Yusef

w o n u n o Ali ere alm st hidde der a bushel , alth ugh the

o in o o o an d li a iclc ﬁgure Of his m ther , rth d x veil ,

’ waiti n g for the arrears Of her s on s pay at the d oor

’ of t o the Bey s treasurer , was a familiar feature every on e frequen ti n g the Bard o palace . There was a n other ki n dred spirit still n earer to the b order M .

Pa n ariello G n n o at La alle , k ew perhaps eve m re ab out the Khamir tribesmen than Yusef B en Ali .

o o n n and He was their fact r, br ker, ge eral age t ,

n on o an d o n trusted frie d the c ast, had gr w rich in n o oo an d n and n buyi g their c rk , w l , grai , selli g

n Al o n o o in . them gu s, p wder , and sh t retur th ugh

2 0 R TUNIS PAST AND P ESENT . t o A n n r uble . The lgeria Arabs are ge erally the

a n d n n thieves , the Tu isia the receivers ; they remain g ood frie nds as l on g as they ar e robbi ng t an d on h n om to hird parties , ly quarrel w e it c es

o a divisi on of the sp oil . These b rder squabbles have occurred over an d over agai n any time these ” thir tv an d n o o o till years , b dy cared ab ut them , , “ ” h e it w on ve ient to do so a s c n . added , If the

u n n o m n o T isia Arabs have s meti es bee the aggress rs , sc ores of cases are on record in which the Algerian s

w n on o n n o the have a t ly vi lated Tu isia territ ry , but Bey of T u n is n ever th ought of i n vadi n g Algeria ” for o on of his on an m o n the pr tecti fr tier, y re tha Fran ce c ould j ustify the o c cupati on of Belgi u m by a case of cattle — liftin g ha v i ng occasion ed l oss to so me Fren ch sub jects on the c onﬁnes of that

n o ki gd m .

P n l While Sidi Yusef an d M . a ar iel o w ere arr ang in for an o o n on o g pp rtu e fracas the b rders, M .

o tan o R u s was very active at Tu n is . Alth ugh his o w n en tou r a e n on n n n n g ever c tai ed a si gle Fre chma ,

' he set in m oti on a purely legen d ary coteme styli n g

n on o o o f itself the Fre ch col y . Bef re the utbreak

o n ot o n o o f h stilities, there were m re tha a sc re Fren ch residen ts of position an d respectability in

n an d o o n n Tu is , yet thr ugh ut all the rece t eve ts,

u n of - a ~ doz en n the ttera ces half i dividuals , headed TH E A P 2 ACUTE STAGE OF TUNISI N OLITICS . 0 7

or n n by the deputy represe tative , have bee treated in o Eur pe as if they expressed the wishes , ideas , a nd p olitical feeli ngs of some large an d in fluen tial

od of m en h n n o of b y , avi g a peculiar k wledge the d f of t on an d n ot i ﬁculties the situa i , the largest , if

on in of o n o the ly , stake the future the c u try . Ab ut “ the 2 otb March an Address was g et up by the

o o an d n h to c l ny , prese ted wit a silver cup M .

Rou stan o oo o n . The f rmer t k the extra rdi ary shape of a sweepin g bill of i n dictmen t again st the Bey of

n n on in o b Tu is . O its publicati Eur pe y the good o ﬁ of A en ce H a va s a f ces the g , M hamed es Sadek ( w ho still believed in a Christian sen se of j ustice an d the amity of n ati on s) h oped t o c oun teract its

f to Rou s tan of o ef ect by a letter M . , which c pies “ were submitted t o the age n ts of the friendly ” p owers .

hn t B oasian C n u l- ene al Letter o his Hi ess the B e o M. o s G r f g y ,

” ’ a d ar e A i ir e o Fr an e n Ch g d ﬁ s f c .

It is n ow s ome time that the press o f Europe o ccupies of n an d o ur o n n n o t adv is itself Tu is, G ver me t has deemed it

to n o n to o on o n able ! pay great atte ti the m st c tradict ry ews

i n o n n o n . published differe t c u tries The Alg eria press , m re

n ot o n particularly , has spared the m st lively attacks agai st

n n n an d n on on Tu isian admi is t rati o its fu cti aries . It has g e s o far as to assert that the freque n t quarrels which arise

n on on n ot o of betwee the Arabs the fr tier were , if the w rk 3 r 2 0 6 TUNI S r a sr A N D r n as ni r.

o u r G o n n n n o ou r in differ ver me t , certai ly re dered p ssible by

- - i f o n n n w v s o . n e ce. s d the culprits Our G ver me t has bee able t o a W o t n o n f ce ith u the slightest apprehe si , these attacks ,

n d h a s w a n ou r n n bei g persuade , as it al ys bee , that se time ts o f r n o n an d h f ie dship t wards Fra ce , the acts by which we ave

n o n n n to n o ffi bee c sta tly e abled ma ifest them , w uld have su ced t o justify o u r G over n me n t in the eyes of any on e desirous of

n o n B u t n ow judg i g the real situati With impartiality . a

n o n o f o on n ma ifestati a m st excepti al character has take place , a n d o u r o n n n o o n n G ver me t , feari g that a pr l ged sile ce migh t

d n on on th e on misgui e public Opi i matter, has c sidered that it w ould be betrayi n g its duty if it did n ot call the atte n ti on o f the G over n me n t of the Republic t o the real state o f affairs at

n I n an f . n o Tu is fact, by address which has bee f icially

n t o ou an d of n o o n on ha ded y , which b dy here imagi es the c

n a of n o on o te ts , great part the Fre ch c l y depl res that its

n off n of o ar e n ot i terests are e ded , that its rights pr perty

on o o an d respected , that pers al security is c mpr mised , that ,

ﬁn n n on n n a dmin i s ally , the e gageme ts c tracted by the Tu isia

on n h n ot o d o trati with Fre c subjects are bserve . It theref re asks that the Gover nme n t of the Republic sh ould be i n formed

o f of f an d and the real state a fairs , that ready measures , if

n n on o n to an en d to eed be , e ergetic es, sh uld be take put the

n of f i n c on ve ie n ce such a state of a fairs . “ N othi n g is easier than to refute on e by on e all these

n N o o n e in o n n n o . o accusati s , fact, c uld c te d that Fre ch Citize n s do n ot p ossess in perfect tran quillity in the Regen cy their lan ded pr operty just as is the case with the subjects o f

o E on e can in w a every o ther p wer . very verify the clearest y p ossible that the c omplete abse n ce of an y crimi n al attempts pr ove h ow far the pers on al safety of foreign ers in ge n eral r un

o o n n n ou r o n n n risk . The c u te a ce which G ver me t has always give n to every e n terprise in which Fre n chme n are i n terested attests its desire scrupul ou sly to mai n tai n the e ngageme n ts

2 1 0 AND TUNI S PAST PRESENT .

\Ve trust that the G o ver n me n t o f the Republic will n ot r e fii se tha t i n a i k o f in n o f us sympathy the i terest strict justice , givi n g us o n this o ccasi o n a fresh pr oof o f the frie n dly dis

o o n n o n an d fo r p siti s which have always bee sh w us , which ' w e \V u M l o Char e d Affair es . e o . feel truly grateful pray y , g , t o c o mmu n icate with y our usual be n ev ole n ce this letter t o

o o n n t — IV?itten on the 2 Rabi E ttani 1 2 8 y ur G ver me 4 9 , ” Ma r h 2 8 8 E K M A D E E . c 1 1 . UH M S S 4 , AD

’ n d Rou stan Seve ays after M . received the Bey s l o o of u n oo on etter , s me s rt dist rba ce t k place the

on an d th e o n n o n Khamirs fr tier, hithert u k w sud denl o u IVhat y became fam us thr ough out E ro pe . really happen ed o n the eve n tful 3 oth March n ear the c on ﬁ nes of Khamir- lan d n ob ody will probably ever kn ow exactly u n til we have the pleasure of read in g the autobi ography of either Yusef B en Ali or M . ’ n l n Pa ar ie lo . t o Fate u n expectedly came o M . R usta s

an d few i o o n aid , while a Kham r h rr rs were bei g

ot o o on h hastily g t gether , C l el Flatters peris ed with his missi on in a real massacre far away in the Sahara .

tw o n o on d o on The eve ts became h pelessly c fuse , C l el Flatters an d the Khamirs were at on ce bracketed “ t ogether u n der the c ommon head of H orrible

Ob ser ver A d an d Outrages ( , pril 3 , every “ b ody made up their mi n ds that the drape au ” ’ m n a n u n to e ce de la Fra ce (M . Ro sta s speech the “ ” n o on 2 0th o Fre ch c l y , March ) must be pr mptly TH E OF P 2 ACUTE STAGE TUNISIAN OLITICS . I I an d f n n IVhile n ew sb oar ds f e ﬁcie tly ave ged . the o

on on an d o n L d Paris were c vered with the lege ds , ” n on n n n Fre ch Expediti agai st Tu is , Dari g Raids ” of n n an d on n i n on Tu isia Tribes , C ti ued F ghti g ” n on of n in the Algeria Fr tier, the Bey Tu is was

n o n of n As blissful ig ra ce what had take place . soon as he k n ew his dan ger through the medium of

o n i on e f reig telegrams , he mmediately despatched of his m ost trusted servan ts at the head of a small force t o i n vestigate i n to the real or imagi n ary

f h n offe n ces o the K amir s . Mea while the Havas Agen cy prosecuted its campaign with alm ost fever

an d n l st an d th ish activity , betwee the 4 April the Parisian press was plen tifully supplied w ith a

of ﬁ o o o o f series ctiti ous but fer ci us c mbats . S me o

n e. . in these messages are really i imitable , g , a tele gram of the i st April we read A Tun isian Caid has c ollected ab out 3 000 men of the K egla tribe an d to Diamessi on on led them Sidi the fr tier , for o of n on o f the purp se surprisi g , the pretext a

on n n o n n in ou c fere ce, the Fre ch c mma da t the S k

d o n . n haras istrict The latter, h wever, havi g bee

’ o n of n n on i n f rewar ed the Caid s i te ti s , succeeded ” ff n o e e ecti ng his retreat . Here is a ther sp cime n

o n to n n v n o Acc rdi g i tellige ce just recei ed , umer us

n 1 1 n t n to o n the Khamirs Tu s a subjects have lef Tu is j i . A case con taining 1 00 kil ogrammes of b a ll cart 2 2 AN D R I TUNIS PAST P ESENT .

d n to Khain i rs n n ri ges , se t the by Tu isia Jews , has bee n seized by the admi nistrati on of the Tun is ” a o R ilway . The third is a still greater ge graphical

an o n ow puzzle th the thers , but eve this was swall ed with the rest It is rum oured that on the T u n isian

n has to terms bei g rej ected , the Bey appealed Italy The Khamirs are e n deav ourin g to obstruct the

o to to n n o on r ad Bej a , preve t Fre ch ccupati . The G overn or of Bej a has deman ded rei n forcemen ts

o m n n in his o n o fr Tu is , bei g fear that t w w uld be o ccupied by the marauders an d shelled by the Fren ch

IVithin a week M . Jules Ferry had res olved to

’ o a n i nter ella tion on the a r t M L n av id p p of . eo

R en a u d o n n n to , by the G ver me t decidi g chastise

Kham rs on n n o ot on n the i Tu isia s il . N ly was Tu is t o n v d n n be i a ed by a Fre ch army , but M . Sai t Hilaire assured the represen tatives of foreign p owers “ in m o o n n at Paris , the st f rmal ma er , that the

' operati on s ab ou t t o c ommen ce on the b order - lan d between Algeria an d Tun is are mean t s olely to put an en d to the con stan t i n roads of the fr on tier cla n s n o n o an d n n n of i t Algeria territ ry, that the i depe de ce the Bey an d the i n tegrity of his territ ory were n ot in an y way threaten ed This declarati on was

n made with a full k owledge of the fact that M . Rou stan had already en deav oured to coerce the

CHAPTER XV .

TH E E OF OUTBR AK HOSTILITIES .

ON the sth of April the Bey received tw o imp ortan t

n w as c ommu n icatio s . The ﬁrst the rep ort of G e n eral Y ou n es el E zeri an d C olon el Allela Jau ini

to w n on Kha mi rs as hat had really happe ed am gst the , an d on o n n o n n the sec d was a f rmal a u ceme t by M .

s an of o n n on Rou t the c mi g i vasi . As might have

n o on of l n bee expected , the alleged vi lati A geria terri

o n ou t to o o an d t ry tur ed be m re than pr blematical , the Khamir s were ready an d willing to submit u n r e ’ r v l o n on T o s e ed y to their s vereig s decisi . w days

. Rou stan an d later M called at the palace , had a ”

on n w . on l g i tervie with the Bey I am ast ished ,

Mu ham ed es ou n said Sadek , at the message y bri g

n n me . I have already take e ergetic measures to

n n on on ou sa e sure tra quillity the fr tier, and yet y y my c oun try is to be occupied with out eve n askin g me to redress any grievan ces y ou may have to com plai n of Your Govern men t can n ever contemplate

Appen dix N . Q I TH E OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES . S

o such a step . If I am so treated I shall pr test as

of u l n an d ou on r es on a vassal the S ta , y al e will be p

n on sible for whatever may happe . This r esp sibility will be greater because y ou will attack me w ithout ” n even a n otice of the c omme cemen t of h ostilities .

n n Rou stan o n It is n ot surprisi g that eve M . f u d s ome diffic u lty in an swerin g such c oge n t reas on in g

o to o on n an d as this . He pr fessed be alm st c vi ced ,

’ promised to telegraph the substan ce of the Bey s

t da n o . n Rou sta for remarks t Paris The ex y M .

’ - warded to the Palace M . Sain t Hilaire s reply

l t — u stan h B A r i h M Ro to t e e . p 7 . y

I n c on seque n ce of the c ommu n icati on s I have lately ’ received from y our High n ess s G overn me n t respecti n g the military preparati on s n o w go i n g on in Fran ce a n d Algeria

V of n of on with a iew repressi g the attacks the fr tier tribes , I have fo rwarded to my G o vern me n t the observati on s addressed

o n on t o me by y ur High ess the subject. I have j ust received the reply of the Mi n ister o f F oreign Affairs t o these co m m un ications an d on n t n n o to o , at ce tra smi the a exed c py y ur

n High ess .

t — i — ila ir e t Ill R u ten l h e nt H o . e s Apr i 7 [ll S . (Telegram )

I have received y our telegrams respecti n g the expla n a on B e B e oo n o to t o ti s desired by the y . g d e ugh declare His High n ess that we appreciate the faithful frie n dship o f which

so o n an d o f n o w to he has fte assured us , which we have ask for n o n n ta gible pr oofs . A seri us peril threate s the i tegrity of ou r territory a n d the safety of the i n habitan ts livi n g there

n n o f o u r n u der the pro tectio laws . That peril spri gs from 2 1 AN D TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

’ the ii i su b o r diii a te t i ib es o cc u pyi n g a p orti o n of th e B oy s

an d a a n s o a n o f state , g i t wh m imperative duty legitimate 7 de fe i i t e o a c t o “ c nn o u n for f rces us to with vig ur . ca t

’ t u n atel o n o u B o to b y reck the ey s auth rity reduce these tri es , w th e n an d o to o f ith requisite e ergy pr mptitude , a state submissi on re n deri n g them h en ce fO i tli harmless ; b u t we have

’ a rig ht to c o u n t o n the B ey s military fo rces t o assist us in

e o f n o n n on n the w i k ecessary repressi . Our ge erals c seque tly receive orders to c o me to a frie n dly u n derstan di n g with the ofii cer s o f n n 00 an d to n o o f the Tu isia tr ps , give them tice t h e m ome n t whe n the exige n cies o f strategic m oveme n ts will i n duce them to bor r o wfor their Oper ations Tunisian ter r itor y either

r n near La Calla o i n the Medj er dah V alley . It is as allies a d ’ auxiliaries o f the B ey s s o vereign auth ority that the Fre n ch

o w o m o n d s ldiers ill pr secute their arch . It is als as allies a au x diar ies that w e h ope to meet the Tun isia n s oldiers With the rei n forceme n t with which we i nte n d deﬁ n itively t o pu n ish the misdeeds of the c omm on e n emies of the B ey an d o urselves .

On receipt of these commu n icati ons a c ouncil of

on on n n an n state was at ce c ve ed . The Bey se t urge t

to to o to o message ask Mr . Reade c me the Bard , which w as immediately complied with What am ?” I to do asked Mu ha med es Sadek M . Rou stan

has ot n o . . , I fear, g me here (claspi g his thr at) Mr Reade stron gly urged on the Bey the n ecessity of provin g his ability to preserve order by at on ce se n din g an army to the fron tier u n der the c omman d of - n in o to o the heir appare t , rder bviate all further

f n grou n d of c omplain t on the part o Fra ce . The

2 1 8 A N D T UNIS PAST PRESENT.

m o n n o o n n o o f ilitary m veme ts they tice Fre ch territ ry , w n o o hich they fa cy themselves the bject. H wever this may

oo w e n an d w ho w oo n be , the tr ps have j ust se t , ill s be

o o o o n n t o n n f ll wed by thers , are m re tha sufﬁcie t mai tai per

n n o a d n I n n o f n ma e t rder n tra quillity . the eve t its bei g

o o of o u r o m ou r pr ved that s me tribes have c m itted misdeeds , delegate has the p ower o f seizi n g the culprits and pu n ishi n g

o n to n n them acc rdi g their crimes . Our havi g take these measures sh ould dem o n strate to y our G over nmen t the efforts we are c on sta n tly maki n g in this matter for the purp ose of reassuri n g the G overn me n t o f the Republic as to what

' n \Ve o might disturb the tra quillity o f Algeria . cherish a h pe that the Fre n ch G overn me n t will n o t carry o u t its i n te n ti on s .

o u r n in on w e If, despite assura ces , it persists that decisi , are o n on to n on o b u d at ce apprise it, that such a determi ati w uld bri ng us i n t o discredit amon gst o u r ow n p opulati on a n d

o n S an d o o on an d F reig tates , might raise ther c mplicati s

n n ot o n t n M o o da gers at this m me t o be foresee . re ver the e n try o f Fre n ch tr oo ps on Tu n isian territ ory w ould c on stitute a violati on o f o u r s overeign rights an d w ould prejudice the

n o f o n o n n in ou r o n an d i terests f reig g ver me ts c u try, which

n ou r o o on are placed u der charge . It w uld , ab ve all , c stitute

on of o a vi olati the rights of the Sublime P orte . Fr m all

for e om on on w e n o ou can in n o the g g c siderati s, i f rm y that we way accept or acc o rd the execution of the measure c on tem

o o n n an d on n of n of plated by y ur G ver me t , c sisti g the e try

n o o on ou r o I n o f on Fre ch tr ps territ ry . case that executi bei n g effected agai n st o u r will we h old the G overn me n t of the Fre n ch Republic resp on sible for all the c on seque n ces w t hich migh result .

A circular and n ote were als o prepared an d tran s m itted simultan eously to the differen t members of

cor s c nsula ir the p o e. TH E 2 1 OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES . 9

A r il th —Mnhamecl es adek t the For ei n Re r t p o . S o g p esen atives t Tu nis a .

’ The Chargé d Affair es of Fran ce has brought a c omplain t n t u r o n agai n st the Kh amir s w h o bel o g o o tribes . C rresp o d

n h aV i n n of an d o u r o n n e ce g passed betwee that ﬁcer G ver me t , w e have th ought it right to deliver to y ou herei n e n cl osed a

o of n o n of o o on ou r o c py these tes . As the e try tr ps territ ry is an i n fri n gemen t of ou r rig hts an d of that of the Sublime

o to M . Rou stan an d n to P rte , we have replied , writte the ﬁve

o o of o n o . Great P wers letters, c pies which are als e cl sed We bri n g this to y our k no wledge for y our i nformation an d that

o f o o n n in o ou on n y ur G ver me t, rder that y may be c versa t

on with the situati .

’ The B e s te y N o .

Our atte n ti on has rece n tly bee n called to the c on ﬂicts which have taken place betwee n the Tu n isian an d the n eigh b ou r in n n R in an d g Algeria tribes ear the ekba , which thefts o n o n d ther crimes have bee c mmitted o b oth si es . We at on ce se n t high ofﬁcials to the sp ot with the missi on of con ferri n g with the Fre n ch delegate an d arrangin g these affairs after the man n er of settleme n t in use betwee n us in such

An n n n n ot an d n matters . u dersta di g was effected , ﬁ ally the Algerian delegate twice abstai n ed from appeari n g at the con

n on o n on u n fere ce the app i ted day, the pretext that he was

n n on D n o well an d had o i structi s . uri g this time ther is olated acts of the same ki n d t ook place betwee n i n dividual members of the Tu n isia n tribe of the Kh amir s an d s ome i n dividual members of the Algerian tribes acts which are c omm on

on n o n n n n on to am g eighb uri g cla s, eve whe they bel g the S same tate.

o on n of u s n an As s as ews the latter acts reached , we se t o of to n o fficer with a party cavalry make i quiries ab ut them , to to o an d n ou r o o t n res re rder, preve t tribes fr m c mmit i g acts 2 20 S TUNIS PA T AND PRESENT .

o f o n n n o n in vi le ce agai st their eighb urs , eve case the latter

o n n u s had c mme ced the aggressi o . Our delegate has assured

o ur o n an d o that tribes have d e as we requested , that rder has n o t a n n N ot on n w n gai bee disturbed . c te t ith that si gle

n ou r M n of of an measure , we have se t i ister War at the head on o n o o o f oo an d expediti ary c lum , c mp sed regular tr ps

. o o n n d n ou r o cavalry have als decided se i g br ther ,

S B e n o o n w in o of idi Ali y , with a ther c lum , hich is pr cess

o o n o o f n n n m bilisati , with the bject defi itively securi g tra

in quillity th ose parts an d o f settli n g the respective claims .

M n w e o of h ou w ill ﬁn d ea while , receive the letter, a c py w ich y ’ n o w n Char ed Affair es n n o n to e cl sed , by hich the Fre ch g a u ces us that the G over n me n t o f the Republic has decided on cli astisin o n n I n w n g s me Tu isia tribes . the reply e have se t t o an d o f ou o ﬁn d o n o him , which y will als a c py e cl sed , we ’ p oi n ted ou t to the Fren ch Chargé d Affair es that w e had already take n the n eedful measures with regard to ou r r “ e o n tribes . have at the same time pr tested agai st the n n of n oo on our o eve tual e try Fre ch tr ps territ ry , which is c on sidered by us as a vi olation of ou r rights an d of th ose o f

o n E of n o an n . the Ott ma mpire , which Tu is f rms i tegral part T “ e have als o made to th e Sublime P orte a detailed rep ort of

in o to o o on all that has passed , rder free urselves fr m resp si

ilit in t n of o n o f b o . y regard it The i terests f reig ers , subjects

E o n o n n o n o of the ur pea P wers at Tu is , bei g b u d up with th se

R n to o the ege cy, we have deemed it right address urselves to o u o o n of y , as well as y ur c lleagues , represe tatives the

o n ou to n o o Great P wers , requesti g y i f rm y ur respective

o n to - n o n G vern me ts on the situation . We appeal their well k w n n of an d se time ts j ustice equity, that they may aid us with a V iew to protecti n g ou r rights an d th os e of the Ottoman

E to an en d to a n d mpire . We beg them likewise put acts m e n aces which w ould result in dangers for which we decli n e on i all resp sibil ty .

2 2 2 S S TUNI PAST AND PRE ENT . repaired to the B ard o Palace to w it n ess the start o f the Tunisian army u n der the c omman d of Ali

m en w l Bey . The ere all fairly wel equipped an d

an d o f n o n n t armed , it was a matter ge eral ast ishme that s o much had bee n don e in the six days which had i n terve n ed si n ce the Bey decided on the

on in n expediti . I Shall describe detail the Tu isian

n o to of mi o n p whe I c me Speak the Kha r c u try , but it seemed to me there was hardly o ne of the spectat ors formin g part of the e n thusiastic crowd w n of o hich wit essed the departure the little f rce , “ w ho did n ot j oin in the cries of May G od give

” ou an d n ou in an d o y success bri g y back safety , h pe ’ that the Bey s promptitude would obviate all n for o on of o ecessity the vi lati his territ ry . The ech oes of the sal u tes which an n ou n ced the settin g ou t of the heir- apparen t for the fron tiers had hardly died away whe n M . Rou stan arrived at the Kasr— es- Said Palace an d s ought an audien ce of the

’ n é d Affair es Bey . The Fre ch Charg said that he h ad c ome t o ask if the Bey i n tended to c c - operate

’ with the in vadi ng force an d attack the Khami r s in ? “ the rear Mu ham ed es Sadek replied that he was ready to cut off his arm to main tain his old

n n o n frie dship with Fra ce , but that he c uld ever be a party to excitin g an in evitable in surrecti on in the

o n o n n w ar on c u try, by j i ing the Fre ch in a his TH E OF 2 2 OUTBREAK HOSTILITIES . 3 ow n on o subj ects . He c cluded with these w rds , “ Y ou o o n m e y urself, as well as y ur frie ds , tell that

ou on n — y are my ly si cere well wisher . If this is s o oo of an d to o , give me a pr f it, testify y ur G overnmen t what y ou really k n ow about the

’ Khami r s an d the measures I have taken to give ” “ n a y ou a y satisfacti on that may be sked for . I ” do so Rou stan will immediately , said M . , as he oo t k his departure . On the followi n g day the Havas telegram stated that a gun b oat bel on gin g to the Fren ch ﬂeet h ad

n on o o an d oon bee ﬁred fr m the Tabarca f rts , s after its receipt th e i nterpreter Su m ar ipa was se n t t o i n form the Bey that Fran ce was determi n ed to o n on for n an d o btai satisfacti the i sult , uph ld the ” h on our of her ﬂag . Messen gers were at on ce

to o an d n h despatched the sp t , it was ascertai ed t at the affron t c on sisted en tirely in the G overn or havin g refused permissi on t o the crews of s ome Fren ch b oats to la n d and march across the m ou n ” n tai s in to Algeria .

w an d Day after day passed a ay , the expected

o o w of m ve f r ard was still delayed . The activity

’

n . M . Roustan s age ts was red ou bled Ge n eral

’ an d n o n Musalli the Bey s phy sicia , Mascar , u der oo to on n o n t k c vi ce the refract ry Pri ce himself, while Su mar ipa and the fut u re master - of- the 2 2 AN D E 4 TU NIS PAST PR SENT .

n o oo of n r mi t V lterra, t k charge the Prime Mi iste . As s oon as each successive p ost brou ght its b u rde n o f n o l and n n ex ewspapers , the m st war ike me aci g tracts were translated i nto Arabic and j udici ously

n t to nm of — eS— admi is ered the i ates Kasr Said , while every c on ceivable argumen t that i ngen uity c ould s uggest was empl oyed to i nduce them to aban d on the l ogically u n assailable p ositi on they had almost

on n o o on sp ta e usly assumed . These eff rts were sec ded by offi cial c orresp on den ce c ouched in i n creasingly

n n o n o n o f a gry la guage , but the Bey sh wed Sig s

n an Rou s an yieldi g d gain ed an advan tage over M . t in m an d ni each cal dig ﬁed reply . The letters exchan ged on the 1 sth April have n ever yet been published . h M Roustan to t e B e . . y

A ‘ UN IS r il 1 5 th . T , p

G H E - o n n of R n HI N SS , The G ver me t the epublic has lear ed n n n n ot n o n n o t o with i ﬁ ite pai , that I have bee f rtu ate e ugh

o cc - o on in on o f Khami r s secure y ur perati the repressi the , a n d the Operati on s n ecessary t o preve n t the recurre n ce of dis

o on on . N n on on rders the fr tier evertheless , it retai s its c victi

n that e n ergetic acti on is ecessary . I n the presen ce of s o grave a differen ce of opin i on ( of which

on n n to n the c seque ces may be still graver) , I ve ture re ew my

’ deman ds with that respectueuse liberte which y o ur c onde

m on an n n o scen si on t owards e al e c justify . I ca t believe the

on n in of on to decisi arrived at is ﬁ al , spite the declarati made

o n an d i me by y ur High ess , repeated yesterday by the Pr me

r i a Mi nister to my i nterpreter ( Suma p ) .

TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT .

\Ve h ad o too n w h o o n th ught, , that the statesme g ver

n w w o a n d o o n Fra ce ith such isd m equity , w uld als have u der

oo h o w o n w an d o st d le g itimate these reas s ere , w uld have fou n d them just ; this belief on ou r part w as fou n ded o n the

t in o n o fi n great fai h we put y ur ki d f ces as i termediary , k n o wi n g that y ou w ould place the matter befo re y our G o vern m n in an d ou o o n o u t t o e t its right light , that y w uld p i t them

o on n the seri us c seque ces which w ould result from such a step , a n d w n o on e o n hich c uld preve t .

U n o n for o o - n on l o f rtu ately us , y ur ab ve me ti ed etter destr ys o n on all illusi this matter.

IV e o o d i n o to o n are theref re c mpelle , rder pr tect the i terests

n to an d to o h which are i trusted us , av id the disasters whic w e o n b n of ou r o n to n f resee must befall the i ha ita ts c u try , bri g a gai n to bear the same reas on s w hich we have already give n

ou o an d in n y b th verbally writi g. Y ou ar e aware that we have spared n o effort an d n o dilige n ce in o n o n ad pti g th se measures which the circumsta ces required , a nd n o on o o an d o which we put i t executi th r ughly l yally.

H ow n o o n o i the sh uld we be bliged , by a eighb ur (w th

om w e n t in n on wh have bee always careful o live perfect u i , an d to o an to o on so pr tect his rights as ally) , accept a p siti

o n to o ur n an d o o little bec mi g dig ity , which w uld exp se the

o o on to o o im os wh le p pulati seri us perils , which it w uld be p S ible for us to avert ?

\Ve to n n believe that, up the prese t, there exists betwee us n o differe n ce o f o pi n i on as to the programme which w e

o o to o o w pr p se f ll .

’ This pla n is to make the Kham i r s i n demn ify the victims of

d on to n u o o f n o n o their epredati s , pu ish the a th rs k w utrages , a n d to n take steps to preve n t their recurre ce .

U on o n a an d p these p i ts we are quite greed , we will carry

in o o f them o u t by the mean s usually empl oyed this s rt affair .

on on u on w e is The ly sec dary matter p which might differ, TH E OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES . 2 2 7

n n of n n o n the ma er executi g this pla , but it is clear that ce

on n o f n ou t we are agreed up the pri ciple , the way carryi g it

n n o ffi w n n o on ca t create a di culty , especially he there is questi

o f n as o to o ou in such a ature sh uld be hard s lve , as y remark

y our o w n letter . Y ou are als o aware that the army c omman ded by ou r

o B n o n n br ther Ali ey left last Thursday . The i structi s give to its chief are t o put himself in c ommu n icati on with the

o n of n o in o to to c mma der the Algeria f rces , rder beg him state the claims which the Algerian s make again st the Khamir or o to o on n o f ther tribes submit , als his part , the dema ds ou r tribes again st the Algerian s to cause th o se w h o may be in the right to be i n dem n ified for their just claims ; to pu n ish the guilty ; an d to take such steps as shall appear to us to be n t o n n of t he o n ecessary e sure the future tra quillity fr tier. Such bei ng our i n te n ti o n s an d ou r determi n ati o n (as we

to ou and n o f off have already declared y , as we have ti ied icially to o n o of ou r o o n n n o on l the g ver rs vari us pr vi ces) , we ca t c cea from y o u that it is with great s o rro w we perceive fr o m y our ab ove -men ti o n ed letter that y ou do n o t appear t o have much

on n in o o to in an d c ﬁde ce the steps we pr p se take this affair ,

o u o o n on o n o that y have based y ur pi i rum urs , which , admit

n o n o o w h o ti g that they were circulated , rig i ated fr m pe ple

n ot f o n n are on ly ou r e n emies but th o se o y our G ver me t .

o w ou o u r o f 1 2 th We have , h ever , assured y , by letter the n t in n w e ou i s , as well as the i terview had With y last n d o n n an n Wed es ay, that we w uld ever u der y circumsta ces ow s oldiei s all o ur tro ops to opp o se the Fre n ch . We have especially e nj oi n ed the c omman d e rs o f o ur army that in the even t (which we still h o pe will n ot take place) o f the n o o n n u o n u niS i aii o o o Fre ch tr ps e teri g p T territ ry , iii pp si

on to ou r o t o n ti wish , that they sh uld cease all Opera i s .

n o n t o This is all that we ca rec mme d them . I n case this violation of ou r territory sh ould cause u n foreseen P AN D TUNIS AST PRESENT .

o to ar ise d n on an d o dis rders , we ecli e all resp sibility , we sh uld fi n d o urselves Co mpelled to re n e w the declarati on s c on tai ned i n o u r o f 8 n letter the th i st .

o n b e o n n of Re w uld , evertheless , g the G ver me t the

o n n o u n to ou r public (c u ti g always its frie dship) , leave us liberty o f acti o n an d n o t to cripple it by carryi ng out the

n on o ou for o o f determi ati s set f rth by y , the very pr bability such a proceedi n g w ould n eutralise the e ffect o f the efforts

n d w e n a o . made by us , which have e umerated ab ve

\V e o o n o f o an d h pe , theref re , that by mea s y ur valuable

r n n n on o o n n o n n o f ie dly i terve ti , y ur G ver me t, rec g isi g the l yalty o f o u r n n on an d n o f n i te ti s , the si cerity the frie dship which w e to n n n o con heartily desire mai tai with it , will take i t

on S on an d to siderati the ituati , will help us arrive at the o o n to o ow n o n e o bject which is , acc rdi g y ur sh wi g , the r cipr cal w o f o h — lVr itten the r th omad El A (ni l 1 2 8 ish us b t o g 9 .

on 2 o tb n d Early the April , a messe ger arrive at

n om o n o of Tu is with a letter fr the G ver r Tabarca, i n formi n g the Bey that the comman der of the

o h ad n n on o n f rts bee i vited b ard the Fre ch ships ,

on o an d on which had arrived the c ast, str gly urged t o surren der the fortress . The in struction s se nt to C ol on el Taib Masmu r i con tain ed but four words ’ 1 on t o o Yield ly f rce . These were barely de s atched n o n for on p , whe a f rmal dema d the evacuati R f . ou s an o Tabarca was made by M t .

R u a the B e A 2 0th M . t o st n o y ( pr il ) .

G H ES — o n n of R i HI N S, The G ver me t the epubl c is justly aston ished at the declarati on s c on tai n ed in the letters which

2 0 3 TUNIS PAST A ND PRESENT .

B as/a n A r il z o th The B e to M . o y ( p ) .

\V e o O f to - an d on have received y ur letter day , have c sidered

n \Ve o o m n on n its c o n te ts . are surprised at y ur c plai t c cer i n o u r M n in o f the a g Prime i ister the matter public s fety, w hich y o u allege has i n duced y o ur G overn me n t to chan ge its

n o o d l i i o in Opi i n as t o u r ec a a t n this respect . Our Prime Mi n ister h as d on e n o thi ng else than repeat o u r declarati on s t o v o u a n d o o n n h w e the ther f reig represe tatives, w ich resume thus — \V e are c on stan tly usi ng o u r greatest e fforts t o m n a n a n d n n in o u r o ai t i e sure by every mea s p wer, public o an d n \'Ve r to ou n or rder tra quillity . epeat y that u der din a r y circums t a n ces we can guara n tee the safety o f all the n tan i n o n n o f n on of i habi ts , but the extra rdi ary eve t the i vasi o u r ter i itor n oo o o y by Fre ch tr ps , which may pr duce c mplica

on a n d n n in o f R n ti s a ge eral exciteme t all parts the ege cy,

o fi fo r n o nd n o it w uld be dif cult us , twithsta i g all the eff rts

on n to o to n n n n that we c ti ue put f rth , guara tee the mai te a ce

to o f o rder. It seems us that it w ould be equally diffi cult for the G over n me n t of an y other c ou n try t o do s o if it fou n d

in o on n o o to o I n on n itself a p siti a al g us urs . c seque ce , if public tran quillity is me n aced by reas on of these circum

n it n ot on t o o S o n of sta ces , is reas able h ld the vereig the

n “7 c n o n o . o t o c u try resp sible are , theref re , u able accept a ny such respon sibility either for o u r G overn me n t or ou r

n Y o u o to ou r o o Prime Mi ister . als ask us cause tr ps to e i n o to o o f o on vacuate Tabarca , rder all w its ccupati by

n o an d ou o on ou r o Fre ch s ldiers , y base y ur request pr mise t o y ou n ot t o permi t o ur tr o ops to c ome i n to c ollisi on with

n o an d n the Fre ch . We reiterate this pr mise , have i structed our offi o n w e can n on n to cers acc rdi gly , but ever c se t the

o on of o ur t o . o o o w e vi lati terri ry It f ll ws , theref re , that can n o t c on se n t to the o ccupati on of Tabarca deman ded by y ou ; but if the Fre n ch troops e n ter by force on ou r ter r itor our o n on n ot to o o m y s ldiers have i structi s pp se the . THE A OF 2 1 OUTBRE K HOSTILITIES . 3

ou r to t ou t We feel it duty ell y at the same time , tha as the e n try o f Fre n ch tr oops on Tu n isian territ ory is c on trary t o

o ur an d to o o f o n E of rights th se the Ott ma mpire , which this

R n o an n o to n ege cy f rms i tegral part , we are c mpelled re ew

on to ou in ou r o the declarati we have made y f rmer letters , that w e c on sider the o ccupation of any part of ou r territ ory

n of ou r n o n r o as a V i o lati o rights , agai st which we s lem ly p

n can n o r e test, at the same time declari g that we accept

for on n n o sp on sibility the c seque ces which may e sue fr m it.

r s onsulair e A ril Z l The B ey to the Co p C ( p I S ) .

’ O n the 2 0 th of April the Chargé d Affair es addressed us the

o of n ow o n . letter, a c py which is subj i ed This letter relates

to n can n ou see o o u r a dema d we ever accept, as y will fr m

n to Y ou n n o n o a swer the same . ca t ig re the fact that if th e

n o n on n n o o r Fre ch s ldiers e ter Tu isia territ ry , h wever large o

n n o f small may be their umber, a da ger very great gravity

n o n t ou t to ou o n has bee p i ed y . We have rga ised an d despatched an expediti on for the settleme n t of the dispute order an d tran quillity reign u p to this m o me n t thro ugh out

o n — a ou can o — the c u try fact which y y urselves attest but , if

n oo n ou r o is o for the Fre ch tr ps e ter territ ry , it imp ssible us to guard agai n st the i mme n se dan gers which may result from

an n on . o o to such i vasi We are , theref re , c mpelled repudiate ‘ on for on n of an n an d all resp sibility the c seque ces such eve t,

t o ow n on him w h o of thr it e tirely is the cause it . We n o ou o f for o o n o f n n o i f rm y this the pr tecti all i terests i v lved , an d beg y ou to acquai n t y our Gover n men t telegraphically of

our on w e in o an d declarati , which trust , its wisd m equity , will lead it to admit the legality of the m ot ives for the attitude

an d to n to n o n of o u r we have assumed , bri g the exami ati difficulty the spirit of impartiality with which we k n ow it to n o be e d wed . u o ) ! t I A C v

CHAPTER XVI .

I I E AN NTERV IE V WITH TH BEY .

TH E o or o fi o of of Bard Palace , f cial ab de the Beys

n in o n o n Tu is , is reality a walled t w , surr u ded by a d o t w o o of n itch , ab ut miles fr m the gates Tu is . It has eviden tly existed ever Si n ce the time of the

n for n o o of Spa iards , the ame is clearly a c rrupti n the Span ish Pard o— a r oyal d omai n j ust outside

o on n a o Madrid . The Bard c tai s a b zaar , a m sque , an d o w an d a Turkish bath , the three ut ard visible

n of u n n o an d sig s all T isia cities, b th great small ,

of u tw o n - besides a hall j stice , audie ce chambers , a

n n o n o of on quadra gle usually k w as the C urt Li s ,

offi of n on for o the public ces , a series du ge s p litical o f n an d n o o ser a lio n f e ders , an e rm us g , behi d the latticed w in d ows of which European gaze has n N o of n ever pe n etrated . Bey Tu is has ever been

n o n to n of o an d k w i habit the palace his predecess r, each o cc u pan t of the thron e has gen erally built a pleasan t place for his residence accordin g to his o w n devices . Ahmed Bey lived far away in the

2 AN D 3 4. TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

a o n ow n the o of n c pt rs , has wit essed extincti n eve

n n w of n an n n the remai i g Shad o Tu isi i depe dence .

It was in Kasr - os - Said that the last possesseur du

of r oyaume de T u n is became a vassal Fran ce .

I n 1 8 8 1 o and April , b th the Bey his Prime

n w n in a — es - Mi ister ere livi g the K sr Said Palace , the o nly picturesque feature of which is the great

n of o n an d o n — in garde r ses , j essami e , ra ge trees, the m of n d n of idst which it sta ds . The wi e expa se

o fa ade o n n in n stucc g is alm st bli di g the su light , as on e approaches the en tran ce by an aven ue of

an d an d o oo o palm pepper trees , ab ve the r f ﬂ ats

n an d o n - o o n n the gree , red , ra ge c l ured Silk ba er , bearin g as a device the golde n tw o- bladed sword of the H assanite dyn asty . It was thus that I saw

- - 8 h Kasr es Said on the 2 3 d April 1 8 1 . Mu am ed es Sadek w as an xious that pe ople in E nglan d sh ould

n o an d be acquai ted with his tr ubles , he asked me t o c ome to the palace early on the m orn ing in

on n of n n questi on . The ly sig the impe di g crisis was the en tire deserti on of the b a r ea a a: at the

o t in n o o Bard , which were lef u disputed p ssessi n of Gen eral Musalli an d one or tw o of his sub or din a es M n a nd o é n ow ow t . i isters empl y s cr ded the

nt - oo of - es- o n of e a e r ms Kasr Said , the C u cil Stat

l o in on e of draw m - oo held perpetua sessi n the g r ms, and the corridors were thronged with T unisian H E 2 AN INTERV IEW WITH T BEY . 3 5

n io officers an d Arabs from the i ter r . The depart men t of Foreign Affairs had temp orary qu arters in

on o n oo o a little chamber the gr u d fl r, which p ssessed

n several s ofas but n o table . A solem silen ce was

n n ou o n in mai tai ed thr gh ut the buildi g , which the

of o n an d h n wives b th pri ce premier were s ari g ,

n a n of w n o behi d the gr ti gs the harem i d ws, the

on n an d o f c omm a xiety . Cigarettes c f ee were

n e - o o alm os t forgotten . Every w c mer fr m the city u n derwen t an ordeal of whispered questi on i n g : I s there any n ews from the fr on tier ? What do the latest n ewspapers say ? Has the E n glish ﬂeet c ome ? Are the Italian troops already at Palerm o ? The Turkish music was playin g as usual at the d oor

m ar i a n n n an d . Su o whe I arrived , M p , the c fide tial

n of . Ren stan age t M , had just left the palace , after deliveri n g a verbal message to Mustapha . When I m et the Prime Min ister he was h oldin g a letter in

I n o to o u m ar i his han d . rder av id mistakes S pa had

n o f his n on give him a c py o i structi s . It was a

f B en e n o last attempt on the part o M . ta t in duce

to o o a m em or the Bey c mmit p litic l suicide . The an dum r an as foll ows The recen t declarati on s made by the Bey to M . Rou stan an d the corp s consu la ir e have i n creased the an xiety already ex

o n on I t cited by his ﬁrst c mmu icati s . is true that His Highness asserts his firm i n tenti on to maintain 2 6 AND 3 TUN IS PAST PRESENT . o b u t can n o on r es on rder, he adds that he l ger be p sible for it when on ce the expediti on agai nst the

' Kham i rs o n I n n of c mme ces . the prese ce these f a n on in o n . pprehe si s the mind His High ess, M Rou s tan i n forms him that he is ready to place at his o o n of n o disp sal a c mpa y mari es , t gether with t w o can non s belongin g to the French frigate in the

o o su fﬁcen t to r adstead , which f rce will be amply

n n o in an d o o n mai tai rder pr tect the Eur pea quarter .

n o w an d to n e But as we are , desire remai in peac

on in on with the Bey , the disembarkati questi can only take place on the express deman d of His

Ask for an n and in Highness . immediate a swer,

of sa o f case refusal y that we take n te o it . Mustapha had already given orders for a reply

t o n to Rou stan n . be se t M . , and havi g called M

’ on the n n C ti , Bey s i terpreter, we asce ded the stair

n l om case together an d e tered a small sa on . The ro

oo was typical of the whole place . The ﬂ r was

o n an d ood n n c vered with Sicilia tiles , the w e ceili g

n of ow an d o w pai ted with wreaths red , yell , blue ﬂ ers .

n o w o on or tier es Wi d curtains, s fa cushi s , and p alike

on of c sisted faded yellow damask . The table was

n tw o of missi g, but there were chests drawers, each supp orti n g a clock ﬂanked by tw o ar tiﬁcial b ouquets d in v . oo o n an Parian ases A side d r pe ed , the Bey

n oo e tered he t k me kindly by the hand , and asked

2 8 TUN i S AN D 3 PAST PRESENT . permissi on to British subjects to h old lan d in the

n an d o n n to o o Rege cy , had d e everythi g pr m te

E nglish i n terests in his c ou n try . He regarded with peculiar pride the high disti ncti on the Q ueen h ad c on ferred on him in sendi n g him the Gran d

o o f n o n Cr ss the Bath , as well as ma y ther assura ces of o n her appr bati o . The Bey expressed his surprise that his p osition as a vassal of the Sublime Porte had n on d in o N o of ever bee questi e Eur pe . Bey Tu n is had ever ascen ded the thron e with out the

’ n n an d he Sulta s i vestiture , himself had received three separate ﬁr man s of app oin tme nt from Abdul

Aziz an d his tw o s u ccessors . He p o i nted ou t that his j ewelled sword an d the Order of the Osman lie in diam on ds were the i n sign ia of his ra n k as Pacha o f u n ﬁr man of 1 8 1 o h T is . The 7 , ab ut which muc

n on o an d has bee said , was merely a c ﬁrmat ry

o o u declarat ry act , which was elicited fr m the S ltan by the acciden t of on e of the Powers callin g the t sta u s of Tu n is in question . The Bey added several details on the subj ect of the sub ordin ate

o o on of n an d an d p litical p siti Tu is, declared that he his pred ecessors had scrupul ously carried ou t every

n d of n o n n dema their suzerai , b th duri g the Crimea

a n d n on o n in 1 8 8 . o war, agai 7 His pri cipal c s lati n u n der the presen t trial was the un qualiﬁed approval of his c ond u ct twice already con veyed to h i m by TH 2 A N INTERV IEW WITH E BEY . 3 9

t h telegraph from the Sultan . He alluded o t e explicit treaty e n gagemen ts he had en tered in t o w o w h n ith the P wers , by ich he guara teed equal

t o o n in o i n i on an d privileges all Eur pea s his d m s, said th at if he had favoured on e n ati on m ore

n o n than an other it was u d ubtedly Fra ce . Till a very rece n t period his relation s with Fran ce

n o o an d had bee m st c rdial , he had never refused an y request made to him by her represen tative

o u n an o w of which he c ld gra t with y sh j ustice . Fran ce p ossessed a railway which crossed his

o n on o n of e d mi i s , as well as the s le mea s tel graphic o n on o in c mmu icati with Eur pe . He alluded the strongest terms t o the course pursued by the Havas

n had n o to Age cy, which e deav ured deceive the

o to Tu n i sr an on a n d to w rld as the questi , the

t on n an d at acks made him by the Algeria press,

Alchha r in of particularly the ; but spite all this , he said he would n ever ig n ore the imp ortan ce of leg iti

n n in the n or n on mate Fre ch i terests Rege cy, aba d the h ope of the rest orati on of his old c ordial rela

on n o n n w on ti s with the Fre ch G ver me t , hich ly very rece n tly had ack n owledged his efforts t o main tai n

o on on . perfect rder the fr tier He said that M . Rou stan had u n ceasin gly pressed on him for thirteen

on n o f n o o a nd m ths the accepta ce a Fre ch pr tect rate,

n o his he added with e ergy, that, apart fr m treaties 2 40 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT . w the o o an d o ith great P wers , his p litical religi us relati on s w ith the Sultan would never all ow him to

an d n o n o n accept it , that thi g c uld ever cha ge his ﬁxed determin ation on the subj ect ; alth ough his

n on o n o suzerai al e had Sp ke , he c uld never believe that E nglan d and Italy were i n differen t to his fate .

N ot on o and o nt o on ly had they b th large imp rta c l ies , but they c ould n ot ig n ore the con seque n ce of the c omplete subversi on of the gover nmen t of his

o n w Rou stan for c u try hich M . asked . He left this ,

o to ow n on b u t y h wever , their j ust appreciati , the had in the past ever i n sisted on an equality of treat m n n n of e t at his ha ds . He bitterly c omplai ed the

on of Rou stan o d him an d h c duct M . t war s , said t at it had made his life a burden to him for s ome time

Khamirs m n v on past . As regards the , a cal i estigati w ould sh ow that the true details of the dispute were these — Fran ce had assured Europe that she

to n Khamfrs in desired pu ish the , but a few days

ow n oo n o n of o his tr ps, u der the c mma d his br ther, had occupied the part of the cou n try in w hich they

an d an on n o lived , y satisfacti Fra ce desired w uld be f n . n n o ow o readily give This bei g the case , shad an for n n o an d excuse existed i vadi g his territ ry , imperillin g the peace of his c ou n try an d the safety

Ro stan for o of o n on . u the Eur pea col y . M had s me days asked his permissi on for the Fren ch troops to

2 2 AN D 4 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

public security . He felt that he must leave his

to of o o o fate the j ustice Eur pe , t wards b th himself and his suzerain .

n of n o After taki g leave the Bey , I went i t the

o oﬂi ce o t o o to temp rary bel w read ver the reply M .

’ Su m ar i a s n o p demand , which had bee appr ved by the cou n cil . The letter was couched in the follow ing terms

he B e t Il R u o stan A r . T y o l . ( p il 2 3 d)

Our Prime Min ister has brought to ou r k n owledge the c ommu n ication which has bee n made to him in y our n ame

mar i Y u M S u a . o on n n by . p state that additi al a xiety has bee created am on gst the Eur o pean c ol on ists by reas on of the rece n t declarati on which we have made to y ou an d the r epr e sen tativ es of n o an d the frie dly P wers, suggest that this impressi on Sh ould be rem oved by the lan di n g of a force of

n t w o n n on o o in mari es with ca s fr m the frigate at G letta,

to E o n o o n Y ou order reassure the ur pea p pulati on f Tu is .

can on o ou r on n add that this measure ly be ad pted with c se t, ’ because by G od s g oodn ess we are at peace with y our Govern

n to n on n me t , which desires remai frie dly terms with us . We must ﬁrst than k b oth y ou an d y our G over n men tzfor this sp on tan e ous declarati on of its wish to c on tin ue at peace

s o l o for o o for ou r with u . We are b iged als y ur s licitude oo an d for v on of i o of g d the preser ati publ c rder , which we

on o o o an n oo . e c sider y ur pr p sal itself as evide t pr f We r gret , o t o o t o n o n h wever , be bliged decli e y ur assista ce because the

o on to ou n an d its result w uld be c trary what y imagi e , accept an ce w o uld amou n t to a c on fessi on of ou r i n ability to mai n Y ou n o o n . o tai rder, which is far fr m bei g the case are y urself ’ n n o o n n o n a wit ess, that , u der G d s pr vide ce , thi g whatever TH E B E Y AN INTERV IEW WITH . 4 3

n to th e n n o on has happe ed justify fears e tertai ed by the c l ists,

and o n on that rder everywhere prevails . The i terpretati y ou seek to give to o u r declarati on s is at varian ce with th e

de l o o on o c arati on s themselves . We have assured b th y ur h ur able c olleagues an d yourself that as l on g as thin gs c on ti n ue in their n ormal c ourse we will an swer for the public order

an d n an d in an do our o tra quillity, that y case we will utm st

to n of to preve t the smallest breach the peace . We repeat

‘ ou o on o an o on of R n y , h wever, ce m re , that if y p rti the ege cy

n n oo w e ﬁn d o in is i vaded by the Fre ch tr ps , may urselves

n of n n S the prese ce a ge eral risi g , which will pread all over

o n n o n n ou r ff o to the c u try twithsta di g e rts suppress it . It is n w e n o to o n ou t an d for this da ger have e deav ured p i t ,

n on which we must decli e all resp sibility . We still h ope that the G overn m e n t of the Republic will n o o on on an d on take all this i t seri us c siderati , will reﬂect the

o an n on o f our o n n n vari us perils which i vasi c u try may e ge der .

o to We trust , theref re , that we may be permitted exclusively of Khamir s on n n w e treat the matter the , c cer i g which shall

o on o f o n u an d arrive at a s luti a satisfact ry at re , such as Will n o t in V w secure the e d w e b oth pr fess o have ie .

u n o n M . Ro sta was very wr th at this u expected

ou of n oon n on refusal , and in the c rse the after se t e of his j an issaries to make a rou n d of the Con su lates with the followi n g protest in the shape of a circular

M h or s Consulaire A r il 2 d R u tan t t e C . . o s o p ( p 3 )

’ ' The u n dersig n ed Char ge d Aﬁair es of the Fre n ch Republic has the h on our t o bri n g the foll owi n g to the k n owledge of all

n n n I n the represe ntatives of foreign ati o s at Tu is . V iew of 2 44 TuN is PAST A N D PRESENT . the re n e w ed declarati o n s o f the B oy in his last commun ica

on to on an d of on ti s the c suls , the alarm they have caused am g

o o n n n has o u to the p pulati , the u dersig ed th ght it his duty i n form His High n ess that he was ready to place at his service ’ n n of n n d Ar c n in o the la di g party the Jea e , at prese t the r ads o ff o tw o n n on an su ﬂi cien t o t o G letta, with ca s , amply f rce

n n o in E o n an d o mai tai rder the ur pea quarter , pr tect it

n n n n on agai st a y aggressi on . The u dersig ed ly added that the la ndi n g c ould n ot take place except at the express request o f B e w ho o n n o n the y , , this very m r i g , f rmally decli ed these o ff n n n o of an d o ers . The u dersig ed takes te the refusal , l ses n o in n o n o f time i f rmi g his c lleagues o the fact . They will

on o n i n c clude therefr m , like himself, that the u eas ess the Tu n isian Gover n me n t feels as to the main te n a n ce of o rder is

n f to or less great tha that which it a fects be , else that it has

n to o on determi ed accept, whatever ccurs , the resp sibilities it

o to n has hithert tried decli e .

Before leavi n g the palace the Prime Mi nister told me that the B ey had determin ed to charter a steamer to for on n o to carry his telegrams C stanti ple Marsala , as it was w orse than useless for him to avail himself of n n an d o f to o to the Fre ch li e , f ered all w me take

n of o f o n n adva tage this m de o c mmu icatio . I was therefore able to telegraph an accoun t of my conver sation w ith the Bey to Englan d the n ext day from

n o for Trapan i in Sicily . Mustapha was very a xi us

’ me to j oin Ali Bey s camp amon gst the Khamir s in

to see oo o him order what really t k place , but I t ld

it was imp ossible for me to lea v e Tun is . He then “ w repeated several times , We must have a itness ,

2 6 AND 4 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

n n n o of on o n an d i depe de t s urces additi al imp rta ce , ,

n w o in as eve ts after ards pr ved , Mustapha was wise

n on n n an o to his ge erati , whe he determi ed at y c st “ ” have a wit ness w ith the Tunisian troops amidst K the hamir s . ( 2 4 7 )

CHAPTER XVII .

F R U I T L E S S A P P E A L S .

da in n ANOTHER y passed away feverish suspe se ,

n oon on on 2 th of but at M day, the 5 April , a mes

n o o n o of Kef an d se ger arrived fr m the g ver rs Bej a , an d r ode in hot haste to the Bard o Palace . An

o an d n i n the n on h ur later , all Tu s k ew that i vasi

n o t an n had begu . Sh r ly afterwards , urge t message ’ m e o M n o called t the Prime i ister s city h use . I foun d Mustapha i n his favourite sitti n g - room over the great gateway . The c orrid ors leadin g to it

o n o o t o were cr wded with Arabs , but b dy seemed

u ir n n kn ow what to advise . The ho clo of the Tu isia

n oon o n ou t Premier was arra ged , as I s f u d , with

n an eviden t View to Orien tal diplomacy . A l o g

o n of oo o s fa li ed the side the r m , which was alm st en tirely o ccupied by the grated wi n do w l ookin g

n o o o on i t the c urt bel w , up which Mustapha habi t u all o n n y sat an d sm oked . Opp site the e tra ce was a han dsome waln ut - wood wardrobe w ith a lon g

oo n - an d of n l ki g glass, a similar piece fur iture faced 2 8 Tu i A D 4 N S PAST N PRESENT .

w n o n o n the i d w . I remember thi g else in the apartme n t except a c ol oured pri n t o f the Ki ng of

a - a - o n o n n n It ly , half d ze cl cks all i dicati g a differe t

o an d o n to r e r e h ur, a h rrible mecha ical y which p se nted over an d over again the death of Cle opatra .

o n G n u ham ed B acou ch o of I f u d e eral M , Direct r the

u n n o n in on on T isia F reig Ofﬁce , c sultati with the

n w ho o Prime Mi ister , had bef re him the letters

o n o n o received that m rni g fr m the i teri r , as well as t w o or three of the mem oran da of Sy Ali Bey “ o n H ldi g up the latter , Mustapha said , Here are the proofs of the Khamirs havi n g e n tirely su b mitted an d ou see n on has , yet y the i vasi taken ? place Is it p ossible that war can be made again st at us with out n otice ? What is to be d on e ? I very n aturally suggested that what had happen ed was a s n no n in o an d yet u k w Eur pe , that the time had n ow o to n o o an d an c me make a ther pr test, address

o n an appeal to the Powers . Just a t this m me t

n t n o n o oo e erge ic k cki g was heard at the uter d r , a n d the ser van t an n ou n ced that Gen eral Musalli

o t n on o Rou stan . had br ugh a commu icati fr m M . “ e o r o Mustapha said quit c llectedly, Prepare a p test for us while I get rid of him ; an d t ouching

n o oo o n an d o a spri g , the wardr be d r pe ed discl sed

to on a passage leading a sec d chamber, which seemed also to contain nothing but s ofas and

2 0 A D 5 TUNIS PAST N PRESENT .

n B acou ch to me Now we parted , Ge eral said , at a n n n sa o n n n o y rate E gla d must y s methi g, she ca t ” n n and no ou r remai Sile t, we shall at least k w fate .

S Zer ou ck w n n y Arbi ans ered , E gla d has always ”

o n ot o n ow . h pr tected us , She will aband n us T ey t were b oth d oomed o be disapp oi nted . After a

of n n ew r e ime brief gleam su shine under the g , Gen eral B acou ch was placed up on the retired list Ge n eral Sy Arbi Zerou ck was banished from Tu n is within a m on th of the an xi ous even in g we

’ o Mu sta h a s and spent t gether at p palace , the faith ful and h on est A n ton io C onti was dismissed fr om the G overn men t service before the Kasr— es— Said

old on Treaty was hardly a week , because he had d e his to n d duty the pri ce he serve . Next m ornin g the followin g protest was tendered to Rou stan M .

Our Govern or of Kef i n forms us that a Fren ch military c olumn has e n tered the territ ory of the Tu n isian tribe of

n n d n of n o o f S a . o hare , threate s the city Kef The G ver r B eja i n forms us likewise that an other Fre n ch c olumn h as

n n o i o n on of ou r pe etrated i t the Kham r territ ry . The i vasi Regen cy has taken place witho ut any n otice to o ur Go vern

n an d n ou o c me t, at a time whe y y urself admit that pea e

i n n an d n n ex sts betwee Tu is Fra ce . We declare this i vasi on o f ou r o to o on o f of n on territ ry be a vi lati the law ati s .

o o n o n in our ow n n We , theref re , s lem ly pr test agai st it, ame an d of M S n of o Tun that His ajesty the ulta , wh se empire is

an in an d t to of is tegral part, mus appeal the justice the P 2 FRUITLESS AP EALS . 5 I

o n Great P wers . We declare the Fre ch Republic to be s olely resp on sible for the con sequen ces which may e n sue from this ” n on of ou r i vasi state .

The text of the telegram sent to Englan d from Trapan i by the steamer which left Tunis on the night of the 2 5 th April is as foll ows

The B e o Tunis to Lor d G r anville For ei n O lce London y f , g ﬁ , .

H is High n ess the B ey of Tu n is begs y our Excelle n cy t o lay the foll ow i n g message before Her Majesty the Queen of

E n n and B n n I n of r o gla d the ritish Gover me t . Spite the p testation s which we have made in ou r ow n name an d in that o f ou r n S n of o n E an d suzerai the ulta the Ott ma mpire , n otwithstan din g the pr oofs w e have give n of ou r ability to repress any excesses of the Khamir fr on tier tribe which may

n for o n an d oo have give cause c mplai t , the fact that the tr ps c omman ded by ou r br other an d heir n ow o ccupy that p orti on of our o n on n o n n of d mi i s which they i habit , the G ver me t the

n R h as oo t o n our o n Fre ch epublic caused its tr ps i vade c u try, an d n ot on n n n o on o f R n , c te t with e teri g that p rti the ege cy

’ Kli ami r s o of ou r where the reside , have ccupied a part

o n o o in on an d n territ ry far dista t fr m the l cality questi , e tirely n on n o w e u c ected with it . The repeated pr tests which have

o in ou r ow n n an d in of ou r n made , b th ame that suzerai ,

n an d o u r o n o have bee disregarded , territ ry has bee vi lated

o on of n o or ou r with ut a declarati war , either agai st urselves

o o an d o o f p litical superi r , this with a t tal disregard the usual rules an d Observan ces prescribed u n der circumstan ces

f n n o t o n t n by the law o ati o s . We are at a l ss u ders a d the reas on w hy we are so treated by a great an d p owerful

o n n w n on o G ver me t, with which we have al ays bee the m st o an d o nt t in our R n w e c rdial terms, wh se i eres s ege cy have 2 : TuN i S AN D 5 PAST PRESENT .

‘ an n n n o Ve studiously d c o sta tly e deav ured to prom ote . i are the m ore astonished at the measures res orted to agai n st us because the Fre n ch represe n tative has n o t i n terrupted his

on an d on tw o a o relati s With us , ly days g he assured us that n R an d o as peace prevailed betwee the epublic urselves , a lan di n g of Fre n ch s oldiers o n ou r c oast c o uld only take place w u w n on n an d n n U n ith o r o c se t c o curre ce . der these circum

n to ou r M n sta ces we appeal august ally, Her ajesty the Quee o f B n to o n n n Great ritai , as well as all the G ver me ts , sig ataries

f o f B n do o o the Treaty erli . We this the m re readily because o n o n an n of the c u try which we g ver is , as i tegral part the

E n to o on o f r o n o . Ott ma mpire , e titled the pr tecti s ught We are willi n g t o submit u n reservedly all c omplai n ts brought

re agai n st u s to their frie n dly arbitrati on . We feel assu d that the Great P owers of Europe will take i n t o c on sideration the treaties they have e n tered i n t o with my predecess ors an d

an d n ot n o ou r on n n o to myself, will ig re c sta t e deav urs guaran tee equal privileges an d impartial justice to all European

n in o ur I n ou r o of subjects residi g state . h ur dire distress we impl ore the Great Powers to i n terpose their frie n dly Ofﬁces

on ou r . t on ou r S w e behalf We believe tha justice is ide , but on on of ou r o on ou r ow n leave the c siderati p siti , as well as

n an d o of ou r n to i terests th se suzerai , the j ustice , impar

tialit an d n o of o . y , ge er sity the Great P wers

( Sign ed) MUH AMED E s SADEK .

The in vasion of the Regen cy was begun by

— f m o v iz . n o three military vements , the taki g

o n of an d n Kef, the b mbardme t Tabarca, the adva ce

2 6 th of i n to the Khamir m ou n tains . On the April the citadel of Kef was surren dered by its govern or

o n r o t Ge eral Log e ot. There had at ﬁrst been s me

of o ideas resistance, and the French cann ns were

2 5 4 TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT . an d without any n otice a heavy ﬁre was opened on

on o the fort from the iron clads . The sec d Sh t killed

of o an d in few n three my s ldiers, a mi utes a piece o f falli n g wall brought me to the grou n d an d

o n n to w unded me in the thigh . Whe I ma aged

saw o n rise I several dead s ldiers near me . Mea while s ome of the Khamfr s had crossed from the

o an d n to of o sh re , ma aged get twelve barrels p wder

m n c to to fro the magazi e . I ontrived swim the

n an d n n o for la d , after wa deri g ab ut three days

’ ” o n reached Ali Bey s camp . After the b mbardme t the Khamirs were greatly frighten ed by an exhib i

on of n ti the electric light , which has ever been

o o of n o quite f rg tten . The details the adva ce acr ss

’ o o n in n o n the fr ntier will be f u d Mr . Perki s j ur al of the fortn ight he spent in the heart of the seat o f war . ( 2 5 5 )

CHAPTER XVIII .

’ AM N eST TH E KHAMI R A FORTNIGHT O S .

I STARTED from Tu n is by the Fren ch Rail w ay early on 2 d of o n n the 3 April , acc mpa ied by a ative guard , an d hav mg in my p ossession an order from the Tu n isian Prime Min ister enj oin in g the officials in the n o to n an d n i teri r receive me as a frie d , re der me

n in o On l every assista ce their p wer . my arriva at

B o of n o n the ej a, ab ut eighty miles west Tu is , I f u d everythin g and everybody in the greatest state of

n on o o n n co fusi . Alth ugh this little t w is the ce tre of an n o - n esse tially h rse breedi g district, it seemed to be n ow imp ossible to hire or purchase the beasts of burden n ecessary to e n able us to proceed to Sy ’ n n o Hlifa or Ali Bey s e campme t , alth ugh the Vice

a l h e o to governor did l c uld help me . The tribes m en of the vicin ity had already withdrawn to the

o n n an d o o o n ot m u tai s, the t wnspe ple w uld part with their an imals at any price . Arabs were seen in all directions busied in ﬁxin g n ew ﬂin ts to the l ocks of their gun s and sharpen i ng rusty swords AN D 2 5 6 TuN i S PAST PRESENT . an d even pieces of h oop - iron inserted in the en ds

o f . on cleft sticks I was evidently eyed with suspici ,

’ although the Hlifa told everybody I was Sidn a s

’ ” n b u t o n ot t o (the Bey s) frie d , he w uld permit me walk ab out the streets unless acc ompan ied by

w o . u o several guards As l ck uld have it , s me carts

e n n o o n an d o w re drive i t the t w , the auth rities

o on o for ou r o n pr mptly requisiti ed the h rses j ur ey , the o wn ers bein g very han dsomely paid for the

o o on acc mm dati .

o n on I started fr m Bej a at dawn, and havi g a l g

on ride before us we pressed at full speed . F or tu n atel ou r o to o o y steeds pr ved equal the ccasi n . Our road lay across the m ou n tai n districts leadin g t o the ran ge i n habited by the differen t section s of

i an d o the Kham r tribes , the cr ps were already quite

i o n high n the cultivated gr u d . At the commen ce men t of ou r j ourn ey we did n ot meet a single living

n b u t oon ot n o o n n bei g , as s as we g fairly i t the m u tai s , solitary foot passen gers an d groups o f Arabs were

n n ow an d n t o be see every the . They were all

old- o on an d oo at armed after their w rld fashi , l ked us u n pleasan tly e n ou gh . My guide begged me n ot to n n o on on of e ter i t c versati with any them , and o n o ou ou t of o n rdered them u cerem ni sly the r ad , whe

n o an d n they occasio ally st pped stared at us . O ce or twice some of the Arabs asked in a surly t one if

2 8 AN D 5 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

and of of n o which he was placed , the absence i stru ti ons to e n able him to carry on his negotiati on s

or emol w ho on with General F g , was encamped the

n o o Algeria fr ntier . He said he was s metimes “ afraid that there was d ouble play goin g on at the

o a nd so n see Bard , that if this was he might ever

n a n Tu is gai . “ o - n dis I received , c ntinued the heir appare t , ti n ct i nstructi on s to protest energetically again st the en try of the French troops i nt o Tu n isian terri

o o d t ry, if such an attempt sh uld be ma e , yet the

n n Rou stan Fre ch ge eral declares that M . has already

’ o n n to n btai ed the Bey s asse t his adva ce .

Ali h o n Bey was encamped at Sidi Sala , ab ut twe ty

ﬁv e o n on an d mo miles fr m the Tu isian fr tier line , al st

n n of K i n o on the co ﬁ es the ham r country . A ther

’ o of oo n o 000 b dy the Bey s tr ps, numberi g ab ut 3

o o n S m regular s ldiers , c mma ded by y Seli Ferik

n of on ou tw o s Mi ister War, was stati ed at ab t mile

n o o n an d n dista ce fr m the b u dary, actually withi

of o of ou - el - o Sight the Algerian f rt R m S uk , where

n oo n o of n the Fre ch tr ps, u der the c mmand Ge eral

l n For em o o . o g , were gradually c llecti g An ther small conti n gen t u n der the G overn or of Bej a had its camp midway between the positions of Sy Ali

i n an d S o . Bey y Selim , and the Kham r c u try ’ Ali Bey s encampment presented a very pictu r ’ M TH E K H AM i R 2 A FORTNIGHT A ONGST S. 5 9

an d o o of so - esque curi us sight . M st the called regular troops had been specially drafted for the o on an d can of m h ccasi , all that be said the is t at

o o on o o o f they were , alm st with ut excepti , c mp sed

ﬁn e o m en o p werful . They seemed , h wever, very u n comfortable in the u n iforms they were eviden tly

n o to an d n n quite u accust med wear , whe marchi g ,

o of n on o oo off oo m st them u cerem i usly t k their b ts ,

u o to n an d tucked p their tr users the k ee , trudged “ o an d - f rward barefooted bare legged . The ir ” regular Arab cavalry l ooked re markably well on

on n o their spirited Barb p ies, with their ha ds me

o n ow n o n and acc utreme ts , their bec mi g dress ,

n stately beari g .

f to o an d The tents were large and dif icult m ve , th ose occupied by the Bey a nd his suite were

n on n n p o derous marquees . If a str g wi d happe ed t o o n w n or m en be bl wi g, t e ty thirty usually struggled for an h our at least with the can vas of

’ on o o ot n o the Bey s pavili bef re it c uld be g i t shape . The baggage was even m ore c u mbers ome than the

’ - n t ow n on tents . The heir appare s luggage c sisted o f a n umber of w ooden tru n ks covered with b rown

an d - n leather, thickly studded with brass headed ails .

On e of m o to u w the was dev ted syr ps , s eetmeats, an d z oedone o t o o o f h , the r h d x nature whic was

’ t or w ho duly cer iﬁed by the Bey s imam , chaplain , 2 60 P AN D P TUNIS AST RESENT . foun d it n ecessary to make several trials of the d n o on o n n o n on ri k bef re he pr u ced his deﬁ ite pi i .

’ The Bey s person al cortege was as miscellan e ous an d

a a . At D r remark ble as his b ggage its head was .

Stresino n - o n o , his physicia extra rdi ary , wh se duties

f n o . In were a very varied ature the ﬁrst place , he had to admin ister harmless and agreeably

o o o on t o n n c l ured p ti s cure imagi ary ailme ts, he was expected to make himself pleasan t w hen ever

n an d to n the pri ce was dull , play chess whe ever

on n to o required , always c trivi g be the l ser . The ” - Kahw a ee or o m an n Bash j head c ffee , was certai ly

in o n n the next imp rta ce . His te t immediately

d o n of n an d in ot a j i ed that His High ess , it a large p of water was con ti n ually kept b oilin g over a char

o to o of c al ﬁre . He was expected pr duce cups

’ n u c offee at a m ome t s notice . D ring the march he

’ o to was always cl se his master s heels , with all his

n in - an d d n parapher alia saddle bags , rea y whe ever

o Kahw a e called on to perf rm his duty . After the j e

n - u n - came the chaplai , the water bearer , the g bearer,

- an d o - the pipe bearer , the sw rd bearer . The j ester

n on n d was a very imp orta t pers age i dee . He was

to sa o privileged y what he liked , and the c arser his

n j okes the m ore they were appreciated . Whe ever the camp was m oved Ali Bey m ou n ted his charger for n n oo to a few mi utes , and the bet k himself a gilt

3 6 : TuN i A N D S PAST PRESENT .

’ “ Forg ein ol s el oque n t platitudes as to T u nisian

o n o n of imp te cy . After the perf rma ce the cere

on o O ii o on h m ies usually bserved such ccasi s , eac

w w o o an d oo chief ithdre with his f ll wers , t k up his

o on n p siti ab out a mile from o u r e n campme t . The hill ocks arou n d us were therefore thickly studded w the n o f n occu ith te ts these tribesme , but their

n a ou n oo con pa ts had th ghtful deﬁa t l k , which tr asted stran gely with the gay appearan ce of the

. o n on camp They were all , with ut a si gle excepti ,

to an d o armed the teeth , seemed eternally ccupied in discussin g the probable in ten tion s of the Fre n ch o r polishin g their arms an d cou n tin g their bullets . They would never agree up on any plea t o part with

so o to their arms, Ali Bey was c mpelled receive them with all their weap ons up on them . After my ﬁrst in tervie w with Sy Ali I found

n n for an d that a large te t had bee prepared my use,

oo o o a g d h rse likewise placed at my disp sal . A few mi n utes later a messe n ger from Sy Ali Bey

o n sheshi a h or br ught me a Tu isian y red cap , which

n to o an n he suggested my weari g , av id y u pleasant n oon ess with the irritated m ountaineers . I s dis

o it on n n n ot on to do c vered that was c ve ie t ly this ,

to n o an d but assume the e tire Arab c stume , it after wards turn ed ou t that it was very fortun ate I did s o. I found man y opp ortunities of verifyi n g what ’ M TH E K H AMi R 2 6 A FORTNIGHT A ONGST s. 3

n on th e on an d had actually take place fr tier , had subseque n tly been grossly exaggerated by the

n o n n a d o n a Fre ch G ver me t n press . The rigi l dis agreemen t (afterwards magn iﬁed i nt o a r a z z ia or raid) was a dispute as to the p a r t- ow n er ship of a cow n n an d n an d o between a Tu isia Algeria , c uld really have been settled in ﬁve min utes at a p olice

o . o n o n n com c urt As, h wever, the Fre ch G ver me t plai n ed very bitterly an d threaten ed to take s ome

on i ow n o n n o measures the r acc u t , the Bey se t s me resp on sible ofﬁcials to in quire in to the matter an d to n o f n n n pu ish the f e ders if ecessary . Everythi g

on to oo h n was d e sm t matters, but still the Fre ch

n ot ﬁ an d n were satis ed , i sisted that the Bey must

a In o practic lly extermin ate the b order tribes . rder t o o o on Mu ham ed d n av id a c mplicati , es Sa ek se t on e n o to o an d camp after a ther the Sp t , gave the heir - apparent strict orders to examin e in t o a ny

n off n charges preferred and severely pu ish the e ders .

' o of o Khami rs o It was h ped , c urse , that the w uld

’ n resist the Bey s auth ority . When it became plai

n o n o n n on that thi g was further fr m their i te ti s , G en eral For g emol refused to furn ish any details of grieva n ces an d an n ounced that Fran ce had resolved t o undertake the task of tamin g the Khamir s herself. I was quite surprised to see the alacrity with 2 64 TUN IS PAST AN D PRESENT . w hich these reputed savages obeyed the orders of the Tu n isian offici als . Several of the tri b es came in in my presen ce to formally make their su b mis

on a n d n n and o si , the sight was i teresti g alm st

n ff f imposi g . The e ect o the ceremony was height e n ed by the wild m ou n tai n scen ery amidst which it t ook place . On these occasi on s the Bey used to s it in n o n n o state u der a large pe te t , surr unded

his an d n o an d by suite pri cipal fﬁcers . The civil religi ou s chiefs of the tribe were ﬁrst admitted i n t o

a l n l the c mp a one . O e after an other they wa ked

i to Ali an d o n u stra ght up Sidi , b wi g respectf lly ,

oo n on h t k his ha d and placed it their eads , after w n on h oo ards kissi g the palm . This d e , t ey all st d

in o an d the of n aside a gr up , rest the tribesme in

o n in n . full war c stume , e tered si gle ﬁle They each

u n o on o of carried a g l aded ly with p wder, a pair huge pist ols in their belts and tw o or three k n ives

n t o of different sizes . O heir feet they w re raw

n to leather sa dals , and their legs were bare the

f Ro n a v ery top o their thighs . u d their w ists was a broad girdle an d p ouch reachin g upwards to the chest (alm ost exactly like those used am ongst the

n o n n on . Circassia s) , which c ntai ed their ammu iti

u o They were all wiry , musc lar , and p werful men , a nd would really b e formidable en emies at cl ose

n deﬁled o quarters . Once inside the li es they bef re

2 66 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT .

o o o I o be at nce br ught t j ustice . shall never f rget

o the visible dismay which Spread thr ugh the camp , when ou r messen ger returned with the following reply

G ene al r emol to A l e r Fo g Sy l B y.

\V e have received y our letter by which y ou deman d a list of our reclamati on s an d details o f the crimes which the Fren ch G overn me n t alleges to have bee n co mmitted by the K hamir s an d other m ou n tai n tribes bel on gi n g to the state of

o o an d o n We have n ev r al a y ur august br ther s vereig . o s e occ sions communicated the details o these com laints and it is ther e f p ,

u r uous t r e at the n w o r to n fore s pe ﬂ o pe m o . We have rde s pu ish the tribes which have c ommitted the aggressi on s an d against which ou have b een im otent to act can on o y p . We ly bey these o do n ot n n n n of rders , but this es preve t the mai te a ce the frie n dship which has existed for centuries betwee n the tw o c ou n tries

The ow o o e l Al i w ho bl alm st v rwhe med Bey ,

in of believed , the simplicity his heart, that the Fre n ch had n o other obj ect beyon d the punishmen t

An on n to of the Khamir s . express was at ce se t

’ o of n For emol s an d Tunis with a c py Ge eral g letter,

n n an urgen t demand for i structio s . The same even in g we received letters from the

o n o of on o of g ver r Kef, stating that a sec d b dy Fren ch troops was bein g assembled at Sidi Yussef

o to o an on cl se the fr ntier, and that attack Kef

l a o u r itself seemed imminent . Sy Se im dded t o A M TH K H AMfR 2 6 FORTNIGHT A ONGST E s. 7 perplexities by in formin g us that the Fren ch were apparen tly preparin g to cross the fron tier at Roum el - o an d six n o o n off S uk , that gu b ats c uld be see

n o to Tabarca . I was fortu ate en ugh make the a n n of El i on e of cquai ta ce Sheikh Salah Kham ri ,

an n n n the m ost p opular d i ﬂue tial chiefs of the cla . I told him that I was an xi ous to g o through their

o n see for o n c u try, and myself what was really g i g

n on o f to m e n d r o o . He at ce f ered take u er his p tection an d n n , duri g the ight we quitted the cam p t ogether . By his advice I left all my E u ropean

o i an d I oon on C n cl thes beh nd , was s the ly hristia t o be fou n d in the midst of twen ty th ousan d armed

’ o n o to Arabs , all ready at a m ment s tice defend their m ou n tain s agai n st the in vaders .

o o o n n o Fr m the vari us acc unts , ema ati g fr m a

n o o n Fre ch s urce, I , like everyb dy else , had bee led to s u pp ose that the Khamirs were little better than

I oon ov on savages . s disc ered the decepti or mis

i n on oon take . Dur g my stay am gst them , as s as

I an n they were assured was E glishman , they

n n an d on on treated me with ki d ess c siderati , readily discussin g with me the all - e n grossi n g t opic of the m ovemen ts of the Fren ch . The Khamir s are agriculturists and cattle

an d ou n o f exce breeders , the c try f ers many and p tion al for S of facilities their pursuits . prings 2 68 AN D TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

l n l excellent water are p e tiful , the pasture is uxu

n an d n o o oo ria t, the de se f rests aff rd g d shelter .

n ow n o d They ma ufacture their gunp w er , are very

nn o to cla ish , but submit with ut a murmur the

o of . o o auth rity their chiefs S me live in huts , thers

in n n ot o . te ts , but these latter are n madic The

Khamirs n are frugal , but perhaps fare better tha their brethren of the plai n . The w omen spi n a superior kin d of w oolle n b er n ons (cloak) and weave

A f o of an blan kets . large quantity o tobacc excel

n o n o o o . le t quality is gr w , but n b dy sm kes Every

n ff on e on on . , the c trary, takes s u It is generally calculated that there are from fifteen t o twen ty-ﬁv e th ousand ﬁghtin g — m en in the wh ole ran ge of m ou n

n for o tai s . All the adults are the m st part armed

ﬂin t- o n ou v on with l ck gu s ab t se en feet l g , and

an f n on made with out y idea o bala ce . It c sequently generally requires a strong man to keep the muz z le

an d n . o n o level The m untai s are very steep, the ly

n o h in o n ot passes are very arr w pat s , m st places m ore than tw o or three feet wide . Dense forests o o of ften c ver the heights , and the richness the vegetation adds considerably to the extreme beauty

of n . o the sce ery Oak and c rk trees , the white “ ” ho an d o - n an d t rn l cust bea trees , wild vines

n n o an d o on e gia t fer s , all gr w thrive t gether in l u xuriant tan gle . Men b orn under such accidents

2 AN D P 7 0 TUNIS PAST RESENT .

n A . M . n in o n o ine sharp ﬁri g the m u tains , and alm st simultan e ously the distan t b oomin g of the can n on in n of n n the directio Tabarca . The sce e that e sued

n n n aroun d us is alm ost in describable . I the twi kli g o f an n an d eye the Khamir te ts were struck , they

o n o of i o started at a tr t , yelli g at the t ps the r v lees ,

o f n f o in the directi n o the ﬁring . A ba d o ab ut

o n ﬁfty, m re desperate tha the rest, made a rush

o o of o - el - o o t wards the f rt R um S uk , ab ut three

t an d o see n of miles distan , we c uld a detachme t cavalry c omin g to meet them . Sy Selim imme diately sen t s ome of his m oun ted Arab irregulars in

in u n pursuit , and they succeeded t rni g back the

o o of Khamir s w ho c urage us little party , pleaded “ with tears to be allowed to have j ust on e shot at

o n of o n the ccupa ts the f rt, eve if they died a

n m omen t afterwards . My faithful frie d Sheikh Salah had mean while disappeared in order to do

o n for o I his duty in the m untai s , and s me time was afraid that I sh ould be compelled to remain in

I n to one of the camp . But happe ed meet his

o an on w ho o n in on of c mp i s, was g i g the directi Ali

’ o o an d I o Bey s p siti n , with him appr ached the

n n Spot where the ﬁghti g was taki g place . All

on o n n v al g the m u tai paths we tra ersed , we met ﬁles of Kh amir s in fu ll war c ostume rushin g at

on L n o on full speed in the same directi . yi g d wn ’ M H E K H AMI E s 2 1 A FORTNIGHT A ONGST T . 7 the crest of a hill I c ould witn ess disti n ctly what was goi n g on . The Fren ch were in a small valley

o n surroun ded by the heights n all sides save o e.

o n con The sl pes were evide tly alive with Arabs , cealed n o n o oo behi d pr j ecti g r cks , brushw d , shrubs ,

an d o n n . trees . B th sides were sustai i g the ﬁre It was eviden t that the Fren ch h oped that the Arabs w ould have been i n duced to c ome d own to the

n o Khamirs plai , but alth ugh the made several very

o o n to c urage us attacks , they i variably retired the

n of oo hills, bei g perfectly well aware their g d

o n n o p sitio . Several Fre ch s ldiers were killed in

n n Khamir s o n this ﬁrst e gageme t , but the l st seve ty

m en n o on e eight , besides havi g ver hundred and

ﬁfty woun ded . ’ n I ot o At le gth g back t Sy Ali Bey s camp . All the Arabs w ho had pitched their ten ts in its

n n I on off to vici ity whe left, had already g e the

f n o n o . assista ce their eighb urs The Bey was , as

for might be expected , greatly perturbed , the part ing sh outs of the Khamirs were quite the reverse of o n an d c mplime tary, he felt that he might be

n n In attacked at a y m ome t . pursuan ce of the

n on n o i structi s he had received , he had se t a pr test to Gen eral Forg emol as soon as he k n ew what had

’ n Ai n Ismain d ot happe ed at , and had alrea y g the followin g an swer AN D TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

r l t G eneral Fo gemo o Sg/ Ali B ey .

We have received yo ur sec on d letter to which we n ow an swer. \Ve h ave the h on our to i n form y o ur High n ess that our

oo n on n n o in accord w ith the tr ps have e tered Tu isia territ ry ,

B e o Tunis w e n o the M n o f o f y f , as are i f rmed by i ister War n o n to n n n n i n Fra ce . Acc rdi g this same u dersta di g the Tu sia troops are to give us free access i n to the c ou ntry of the n o to an d in con e emies which we have c me chastise , that seque n ce they will retire to such p ositi on s as we shall L F R n . O G EM L i dicate . O .

\Ve n ow learn ed that on the previ ous day the Fre n ch had shelled and alm ost c ompletely destroyed

’ o of o fl the f rt Tabarca , ver which the Bey s ag was

n an d on ﬂyi g at the time , which was actually garris ed

n o n oo n ow by Tu nisia s ldiers . Eve the regular tr ps

n n to o w ho o n seemed i cli ed j in the Arabs , pe ly

of : You o accused the Bey treachery t ld us ,

“ o of on n they said with much sh w reas i g, that if

o an d n ow ou see we kept quiet all w uld be well , y what has happen ed . The children of Ali Ben Hassan ” have sold ou r country to the Fren ch !

’

2 8 th tw o o lo A . M On the April , at c ck we stealthily c ommen ced ou r retreat in fear an d trembli n g . The

ou of ow n o Bey was ab t equally afraid his s ldiers,

Khamirs an d n the , the Fre ch and he keenly felt the bitter humiliati on of being obliged to leave his

’ ow n subjects to their fate . After a few h ours

2 7 4 TUN IS PAST A N D PRESENT .

n of n o remembra ce Fre ch p liteness, which he had o n of n o fte heard but had ever bef re experien ced . “ “ W n I ot o - I he g ab ut half way , said the Bey,

o o n n w ho was perempt rily st pped by the se ti els , w ould n ot let me pass for s ome time . At last I reached the station a n d waited there for half an

o n n Lo er ot an d h ur . The Ge eral g appeared , with

‘ o u t n do ou saluti g me said abruptly, What y z’ ’ wan t I replied that I had merely come there

n f n in c on sequ e ce o his i vitation . He an swered that h e n o n to sa to an d on had thi g y me , had ly called me because he fan cied that I had somethi n g to say t o him . He added that I had d one well to leave

o n n the Khamir m u tai s , and must recall all the other troops there with out delay that I must on n o

o n o to or an d to ﬁnd acc u t g either Kef Beja , was my way back as best I c ould through Testour

n n n an d Teb oursouk . He the tur ed his back o me

- an d oo . the n left the r m If I , heir appare t, am used

of ou r thus, what will be the fate subjects Please ” i n let people n E glan d k n ow h ow we are treated . As s oon as the Bey had ﬁn ished tellin g me of his

o n o to o n misf rtu es, he wr te a letter his br ther aski g

o o In o n h for leave t return t Tun is . c mplia ce wit

’ n Lo er ot s n on n ow t o Ge eral g i timati , we began

in a o t o march sl owly s utherly direc i n . On the go th April some chiefs of the Ouled B ou Salem tribe ’ A FORTN IGHT AM ONG ST TH E K H AM I E S . 2 7 5 j oin ed us and brought a letter from the Fren ch Oaid of o n to the fr ntier, which had bee addressed them

of oo n and the Sheikhs the K ka tribe , stati g that u n less they submitted to the Fren ch they w ould

n be attacked forthwith . Messe gers from other

o an d o n of tribes als arrived , bitterly c mplai ed the heavy requisiti on s made up on them by the in vaders . These facts served to dissipate all that remain ed in the min d o f Ali Bey of his illusion as regards the obj ect of the Fren ch expediti on . The followin g day (April 3 o th) a m ost lament able affair occurred alm ost on the scen e of ou r ﬁrst

n o n n B en campi g gr u d duri g the retreat at Bachir . This is what actually happen ed The Fren ch sen t s a his to Sheikhia u B ou m an d p the , the O led Sale ,

G en dou b a n of tribes , with a dema d that each them Sh ould provide 3 00 h orsemen m ou nted an d

d to ser ve w ith the F r en ch s a his equippe , as p , besides

2 00 or o o o d a baggage mules h rses , each f ll we with

Sheikhia man to carry barley . The havi ng replied that they had neither h orses to give n or an y in clin ation to o n o n n g , the Fre ch this m r i g marched

n o o n etou a r s in m n i t their territ ry , bur ed their a y

an d n n w ho places , attacked the i habita ts , were obliged to take refuge in the m oun tain s . Several

’ o n an d n n w me childre were killed , The Bey s te t was soon surroun ded by crowds of Arabs callin g 2 6 AN D 7 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

“ ou t O ur o an d o n , cr ps , cattle , h rses are bei g de

o w e o d an d ou str yed are urselves attacke , yet all y

o \Ve u f tell us is t keep quiet . are all s bj ects o the

do n o n to ? ou Bey , will he thi g save us Why did y n ot let us ﬁght again st ou r e n emies ? The sce n e w as on e n ot a to o o n n of e sily be f rg tte . A umber w itn esses w ere exami n ed as to the attack on the

Sheikhia an d S o , y Ali Bey drew up a rep rt which

n to n n was se t Tu is . The evide ce was carefully

o d o on o sifted , the vari us ep siti s were rec rded separ

an d n n to v u ately , every mea s take arri e at the tr th . I t is greatly to be feared that Turkish atrocities can n o on to n l ger claim be u ique . The camp was m oved on the 3 d May t o a p oin t between B ej a

’ an d in Oued Zerga , but the Bey s perplexities

On n n to for creased every day . his se di g Medj ez

of n o o the usual supply barley , a te was br ught back

o b o from the gen eral sayin g it w as n t to e t uched . “ “ I on o n am ly surprised , wr te the ge eral , that y ou remain in a c ou n try where the Fre n ch are

n - n o wagi g war . As the heir appare t was p werless t o do an oo an d o on om n y g d , as his p siti fr bei g

n o u o I n ot humiliati g had bec me ridic l us , was

’ AS aston ished at Gen eral Log er ot s surprise . far as S w as on e n n n y Ali Bey c c r ed , the campaig e ded as

oo d on Khamirs s n as he turne his back the , and as

ide XX V Chapter .

CHAPTER XIX .

AT BI Z ERTA .

TH E seaport of Bizerta, or B en z er ta— the Hippo

Dz ar tu s or Zar tus of o n — o y y the R ma s is, like G letta ,

n situated o the sh ores of the Mediterran ean . It is built on a n arrow t on gue of land which divides the sea from tw o vast sheets of w ater of grea t exten t an d on n o n Hi onitu s Lacu s depth , ce k w as the pp an d Sisarae n ow o on Palus , and c mm ly called the l f o akes o Bizerta an d Gebel Ishkel . The shall w can al which j oin s the Mediterran ean to these lan d

o n l ocked seas divides Bizerta in to tw o distin ct p rti o s . The on e c overs a small islan d formed by a bifurca

o in n n of n an d o n to ti n the cha el the ca al , j i ed the lan d on either side by bridges of great an tiquity ; the other rises on the Sl ope of a hill an d is sur

o n o un n o n n r u ded , like m st T isia t w s , with a cre ellated

an d o n ha sb a h or rampart , cr w ed by a dilapidated

of of citadel . A large part the higher quarter

of its o on Bizerta has shared in the decay f rtiﬁcati s ,

of o o but a series marble f untains, surm unted by AT Z BI ERTA . 2 7 9

n l n on t o elega t y carved i scripti s , still testify the

n o existe ce of a past period f Moslem p ower . The fan tastic wi ndin gs of the h ouse - bordered can al give to Bizerta the appearan ce of a min i ature Ven ice in

n I n n reduced circumsta ces . maki g the circuit of

en cein te I an n on the wall , remarked i scripti placed

n n m i upside d ow in the bastio . Although uch d s

o YPPOS B n ﬁgured , the w rds SA ITOS were plai ly

n oo of n discer ible . The vaulted r fs the magazi es an d shops in b oth parts of the t own are supp orted almost in variably by Roman c ol um n s . The E nglish j an issary Haj Hamda t ook me to his c orn - store to “ ” d an n I see what he terme i scribed pillar . read in b old characters

I MP CAFS

MAVE I IIIV S

ANTONINV S FIVS IIII X AV G PARTHI CV S MAX

B RI TAN NI CV S MAX

G IRMANICV S MAX

I RIB POIX V II II COS 1111 PP

RI S III V II XLIX

There was a time when E nglish statesmen knew 2 8 0 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT . the imp ortan ce of the great lan d - l ocked harb our lyi ng behi n d the crumbling walls and stragglin g

of n streets Bizerta . The lakes have bee survey ed a n d r e- n n n surveyed by E glish seame , but appare tly only fo r the purpose o f p oi n tin g ou t the expedien cy o f ac u ii in t o u r n o n q g them o eighb urs . A gla ce at the chart of the Mediterra nean sh ows better than pages of reas on i n g what the p ossession of Bi z erta

n n in of really m ea s . After assisti g a survey the

in 1 8 n n on lakes 4 5 , Lieute a t Spratt c tributed a “ valuable paper on the subj ect to the Journ al of

o o on n n o the Ge graphical S ciety , c tai i g a c mplete description of the l ocality . “ n n n ow The lakes , writes Lieute a t ( Admiral) “ o n n n o n n Spratt , have fte bee ticed by the A cie t an d Middle Age authors u n der the n ames of Hip pon itu s Lacu s an d Sisar ae Palus . “ The Hippon itu s Lacu s was the m ore n orthern an d tw o an d n to of larger e lakes, a swers that

o n n o an im Bizerta , t its m der ame fr m

n o o p orta t fortiﬁed t wn situated at its m uth . The Sisarae Palus is n ow called the Lake of Geb el

o an d o n n n Ishkel , fr m a high picturesque m u tai risi g

om o n o fr its s uther sh re , but which must have been o n n ow o f rmerly an isla d , as it is separated fr m the plai n by an exten sive marsh . “ The t w o lakes run in an east - north - east an d

2 8 2 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT .

o o f n n declared that he sh uld f er o resista ce . Before n n o n o u o n ightfall a Fre ch garris cc pied the t w , the

n f n o n o an d Fre ch lag was ﬂyi g the f rts , the chas tisemen t of the Khamirs assumed a n ew phase of its gradual devel opmen t . Never perhaps in the

’ o of o o o n hist ry the w rld s warfare , was a m re imp rta t

on ff w o n f ow c quest e ected ith ut the striki g o a bl .

IVhen n n the ews reached the Bey at Tu is , he said , “ I o to on o am s rry see my flag dish ured at Bizerta , but n ow at any rate E n glan d an d Italy can n ot ” n n Mu h am ed o remai sile t es Sadek was, h wever,

oon o o n as events s pr ved , egregi usly mistake .

o o n o on n o The f ll wi g pr test was at ce se t t M .

Rou stan

d 1 8 Ma 2 8 1 . y ,

The Governor of B izerta has in formed us yesterday that

n of o B an d several Fre ch ships war appeared bef re izerta, the o on of an d o w as n n ccupati the city f rts dema ded by the Fre ch ,

n of o to o n u der threats rec urse vi le ce . As we are at peace

n o n o n ot in o on to with Fra ce , the g ver r was a p siti resist ; an d the Fren ch tro ops have o ccupied B izerta an d h o isted the

s n n o n o ur o . o o n Fre ch ﬂag f rt This ccupati , at a time whe

o o n n o n we are at peace with y ur G ver me t , is a pr ceedi g with ou t n an d o to an d r es cr i precede t , is Opp sed all the rules p p n of the f n on I n on n o in io o . t s law ati s c seque ce , we pr test

n the m ost s olem n man n er agai n st this occupati o . We must express ou r s orro w at bei n g thus treated by a Govern me n t

w n o to on an d which we have al ays e deav ured c ciliate , with which it has bee n our c on stan t e n deav our to preserve the

m ost frien dly relation s . AT Z 2 8 BI ERTA . 3

The best c ommentary on this proceeding with ” ’ ou t precedent is con tain ed in Admiral Spratt s

in Tim es of 1 6 letter , which appeared the the th

May .

Mr u u est MP Monta e G . mir al r att to . Ad Sp g ,

I fully c on ﬁrm the fact of the Lake of B izerta bein g easily

fo r of o or for an o f made available the ﬂeets the w rld , y them —an d at a small c ost— for I w ould risk my reputati on up on

ff or n of on its bei n g e ected f less tha a quarter a milli . All that is n ecessary is an excavati on o f ab out a quarter of a mile through the n arrow strips o f alluvial plai n that separates the

o B a of B an d o n for o lake fr m the y izerta , s me dredgi g ab ut

n on of n o s o t o the same le gth either side this arr w strip , as on n d n o c ect the eep water withi the lake With the bay utside, an d o n to M n n n thus pe it the editerra ea , by which mea s the largest ships of an y n avy an d the fleets o f the w orld c ould fin d acc omm odati on an d security withi n B izerta Lake ; an d it w ould thus bec ome the fi n est an d m ost c o mm o di ous harb our

M n n in . S o of the editerra ea ituated as it is , at the thresh ld

n of M n n o n the ce tral strait the editerra ea , if p ssessed by Fra ce or o o o o n by Italy, it w uld bec me the m st imp rta t strategic n o w n an d o o n o m n aval p rt ithi it, c mpletely c mma d the c m u i

on n n an d n on n cati s betwee the easter wester divisi s . Fra ce ,

n ow in o on 00 n u on on e n f which , T ul , is 4 miles dista t p ﬂa k o ’ n o on o o n o on that li e , w uld thus be ly f ur h urs steami g fr m it

o n n ot on o she n o n the ther fla k , where ly c uld have a ther aval

n l o an d n o n for arse a , but a spaci us perfectly e cl sed basi the

of o o n n and n secret practice t rped ﬂeets , gu ery exercise , eve

o n o n few an d in o s me ma euvri g with a ships , all what w uld

o o on n o bec me a secret p rt . C seque tly, all the p litical as well as the c ommercial i n terests o f other n ati on s betwee n the east an d to sa n o n of M o of west, y thi g alta, w uld be at the mercy 2 8 AN D 4 T UNIS PAST PR ESENT .

Fra n ce or Italy — w hichever bec omes p o ssessed o f this m ost importan t strategic harb o ur— as will be evide n t to every on e

o n n o o f o n on o f p ssessi g a k wledge the physical c diti s , depth w an d o f B L o n in th e ater, capacity the izerta ake , as sh w

Jour nal o the G e ra hical Societ to ou f og p y, which y have referred in o n in th e Times I n n of y ur rece t letter . the i terests the

o f E o n o f n o future peace ur pe , either the great aval P wers

o o o of it— n n n or sh uld bec me p ssessed either Fra ce , Italy , E n n n n in n an d gla d all havi g equal i terest its eutrality , n either havi n g a right stronger than the o ther to wre n ch it

o n o n ow in o on a n d in it fr m the eutral P wer p ssessi , rightful

An n p ossessi on of it . y tra sfere n ce of it to either o f the three n aval Po wers w ould at o n ce place the balan ce of n aval power i n M n n in n in n of the editerra ea , the ear future , the ha ds that

o and o an n n to n on P wer, w uld be irresistible i ce tive that ati t o o o n to o n o f dev te d uble its e ergies the devel pme t its fleet , an d n on n n o n n on a aval prep dera ce , i v lvi g a ecessity the part of the o thers to do the same in th e i n terests of their com

i an o m n m er c al d p litical prestige . Such are y views as a aval ofﬁcer fo un ded on l o ng experie n ce w ith the i n terests n ow con n ected M n n an d n o with the editerra ea , with a perfect k wledge

an d o of B n h as of the lake l cality izerta . As the Italia press n n n o m a sa o d rece tly very fully e tered i t , I y y exp se , these n o u it ou o i terests , I , as y have requested , give y the ab ve facts an d n n o on n an n of in n details , bei g l ger u der y ecessity reta i g

n them from the ge eral public .

o Mr . Guest sh rtly afterwards published a pam

on of phlet the subj ect Bizerta, illustrated with

ﬁ‘ charts an d maps of very great v alu e His zeal ous efforts to Sh ow that the occupation of this imp ortan t

99 Th n e T n on an d . Mon G u isia Q uesti Bizerta By tague uest, E s M P F hiff L C err il 00. ondon 1 q , . . . , 1 88 .

( 2 8 6 )

CHAPTER XX .

’ TH E THREE WEEKS W AR .

ALTHOUGH by a dipl omatic ﬁction Tunis was supp osed to be in a profou n d state of peace on the

1 st Ma 1 8 8 1 an n n o ow y , i vadi g f rce was sl ly but

n in n surely cl osi g arou d the capital . Gen eral F or g em ol and his s u b ordin ate c olumn s were already chasin g the Khamir s from ridge to ridge Of their n o n n n Le er ot n n ative m u tai s , Ge eral g was adva ci g

o on Med er dah fr m Kef al g the j valley, while Ge n eral B r é ar t was in u n disputed p ossession of the

In of t ow n Of Bizerta . spite all this the Bey seemed

o n to o ou t an d d ggedly determi ed h ld , the wide spread ill feeli ngs am on gst the Arabs in duced the British an d Italian col on ists t o presen t petiti on a o n for n of of fter petiti n , aski g the prese ce ships

on n war to en sure their pers al safety . Duri g the

1 st t w o o n on May the Bey received c mmu icati s , n either of which was calculated to diminish his

n Al i n n d a xiety . Bey se t him a very graphic a highly coloured rep ort of the c onﬂict between the ’ 2 8 TH E THREE WEEKS W AR . 7

r an d Sheikhia n B en F ench the tribesme at Bachir, and the G overn or of Bizerta wrote that the Fren ch ﬂag had already supplan ted the T unisian stan dard on K a sb a h o o n r an the . The f rmer d cume t as follows

The chaouch (sergean t - maj or) Chaaban an d the squadron o f cavalry which had bee n se n t to protect the railway arrived

n at the camp this eve n i g . The chaouch has stated to me that a Fren ch c olumn has

o o n n an d h n arrived fr m Algeria this m r i g, t at the Ge eral c omman din g the troops at S ouk - el- Arba sen t yesterday an

o to G en dou b a B ou S an d Sh eik hia armed f rce the , Ouled alem , tribes to deman d fro m each a c on tributi on of 3 00 h orses for

f t o the Spahis an d a certai n n umber o mules . The w o f rmer clan s pleaded that their p overty preve n ted their c omplian ce

Sh eik hia o to do with the request, but the f rmally refused as they were asked . “ I n on n of on n of c seque ce this refusal , a str g detachme t Fren ch troops e n tered the Sheik hia c ou n try an d attacked

Sheik hia n n them . The defe ded themselves ; the Fre ch

n douar s n m en an d o n o n bur ed their , killi g w me 5 the w u ded

n to n w ho o to were take the Ge eral , rdered them be

n e o o n n ot n beheaded o after the ther . The w me were eve

chaouch o saw spared . The himself rep rts that he a

n tw n burn ed dou ar c on tain i g o w ome . Such were the h orr ors that met his eyes that the chaouch was forced to take ” an other road to avoid the dreadful sight .

The sensation produced by the publicity given

n c an n to this letter at T u is well be imagi ed . A

o o o c uncil was at nce called as usual , and a pr test 2 8 8 AN D TUNIS PAST PRESENT . a nd appe al to the foreig n represen tati ves were d n . w n n a nd in raw up They ere ever prese ted , the even i n g an effor t was eve n made to suppress

’ ’ Ali Bey s letter . Mr . Perki n s i n quiries made it very probable that the g ou ms or Algerian irregulars w ho t o o led the assaul , c mmitted vari us excesses

o n to w en t of n acc rdi g their , but the picture Ge eral

- Leg er o t supe r in ten din g a systematic decapitati on of the w oun ded is palpably overdrawn . The treat

n of Sheik hia on o th how me t the the 3 March was ,

n l n a six ever , sig a ly ave ged by the Ar bs exactly m on ths later at Oued Zerga . I n fairn ess t o the Fren ch I must place on record

on of n n b o the versi the occurre ce give me y M . J el

’ o o on n of R e u b li u e Le Sav ureux , the c rresp de t the p g

F r n i w ho a a se o . p , was near the sp t at the time

’ o on o n n 0th At ﬁve O cl ck the m r i g Of the 3 March ,

ou on n n on says M . Le Sav reux , a rec aissa ce , c sist in g of t w o battali on s of the 1 st Regimen t of Zouaves

o n o on e n in c mma ded by C l el Herv , was se t the

on of B en o o to directi Bachir, ab ut f ur miles the n o of n n o rth the railway . The eve i g bef re , the tribe of Ouled B ou Salem had asked the Gen eral to sen d them s ome troops in order t o protect them from

n ou ms a their n eighb ours . The captai Of the g p

e to doua r an d pr ached within thirty yards Of a , called ou t that the Fren ch s oldiers would do n o harm

2 AN D 90 T UNIS PAST PRESENT . e n emy was n o l on ger in sight an d the retreat w as

o n As n o w o n o it s u ded . u ded were f und was supp osed that the Arabs had themselves give n

- - r on them the coup de g a ce. Am gst the dead were

a d tw o om n . n o ﬁ n n w e They had bee Sh t ghti g, had ammu n ition upon them an d gun s in their

an n on o to h ds . Eleve pris ers were br ught the

ou mier s o o 2 000 of camp . The g c llected ver head

a c ttle . It is alm ost imp ossible to recon cile these very

n on of on e n G n Le er ot differe t versi s eve t . e eral g emphatically an d repeatedly den ied the truth of

’ cha ou ch Chab an s rep ort as en d orsed by the heir

n n o n to o o appare t , but eve acc rdi g the m st fav urable

n can n o o stateme t Of the facts , there be d ubt , that the rout at B en Bachir was un n ecessarily destructive

n . an on n Of huma life At y rate , it quite c vi ced the

’ of of n Arabs the fallacy the Bey s assura ces, and effectually prepared the way for reprisals an d

n reve ge . The Bey was n ot the on ly pers on at Tun is to

o n n n n on 1 st receive ast u di g i tellige ce the May .

da Rou stan o to . O n the same y M . wr te Mr Reade that at the battle of Ain Ism ai n on the 2 6th Of April a European had bee n Observed in the r a nks of the

Khamirs an d o o o in , that m re ver the pers n ques

on o u n ﬁ ti had sh t dead Lie tena t Fayet, an Of cer Of ’ 2 1 TH E THREE WEEKS W AR . 9

“ 2 2 d n . on . the Regime t His descripti , added M “ ”

a . n Rou stan o on to of . , c rresp ds exactly th t Mr Perki s

o n o in and This st ry was ever seri usly persisted , at

n o n n le gth f rmally withdraw . Whe details were “ for f n to o n asked , the Of e der was said have w r a black cloak an d broad felt hat . It was Of c ourse

o m n n n pr ved by a y wit esses that Mr . Perki s was

in an o an d always dressed Arab c stume red cap , ” an d the broad felt hat turn ed ou t to be quite as “ ” ap ocryphal as the ran ks of the Khamirs . The

’ accusation of M . Rou stan an d the c orresp on den ts test of Ge n eral Farre were b oth prompted by the

— same m otive a desire to keep thin gs quiet . They were emin en tly u n worthy of the great n ati on in

o n m an d o wh se ame they were ade , the auth rs have b oth sin ce fallen u n der the lash Of that very

c publi opin ion they s ought to stiﬂe . The wh ole sale suppressi on of telegrams duri ng the crisis has on ly been aton ed for by the excelle n t man n er in which the service has been carried on ever sin ce . The excitemen t of the i st May was foll ow ed by an an xi ous pause . The Sultan sen t repeatedly

to n n cipher telegrams the Bey Of a reassuri g ature , an d tra n smitted a c opy of the circular se n t to all the T u rkish ambassadors abroad c oncerni n g the

o Tunisian questi n . n N O TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT .

NSTANTIN PLE Ma d . CO O , y 3

My several circular despatches will have i n formed y ou Of th e prese n t state o f affairs at Tu n is an d the stan dpo i n t we

n n o n m o have ever take up respecti g the questi . A ere l cal

n — n m o of o o o n accide t a ely , a f ray s me barbar us tribes

n o o o n n Algeria territ ry , which , fr m the utset, the Tu isia s

r n to n — o to had expressed thei readi ess pu ish has , h wever , o u r to an on of n o o to great surprise , led expediti Fre ch tr ps

Algeria . It appears from the latest i n fo rmati on received

o n n oo n n fr m the Pacha Of Tu is , that Fre ch tr ps are adva ci g

n o t he n o o f o n n on i t i teri r the c u try , after seizi g several

o o on n n s o n f rtiﬁed p siti s . His High ess thi ks that o imp rta t a m o n an d so ou r o ilitary m veme t, rapid a march thr gh his p v n in o f on of n to i ce , spite the declarati s Fra ce the effect that sh e n ot an o f on to n o is actuated by y idea c quest , seems de te on e of tw o n o on an d o ~ Objects , either the taki g p ssessi ccupa

on or . p o o of n I n n s ti , a r tect rate Tu isia . the prese ce Of uch a

n of n o on e can o oo state Of thi gs, the gravity which verl k , His Highn ess an d the p opulati on imperatively call up on u s to

o o n o on on exercise th se s vereig rights which , with ut c test, bel g to o in o to o to r and o the P rte , rder c me thei aid , pr tect a

n f o n Em provi n ce which forms an i tegral part o the Ott ma pire .

R n on ou r an d n n n n of elyi g rights, e tertai i g a deep se se the duties that dev olve up on us regardin g a p opulation which is

to S n o o t o n o subject the ulta , we lately pr p sed the sig at ry Powers o f the Treaty of B erli n to c ome to an u n derstan din g or n c to n o t with them , directly with Fra e , bri g ab ut a se tle me n t calculated to give satisfacti on to the grieva n ces o f the

n R . n n n Fre ch epublic That appeal has remai ed u a swered , and n to n o n we are drive i quire whether the P wers , departi g

om n o f and n to n fr their se se equity justice , mea retai their

in for o nn o passive attitude that respect . As urselves , we ca t regard with i n differen ce the eve n ts taki ng place in a p orti on ’ o f ou r o n on an d nn ot ionin master s d mi i s, we ca help quest g

2 9 4 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT .

Th B e o e Tunis to Lord G r anville London. y f ,

I n ow c on ﬁrm my telegraphic despatch to y our Excellen cy in 2 th o f in n o ou of in date the s April , which I i f rmed y the v asio n R n o o o f n R Of this ege cy by the tr ps the Fre ch epublic , u n der circumsta n ces which I submit are c on trary to the law o f n on an d n o o n o ati s , agai st which I have m st s lem ly pr tested in m o w n n a n d in of m o n y ame that y august s vereig . The G over n me n t Of the Republic has assured alike the cabi n ets of Eur ope an d myself that its i nte n ti on s are exclusively to n for o o w pu ish the Khamir tribes s me predat ry acts , hich , it

d o On n on I n is allege , were c mmitted the Algeria fr tier .

o f on of h as n spite these explicit declarati s , my city Kef bee occupied , the Fre n ch tr00ps are n ow marchi n g o n B eja ; my forts at Tabarca have bee n destroyed an d the Site occupied 3 o the Khamfr s n an d ther tribes besides have bee attacked , a

n on n ow o B o Fre ch garris h lds my city Of izerta, ver the

of n n w o citadel which the Fre ch ﬂag o ﬂ oats . What ther measures are c on templated c on cern i n g this c ou n try I k n ow n on o n n n on ot. I call the f reig represe tatives at Tu is ce o to n o to of o t t o m re bear wit ess , b th the success my eff r s give satisfacti on to the G overnme n t o f the Republic in the

of K hamirs w ho to m matter the , all submitted readily y

o an d to f n o n n auth rity , the e ﬁcie t rder I have mai tai ed till i t this day thr ou gh out my d omin i on s . It s imp ossible o fore s ee what disaster may befall the i n habitan ts o f this c ou n try

n n n n U n n o o . if this i vasi is c ti ued der these circumsta ces , I leave u n reservedly my ow n fate an d the destiny o f this state t o on of o an d m n im the decisi the Great P wers y suzerai , pl or in g th ose a n cie n t allies with wh om I have mai n tain ed u n broken faith to ad opt such measures of mediati on as m ay stay the sc ourge Of war which has visited the peaceful

n n of om n on an d on on i habita ts my d i i s , equitable adjudicati an y c omplai n ts which the Govern me n t of the Republic may

n n n e tertai agai st my g overn men t or myself. ’ T W 2 H E THREE WEEKS AR . 95

o n n 6 n t Next m r i g (May th) , the Bey lear ed tha several tribes were preparin g to set his wan in g

f Med n o n . o auth rity at deﬁa ce The Caids jer , Share ,

u B ou n an d O led Gha em , Ouled Ayar, arrived at

o an d for an n t o the Bard , asked audie ce tell their

on of Sheikhias tale . They said that the defeat the on the 3 o th April their survivin g chiefs wr ote letters in blood (purp orti n g to be that of their slai n

o n an d n n for t o w me childre ) , aski g them help resist

n an d n on the Fre ch , ave ge their wr gs . It was at

to o ﬁrst agreed place their request bef re the Bey , but un luckily they captured a messe n ger w h o was brin gin g an Ofﬁcial letter from Tun is to Sy Ali Bey .

To o n h h their dismay they f u d t at this despatc , far

o o n ou t an n ou n to n fr m h ldi g y e c rageme t resista ce ,

him to o n o directed retreat bef re the Fre ch f rces , and main tain a strict n eutrality . As s oon as this

n o n n of n was k w , the a ger the Arabs was e tirely

n o directed agai st the Bey , wh m they accused Of

n o betray i g his c u n try to the Fren ch . The Caids t ook refuge from the gen eral in dign ati on 111 a n eigh b ou r in z a ou ia ' b u t g , it was at last agreed that they sh ould be allowed t o g o t o Tu n is to see the Bey in

on of person . Mu ham ed es Sadek met this deputati the u n tutored l ords of the in teri or in the hall of

in for of n j ustice , which nearly a quarter a ce tury he had alm ost person iﬁed absol ute p ower . The 2 6 9 TUNIS PA ST AND PRESENT .

n o an d d his n chiefs be t bef re him kisse ha d as usual , b u t it was evide n t to everyb ody that they were n ot

on n - n t c vi ced by his half hearted assura ces . At las he promised to give them a letter u nder his Sign

an w d u m ual , hich , he sai , must satisfy all his faithf l

u u n n o of s bj ects . I s bseque tly Obtai ed a c py the ’ l a on oo o of . Bey s dec rati , which t k the f rm a circular Its text w as as follows

T0 all the a d an n C i s d G over nors of the Regency of Tu is.

T “ e have previ ously ordered that ou r rec omme n dati on s t o preserve order in y our districts be br ought to y our k n ow

n u to ledge . We have lear ed that y o have d on e y our best

o u t ou r an d ur n carry wishes we express o satisfacti o .

o o to ou r car s n n It has , h wever, c me that the e tra ce Of the Fren ch tr oops up on our territ ory for the affair of the

h m d n n K a ir s o n t o . , has pr uced exciteme am gst certai tribes

o n o on of ou r o We have pr tested agai st the vi lati territ ry , which has bee n perpetrated With out there bei n g any reas on for h ostility between us an d the G overn me n t of the Fre n ch

R or an on I n an epublic y declarati Of war . y case, this matter

n di lomaticall and aci call To en d will be arra ged p y p ﬁ y. this w e n ow n in on w o n are e gaged , c cert ith the Imperial Ott ma

o n n an d of o n o . G ver me t, with the aid ther frie dly P wers

I n on n of n to c seque ce , it is the duty each i dividual pre

o to ow of o o on serve rder everywhere , all a fav urable s luti

n o on an d o n bei g arrived at with m derati with ut disturba ce . o n ou n ot to n on o o in o to We rec mme d y aba d y ur p sts , rder preve n t by y our prese n ce the pe ople u n der y our rule from

o n n Y ou n o n d i g a y act c on trary to ou r desire . will e j i this

o of on on in o u n nn an d c urse c duct up them the m st rge t ma er, y ou will deter them from listening to interested pe ople w ho

2 8 N D 9 TUNIS PAST A PRESENT .

I n the i nterval stron g rein forcemen ts disembarked

an d 8 tw o at Bizerta , by the th May the brigades o f Generals Mau ran d an d B r é ar t were prepared to

n n to o to march . O that day I happe ed g early the

— - n on Kasr es S aid Palace . The exciteme t felt am gst

n o n its i mates had , if p ssible , i creased since my last

oon l n B acou ch visit . S after my arriva G e eral

n oo an ﬁ on e tered the little sal n , used as Of ce the

- o n ﬂ oor h an o t in n . gr u d , Wit pen le ter his ha d A

o n n o to m u ted messe ger had br ught it the Bey , after a ride of ﬁfty miles through the t orren tial rains of

d n i the prece i g night . The missive n question was from the Khalifa or su b - governor of the rich district of I n tw o n n n o Mater. se te ces the Bey was i f rmed

on e d B en an n n o that Hme Yusef, Algeria e v y, had

om an d n arrived at Mater fr Bizerta , had i vited the tribes of the provi n ce to Sign a declaration in

n o d n an d which they ack wle ged the Fre ch supremacy,

to F oo o agreed receive the rench tr ps as br thers . The Khalifa rep orted that the Mater tribes were

’ o n G n B acou ch s already sh wi g their teeth . At e eral request I proceeded to draft the foll owin g protest

Ro s an e of to . u t o M , alth ugh the absenc a table presented a formidable difﬁculty

h t a t . The B ey of Tunis to M. Rous an (M y 8 )

’ Rou stan h ar e d Aff ir es f n ni — M. C a o , g Fra ce , Tu s , The Caid of Mater has informed u s that an emissary se nt by the ’ 2 TH E THREE WEEKS W AR . 99

C omman der of the Fre n ch troops n ow at B izerta has asked

of B a aou a nh n o f M him whether the tribe j , the i abita ts ater , as well as the m o un tai n tribes of M ogo d an d H ez els an d

o n to n o o an d thers , were willi g receive the Fre ch tr ps , has i n sisted on obtai n i n g an an swer to this deman d before midday

t o- n n n day . This i tellige ce has caused us as much pai as

Y ou surprise . have assured us repeatedly that the expedi ti on agai n st which we have protested had n o other sc ope on the part o f the Fren ch Republic than the settleme n t of the

on To- o o t o o o Khamir fr tier . day it is pr p sed ccupy the m st

o n of R n E n n imp rta t parts the ege cy . ve admitti g that we had c on se n ted to the e n try Of the Fre n ch troops to pu n ish the

Khamir s an d w e n ot o n o on , that had pr tested agai st this vi lati

of n n o n o on n ot the Tu isia territ ry , as we have u if rmly d e , it is the less a fact that the prop o sed occupati on has n o relati on t o o n an d u n o to the Khamir c u try , that we are able with f rce

o o n N resist the pr jected m veme ts . evertheless , we have issued i n structi on s to the Caid Of Mater to preve n t an y

n to n o in o n con resista ce the Fre ch tr o ps this pr vi ce . We ﬁrm o ur former declaration an d on ce m ore call y our atte n ti on

n n o to the dan gers atte n di n g this i n creasi g i vasi n . At the

n ou r o on in ou r n an d in same time , we re ew pr testati , ame

S o n o on of r o that Of the ublime P rte , agai st the ccupati the p

f M n to law n on vi n ce o ater as c o trary the Of ati s .

o n ﬁn d Bef re this busi ess was ishe , the Prime

Min ister en tered the room . He seemed m uch

an d o w n . agitated , Sp ke ith u usual rapidity He

- said that M . Sain t Hilaire had assured Lord G ran ville the Fren ch mean t to pun ish the Khamir s an d

o n o o o o on of n thi g m re , but the pr p sed ccupati Mater Showed him that these assuran ces had deceived alike

the B ritish G overn ment and the Bey . He said 00 AN D 3 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

What has the provi n ce of Mater to do with the Kh amtrs ? n ow in S h as n t o con I see clearly , pite Of all that bee said the trar n n to y , the Fre ch are determi ed pick a quarrel with us a nd for on M o n e o f ou r create a pretext further acti . ater is

o n an d o n n o an richest pr vi ces , its m u tai tribes are p werful d

o o f th e s me them warlike . If y resist whe n they see their ’ o o an d a ouar s n w h o can cr ps destr yed bur ed , tell what accusa ti on will be br ought agai n st us ? Where is the Fre n ch pr o

to o n - n gramme st p ? While M . Sai t Hilaire is givi g paciﬁc n L on on and Ro an d S n n to assura ces at d me , the ulta is tryi g

n E o in ou r n to i terest ur pe fate , we are bei g subjected threats ” an d n in Khamfrs n ot n n on me aces which the are eve me ti ed .

He c on tinued

“ ’ D r M B . o n o Yesterday , ascar , the ey s physicia , t ld his High n ess that great evils w ould befall h im an d ou r c ou n try if

t n did n o o M . Rou stan n n he at ce ask what the Fre ch wa ted , but the B ey told him to atte n d to his phys ic an d leave D M o on . r o o t p litics al e . ascar , h wever, asked me priva ely if

B e n to o n an d to the y was waiti g have his palace surr u ded, I have my han ds man acled ( cr ossi n g his wrists) before we ’ M Ro n to n r o accepted . usta s terms . I asked him bri g his p in n o on . o n ? p siti s writi g , but he refused What d es it all mea En n n o on e o ou n ow gla d has bee t ld st ry, but y must let her k n o what is bei g asked fr m us here .

While Mustapha B en Ismael w as yet Speakin g it ’ n ou n was an n ou ced that M . R sta s carriage had

of an d o oo arrived at the gates the garden , terr r t k ” n I n the place Of exciteme t . a few minutes, said “ n n o ou r . the Mi ister, we Shall k w fate Wait and ” d ou . an y Shall hear it He hastily retired , entered

AN D 3 0 2 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

had n o ally Of Tunis , and quarrel whatever with the

o ? Bey . What d es it all mean I S it p ossible that Fran ce is b ou nd by the pr emises which L ord Gran

’

an d o n n o n an d . o ville M . Cair li a u ce , that M R ustan s frie n ds are tryi n g to i n duce us to seek ourselves conditi on s which the Bey regards as opposed alike ? to his religious an d m oral duties We b oth wan t Europe t o k n o w what is passi n g u n der the cl oak Of

n h so s e . this Khamir busi ess, that may duly weigh M

’ n - n o Sai t Hilaire s assura ces bef re we are destroyed . The tw o c olumn s n ow left Bizerta almost simul

n n t an eou sly . That u der Ge eral Mau r an d took the

on of o o n the o directi Mater, f ll wi g Sh re Of the

n B r é ar t o Bizerta lake , while Ge eral marched t wards

n . n n o Tu is The rai fell i cessantly, and the s ldiers

n - were Often early knee deep in mud . This circum

n o on sta ce necessarily ccasi ed great delay . Halts

n an d n ot were freque tly called , Jedeida was reached till the r o th May . The march was excepti on ally

n an d o é é c on fatigui g , the S ci t Marseillaise were siderate en ough to en tertain the superior Ofﬁcers

n on oo n at a substa tial breakfast , the tr ps passi g through the hist orical domai n Of Sidi Tabet “ The news of the arrival of the allies in the

n n immediate vici ity Of the capital , exti guished the fain t h opes of foreign mediation in the hearts Of

’ n Mu ha the Tu n isians . I we t to stap s palace in the

0 P 3 4 TUNIS PAST AND RESENT .

n n ou can do an be the last ki d ess y us ; at y rate , y ou will testify that I did my best to save T u n is ”

o n . n on o fr m Fra ce " The i defatigable M . C ti at nce set to o the n t an o w rk , and Italia packet lef h ur

on o late with the messages b ard .

The o uni to L r d l B e T s o G r anvi le London. y f ,

The advan ce of the Fre n ch troops in this Rege n cy con

n n o in n our su b ti es . Hithert we have succeeded reassuri g j ects by reiterated declarati on s that the Fre n ch Operat i on s

o on n to n n of K hami rs w uld be strictly c ﬁ ed the pu ishme t the . IVe believed that the assuran ces give n to the Powers an d to

r n u r o n N o n n o u suzerai justiﬁed o so d i g . twithsta di g these

o on n od n n n pr testati s , the Fre ch camp is t ay withi seve tee

ou r an d n m n o miles Of capital , duri g their arch the Fre ch f rces

n n n n approached it eve n earer . These u de iable facts te d materially to lesse n th e effect o f the i nju n cti on s we have

n our an d n to ou r ow n on give subjects, have eve led c duct

n o n ed on in ou r ow n o n on bei g very seri usly a imadvert d mi i s. We have red oubled our efforts to persuade o ur subj ects to off n o n to n on ou r o er resista ce this i vasi , but task bec mes m ore difﬁcult as a disregard of the assuran ces give n becomes

n o or to h ow on m ore appare t . Is it p ssible f us tell l g we may ' to n n o on u noﬂ en din w h o be able mai tai rder am g the g tribes , see n an d o their dwelli gs, herds , cr ps sacriﬁced by the march of n oo ? I n n an d in w the Fre ch tr ps these circumsta ces , vie o f n of o B the extreme urge cy the case, we impl re the ritish

o n n as o n n of o G ver me t, as well the G ver me ts the ther Great

o to n the P wers , take such measures as may at least i duce G o vernme n t o f the Republic t o declare its i n te n ti on s in respect to o ur Rege n cy an d make kn own the c omplai n ts which

n u s it may c on sider itself justiﬁed to prefer agai st . MUHAMED E AD E s S K . ’ W AR TH E THREE WEEKS . 3 0 5

o on n Bef re this telegram reached L d o all was over. The n 1ght of the 1 1 th May was spe n t in a n xious

n f d watchfuln ess by the i mates o Kasr es Sai . A

’ o n of sat for o c u cil state h urs , the Bey s carriages bei n g kept in readi n ess till its sessi on was en ded . It was ﬁrst prop osed that Mu ham ed es Sadek Sh ould follow the example of man y of his an cestors an d

ﬁn d n a temp orary refu ge in H oly Kairwa . The

o had n o o n or Bey , h wever, either the m ral c urage

h si ue n for o the p y q ecessary such a b ld step as this , an d o B n the pr j ect was dismissed . Mustapha e Ismael urged his s overeign to g o that very night t o - el - or in n an d o the Dar Bey city palace Tu is, cl se

o n v n t o n to all the t w gates , lea i g it the Fre ch have

o to n o o n rec urse actual Viole ce . The m re timid c u s ellor s o o n t o u pp sed the pla as likely cause a t mult , an d w as o n on n it als aba d ed . It was ﬁ ally decided that the Bey must remai n where he was and trust to kismet for o on u a s luti Of his difﬁc lties . On the even tful even in g in questi on I paid a visit to

o Sheikh- cl— I sla m or Hammida Ben Kh j a , the

o in n w ho supreme ecclesiastical auth rity Tu is , lived in S the very cen tre of the Arab city . y Hammida was at the same time on e of the ha n ds omest an d

m en n to fattest Old I ever saw, i deed he appeared have arrived at such a pitch of r otu n dity that he

n to n o o n was u able sta d with ut verbalanci g himself.

V OL. 1 . U P A N D TUNIS AST PRESE N T .

I n a h u ge turba n c o n sisti ng of a twisted Cashmere

on n a nd o n shawl , seated a Kairwa carpet, surr u ded by illumi n ated K oran s on arabesque lecter n s an d a

of - o u lema or S circle white r bed disciples , y Hammida B en Kh oj a prese n ted j u st such a picture as H odgson t A o o n . s S w uld delight pai t might be expected , y Hammida w as full of the woes of his c ou n try an d his a n d o n o to faith , at ce pr ceeded discuss the

ucestio vecca ta in g classic Arabic . He said that

n o n son o a n d si ce the tr ubles bega , his , br thers ,

d s o o an d himself had preache as idu usly , b th publicly

n o n n on - n an d privately , patie ce , f rbeara ce, resista ce, implicit Obedien ce t o the Bey in the mosques Of ff Tu n is . They had written letters to the same e ect t o their sub ordi n ates at Kairwan an d through out

n . he the Rege cy Nevertheless, had heard that it h ad bee n an n ou n ced in Europe that a religious war

e n o an d o on con had b e adv cated , that a rev luti ary spir acy had bee n discovered in the chief m osque of

n . w s o o Tu is This a abs lutely false . He had t ld

o n o n ot t the pe ple that they, bei g weak , c uld resis the i n vaders . If they wa n ted the sympathy Of

n E u rope they must gai n it by forbearan ce . Eve if t o an d w o heir ﬂ cks herds , which ere the s le wealth of u n o n the T isians , were destr yed , this patie ce w ould u ltim ately en title them t o the good Ofﬁces Of the frien dly nations when the i nj ustice Of the

C H A P T E R X X I .

A T - E - KASR S SAID .

MUH AMED ES of n tw o o SADEK , Bey Tu is , has br thers , w ho o n to o on , acc rdi g the l cal law Of successi , are o ne o t o on after the ther the rightful heirs the thr e .

d o n in 1 8 1 an d Mu hamed Ali the el er was b r 7 , Taib,

he o n o a o t . in y u ger, f ur years l ter They b th live

o- on e an stucc fr ted palaces at the Marsa, rec ive ample i n c ome from the State Treasury as prin ces of the

oo u o n n of o bl d , are s rr u ded by a little ba d c urtiers an d n an d on o on in dependa ts , appear public ccasi s

o of i on o on all the gl ry the r diam d dec rati s . Ali is

w an d oo an d o an d shre d rich , Taib is p r credul us, b oth of them in wardly hate the Frenc h with their

o - n n t to wh le heart . The heir appare t is e ti led a viz ier of ow n an d in on S his , the pers Of y Tahar Z ouch he enj oyed the services of on e Of the cleverest

en in n o an d m ost capable m the Rege cy . B th Ali an d Taib had phy sician s - extra ordin ary attached to on an d n their pers s , I have already explai ed the in ﬂ u en ce which these functi on aries are able to T A - E — 0 A K SR S SAID . 3 9

o nn of Mu ham ed acquire . The stubb r ess es Sadek

on n n o o o c cer i g the Pr tect rate , had , at a c mparatively

o f n 1 1 n on i n . early stage the Tu s a questi , duced M Rou stan to see what terms could be made elsewhere

n e in in case of ecessity . Overtur s were the ﬁrst i n stan ce made t o Ali Bey through Sy Tah ar

o n on e n or o ou d n Z uch , but either the ther w l e ter

n o o Rou stan n for et or tai the pr p sals , and M . ever g

S w as m an forgave the rebuff. y Taib a happy

on n o his o n - an d am gst his gree h uses , ra ge trees , his

Rou stan ou t t o early lettuces , till M . held him th e

f a n n ro o o n . I n his p spect a cr w medical tte da t M .

u . Rou stan o n ou an d B rguet , M f u d a zeal s ally, Taib was s oon persuaded that the thron e over shad owed by the Protectorate was better than

n o n at I n o n on n d thi g all . a weak m me t he c se te to supplan t his br other in the best in terests of the

on on an d n o missi Of civilisati , a Fre ch passp rt was

n to for o on on for give him the pr tecti Of his pers ,

Rou stan . o which , M says , he pr cured Burguet a

’ n of n oo Taib s of prese t fra cs . P r dream

o o d n p wer was s mewhat disturbe , whe Madame

an d o on n Musalli her br ther appeared the sce e ,

n n o of Rou s tan bri gi g a framed p rtrait M . as a

n of an d for n guara tee fair play , asked his sig ature t o on for o n to a b d a large am u t, place his speedy elevation to the thron e beyon d the p ossibility Of 1 0 A N D 3 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

o . On 1 3 th a w as a d ubt the May , T ib Bey ready t o c om e to the Bard o u n der a Fre n ch escort an d accept everythin g that c ould be dema n ded o f him w n o n u n ithi an h ur Of his proclamatio . D ri g the w o of a t n n oon sat in h le th eve tful after , Taib Bey a o o oo n for gilt c ach bef re his palace d r , waiti g the detachmen t Of troops which was to c on d u c t him t o n ew n an d his frien ds . Darkness came o they n An o o n o n o ever arrived . h ur after a sh rt te i f rmed D octor Burguet that Taib Bey w as n o l on ger

n Rou s an n n in . t wa ted M . was e tirely mistake his m an on hot - o o n o ; Taib am gst his h uses , ra ge gr ves , an d n u vegetables was a very harmless i divid al ,

' b u t a idee xe n n T ib Bey , with the ﬁ Of asce di g the

H assanite on a n d n n ow thr e , smarti g u der the bl Of

o n o n m n a wh lly u expected disapp i t e t , became a

o n o of formidable en emy . From that m me t s me the bitterest Opp on en ts of the Min ister Reside n t

t o o n ow n an d were be f und withi his camp , the result has been disastrous to b oth parties . M .

Rou stan o u n an d oo has l st his satrapy at T is , p r

o— Taib Bey , it is true is at the Bard but half

in walled up a prison .

I n o n n of 1 2 th oo the early m r i g the May , the tr ps of n B r é ar t o o o of Ge eral , f ll wed by th se General

7“ f M m n Taib w as at len gth released through the mediati on o . Ca bo on th the 2 0 April 1 882 .

1 2 D 3 TUNIS PAST AN PRESENT .

ﬁrst ﬁxed for 11 0011 an d then p ostpon ed till four

’ n o o w o o cl ock . Mea while the utp sts ere j udici usly p u shed up to withi n 2 00 yards Of the garde n behi n d

- es - d an d n non so n Kasr Sai , the ca s were arra ged as t o be plai n ly visible from the upper wind ows . At

’ three o cl ock a l on g cipher telegram arrived from

n n n o o o Co sta ti ple . It c mmenced with these w rds On n o accou n t Sign an y c on ve nti on with Fran ce

f i ou r e er ing to a prop osed pr otectorate . Say that y

to o will submit the matter us . The P rte is actively n egotiatin g a satisfactory arran gemen t comprisin g

o the evacuation Of y our territory . Alth ugh it is

n n o o u ecessary, we shall send a special c mmissi ner ” f n t o Tun is with t w o ships o war . After readi g it the Bey swore that n o p ower on earth c ou ld

n n o n i n duce him to dis obey the i j u cti n Of the Sulta .

id n t Rou stan n o m n 1 m e e . w A few i utes after th s M ,

o n . acc mpa ied by Elias Musalli , reached the palace

oo o n n B r é ar t w h o At the d r he was j i ed by Ge eral , rode in the rain from the Man ouba camp aecom pan ied by ab out twen ty Ofﬁcers Of his staff and an

f o n of escort o cavalry . The wh le party (excepti g c ourse the esc ort) immediately w en t upstairs into the v ery r oom in which I had seen the Bey a fort

G n an d u n ight before . The e eral his s ite were fully

o n armed , and the usual c mplime ts were entirely

n dispe sed with . Besides the Bey , the Prime — - 1 AT KASR E S SAID . 3 3

n d n Rou stan . on an Mi ister, M . , M C ti , Ge eral

n d t of Musalli were alon e prese t . The raf the

n o treaty was already prepared , and had bee c pied

n n l r i n that m orn in g in the Fre ch Cha ce le e at Tu is . Gen eral B r é ar t t ook the paper from his p ocket an d

o o n an placed it before the Bey . The f ll wi g is exact tran slati on

Dra t Tr eat f y.

The Gover n me n t Of the Fre n ch Republic an d that Of His

n B e of n n to n for High ess the y Tu is , wishi g preve t ever the re n ewal of the disturban ces which have rece n tly o ccurred on

on of tw o and on the coast of R n the fr tiers the states the ege cy , an d bei n g desirous Of drawi n g cl oser their an cie n t relati on s o f

n an d oo n o o o n to con frie dship g d eighb urh d , have determi ed

on n on to f in n of tw o elude a C ve ti this e fect , the i terest the

High C on tracti n g Parties . I n c on seque n ce the Preside n t of the Fre n ch Republic h as

n o n M le n B r ar n . é t w h o amed as his Ple ip te tiary Ge eral , has agreed with His High n ess the B ey u p on the foll ow i n g stipulati o n s

ARTICLE I .

of n an d o an d The Treaties peace , frie dship , c mmerce , all other c on ve n ti on s actually existi n g between the Fre n ch

R an d n B e of n epublic His High ess the y Tu is , are expressly c on ﬁrmed an d re n ewed .

T E AR ICL II .

With a V iew of facilitati n g the acc omplishmen t by the Fren ch Republic of the measures which it will have to take in order to attain the en d prep osed by the High C on tracti n g 3 I 4 TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT.

n the B e o f n on n Parties , His High ess y Tu is c se ts that the Fre n ch military auth orities Sh ould occupy the p oi n ts which they may dee m n ecessary to e n sure the r e -estab h shmcn t of order and the security Of the fron tiers an d of the c oast . This occupati on shall cease whe n the Fren ch an d Tun isia n military auth orities shall have recogn ised by c omm on c on se n t that the l ocal admi n istrati on is capable Of guaran teei ng the

n n n o f o mai te a ce rder .

ARTICLE III .

The G overn men t of the Fre n ch Republic u n dertakes to give c on stan t supp ort to His High n ess the B ey of Tu n is agai n st any dan ger which may m e n ace the pers on or dy n asty o f n or o o n i o f His High ess, which may c mpr mise the tra quill ty his states .

ARTICLE IV .

The G overn men t of the Fre n ch Republic guaran tees the executi on of the Treaties at presen t existi ng betwee n the G o vern me n t Of the Regen cy and the differe n t European o P wers .

RT E V A ICL .

The G overn me n t of the Fre n ch Republic shall be r epr e se n ted n ear H is High n ess the B ey of Tu n is by a Mi n ister

R n w h o o on of n eside t, will watch ver the executi the prese t

n n an d w ho o f o n on i strume t , will be the medium c mmu icati betwee n the Fre n ch G overn me n t an d the Tu n isian auth orities for ff o on to tw o n all a airs c mm the o c u tries .

RT V I A ICLE .

The dipl omatic an d c on sular age n ts of Fran ce in foreign coun tries will be charged with the protection of Tu n isia n

n an d of n on of R n . In n i terests the ati als the ege cy retur ,

1 6 AN D 3 T UNIS PAST PRESENT .

The Bey for some mi n utes even declin ed to l ook

an d at the paper , repeated several times that he did n ot u n derstan d Fren ch . At last it w as han ded

t o . on w ho n n n n l on n o M C ti , made a ru i g tra s ati i t

Arabic . The foll owi n g dial ogue then e n sued throu gh the i n terpreter B ey — Will y ou give me a written tran slati on in Arabic 7

’ ‘ — G ener a lB r a r t. ou e What y have heard is e nough . “ B ey — At any rate y ou will grant me t w e n ty four h ours for c on sideration 7 “ ' — ner a l B r ea r t. n n G e Certai ly ot. I expect an

’ n o o o on n a swer bef re eight cl ck t ight , and Shall remai

n here till I get o e. B ey — May I lay the treaty before my C ou n cil

’ r a r ~ — G en er a l B e t. DO as y ou like between this ’ ” an d eight O cl ock .

an d su ite oo The G eneral his left the r m . M . Rou stan turned to the Bey an d said that all he had “ him n ow d d o . o t ld was veriﬁe He a ded , Y ur

n o n to do to n an d ou High ess has n thi g but sig , if y

to do so it o n ot for is n o decline d es matter, there a ther w h oo n o will . Musalli t k the mi ister aside and whispered to him that his further resistan ce w ould “ be pun ished as high treas on . When y ou were ” “ in n ou n last Fra ce, he said , y became a Fre ch

ou o to citizen, y are theref re amenable the French - - 1 AT KASR E s SAID . 3 7

o an d n n to- n military c de , u less the Bey Sig s ight ” - r ia l nd . y ou will be tr ied by cour t m a t a shot. M

an d n n o n n B r Rou stan his frie d the j i ed Ge eral é ar t . All that had happen ed was already k n own to the

n n o frighten ed c oun cill ors . O e after a ther they v oted for accepting the treaty the presiden t of the mu n i c ipality alon e t old the Bey that his death was of n o on n o c seque ce c mpared with such a disgrace , an d impl ored him to h old ou t at all c osts . The

’ n n n n Mu salli s Prime Mi ister, u der the i ﬂue ce Of

o n on w o o o . c mmu icati , Sided ith the tim r us maj rity

v n n o w an d on E e the Bey hesitated , his decisi wavered i n n o n the bala ce . The chief eu uch appr ached him

of n with a message . The ladies the harem had see the cann on an d the s oldiers from behi n d the lattice

o of n o a n d o to si n w rk their wi d ws , impl red him g ” a n d sa ve their lives . Five mi n utes later he sent

Rou stan th n to n o . e i f rm M that he accepted i evitable . For the ﬁrst time in his life he afﬁxed in trembli n g characters the words Mu ham ed es Sadek Bey to a

n in n n d ocum en t writte a Europea la guage . Turn in g “ t o n N ow an ou n the Ge eral , he said , at y rate y eed ” n ot o to n n n n g Tu is High ess , a swered Ge eral “ B r é ar t on o n o m m ow n , I ly receive c mma ds fr y ” o an d n n on oo superi rs , tur i g his heel , quitted the r m . AS s oon as he was al on e the Bey c ould n o l on ger

on o n to w c tr l his feeli gs , and gave way the ildest 1 8 P AN D 3 TUNI S AST PRESENT .

Il e o n to . on e despair res lved even the , make m ore appeal to the suzerai n Wh ose allegian ce he

an o o off for o had h ur bef re cast ever . He rdered

M . Conti to prepare a telegram explai ni n g what had o ccurred an d se n d it to C on stan tin ople v ia Sicily by the Palerm o mail on the n ext day . The message w as accordin gly despatched

B e o Tu nis to Gr and Viz ie y f r.

n o of n n o n The Fre ch f rces, which I had a u ced the arrival at

o on n n n o f Jedeida , appr ached Thursday eve i g the ce tral seat

au thor 1t an d o n o n my y , their c mma der, acc mpa ied by a

n to n an d o o to detachme t Of cavalry , came my reside ce , pr p sed

t o S n o f o n me ig a treaty peace imp sed by Fra ce . He gave

o o to on an d o n ot me f ur h urs c sider, declared that he w uld

an n S n withdraw till he had received a swer . eei g myself

n an n n o u der the pressure Of army ear the ce tre Of my auth rity , I was ob hg ed to Sign the treaty with out havi n g exami n ed or in o to on o an d oo discussed it, rder save my h ur avert bl dshed . I n o tiﬁed at the same time to the c omman der that I acted on u n der pressure an d c ompulsi .

On the foll owin g m orn i n g the Bey inaugurated the n ew ré gime by in vestin g General B r é ar t with the grand c ord on of the Nichan . The sulle n dis

on Of o n o o n ot n satisfacti the t w spe ple c uld be mistake , an d n B r é ar t o while Ge eral was still at the Bard , a deputation came there to ask for s ome authen tic i n formati on as to what had really been don e .

l I S Mustapha an d General Musa li received it.

CHAPTER XXII .

H TH E EARLY DAYS OF T E PROTECTORATE .

M Y n ext three chapters treat of c on temporan e ou s even ts which happe n ed within a sh ort time of the c on clusi on of the Kasr — eS— Said Treaty in differen t

n Ro sta f . u parts o the Rege cy While M . n was e ndeavouri n g to turn his n ew p ositi on t o the best

n adva tage , the Bey , as might be expected , spared n o effort to c on ceal the nakedn ess Of the lan d from

In his o . n utraged subj ects the ﬁrst place , a Tu i ’ sian versi on Of G e n eral B r é ar t s i n terviews with Mu ham ed es Sadek duly appeared in the G o v ern men t Gazette This extraordinary d ocumen t con tr asts stran gely with the patri otic utterances of three days b efore .

N T E O IC .

t Pr aise be o G od.

The Ra d (Gazette) i n fo rms the public that yesterday (Saturday) His High n ess the B ey had a satisfactory i n tervie w

n B r é ar t o n -in - of with Ge eral , the C mma der Chief the Fre n ch TH E OF TH E EARLY DAYS PROTECTORATE .

n to in n o o o o f army which happe s be the eighb urh d the capital .

’ This meeti n g t ook place in the prese n ce Of the Ch ar ged Affair es

an on - n n o n n n d C sul Ge eral Of the be ev le t Fre ch Gover me n t . Its object was s olely to pro ve the frie n dly relati on s which n n exist between the tw o c ou tries . His High ess suggested t o the Ge n eral the prude n ce o f abstain i ng from a visit to the

o o on o n of n o metr p lis , acc u t the exciteme t it might pr duce ,

n to o a d also requested him g away with all his troops . The

n to n an d n Ge eral acceded the dema d , assured His High ess that he an d his s oldiers w ould depart by the same route as

in o to n n and they had arrived by , rder reassure the i habita ts

n secure public tra quillity .

n to to n We haste give publicity this ews .

’ UN IS 1 th D oumada et Tha ni 1 2 8 1 th Jlf a T , 7 j 9 ( 5 y

Un fortun ately for the Bey the Rai d w as p ower d less t o deceive any b o y .

n n ow o n Tu is assumed , as far as the Eur pea

on n n of n on quarters were c cer ed , an appeara ce u w ted

o of n o on n gaiety . A sc re ewspaper c rresp de ts at

o n o to least arrived fr m the i teri r, seek a respite from the Ofﬁcial gag an d the hardships of camp

in on an d life ; Ofﬁcers mufti thr ged the streets ,

n n o on o o o f the lege dary Fre ch c l y , with its c h rt

o n to do Israelites , M zabites, and Algeria s , prepared

Ro s tan n . M . u h on our to the c o quer ors . did n ot permit the Rai d al on e to enj oy the prerogative Of

ink d i ssui n g n otiﬁcations . The was har ly dry on the treaty before the followin g circular w as com p osed V OL . I . 3 TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT .

NOTICE .

on o to n o ou G n B r é ar t I have the h ur i f rm y that e eral , Ple n ip ote ntiary of the G overn me n t of the Republic an d

o n -in - o f n oo to C mma der chief the Fre ch tr ps , will be happy receive the n ati on on S u n day the i sth May at half- past ten

’ n TH 'I‘ o S ROUS AN . O cl ck . ( ig ed) .

What took place on that even tful occasion cannot be better described than in the w ords Of the tele

n t o S ta n da r d Mrs . o gram se t the by Tayl r , the w itty an d talen ted corresp on den t of that paper

n B r é ar t an d Mau r an d n o M n o Ge erals came by trai fr m a uba . They proceeded on foot fro m the stati on to the Fre n ch i on o n n o . C sulate , esc rted by Tu isia s ld ers

M R ou stan i in n o of his n ew n . rece ved them the u if rm ra k ,

h ad in n i on of on which he already prepared , a tic pati his elevati

n M n as Fre ch i ister.

M V al en si W h o t s o n of on o . f , ac ed as p kesma the deputati

n n n in o t Fre ch i habita ts , said the c urse Of his address hat h e did n ot k n ow whether m ost to admire the val our of

n oo n n or e the Fre ch tr ps duri g the campaig , the admirabl

o of n M n h n dipl macy the Fre ch i ister, by whic the prese t

n o situati on had bee br ought ab ut .

o on n of Tem s n in the n of The c rresp de t the p , speaki g ame

on an d o n the Press , regretted that , after the privati s t ils u der

on n oo o n ot to g e by the Fre ch tr ps , they sh uld be permitted march through the capital .

M Rou stan m n n t . replied that the ag a imi y displayed by the Fre n ch up on this o ccasi on marked a n ew era in their rela

on n n o o f ti s with Tu is . Fra ce w uld devel p the res ources o the

o n n on n an d n n n c u try, securi g her prep dera ce , e abli g her age ts t o o of n n on rival th se frie dly ati s .

2 P A N D P 3 4 TUNIS AST RESENT .

Zerou ck d n of Arbi , the Presi e t the municipality , man aged t o escape in the middle Of the n ight to

on - on the British C sulate G en eral M . C ti was dis missed for his over - zeal in prom otin g fruitless

a an d of o appe ls , the rest the supp sed culprits “ av oided the same fate b y maki n g frie n ds with ” on of n o n an d on n the mamm u righte us ess , c ciliati g

n n of n ew r i the presidi g ge ius the eg me. El Arby w as o n n o to n o o f rtu ate e ugh Obtai permissi n , thr ugh ’

. Reade s n on tw o to Mr i tercessi days later, put the

n n n n o Mediterra ea betwee himself a d his persecut rs .

’ on n ow o n o The patr age at M . R usta s disp sal was j udiciously best owed ; Gen eral Elias Musalli su c ceeded on n f n n M . C ti with the exalted ra k o a Tu isia

F cr ile or n of on an d S n t Ge eral Divisi , y Hsu a Me eli,

’ foon n of n the Bey s buf , became Preside t the Tunisia

n n n : S mu icipality . A year has passed si ce the y H su n a has n ow the best carriage an d ﬁn est pair Of

o in n o n h rses Tu is , but the streets Of the t w have

an become impassable quagmire . The Fre n ch troops n ow o ccupied successively

M an d a n n ot n ater Bej , but sig s were wanti g Of

’ n n r ocks ahead . The Bey s circular an n ou ci g the “ ” r e- establishmen t of frien dly relati on s with Fran ce

n o was received with derision all over the i teri r . “ When the inj un cti on to receive the Fren ch like

o w as o Enﬁda br thers pr claimed at the , the Arabs 2 TH E EARLY DAYS OF THE PROTECTORATE . 3 5 declared they would ha v e n othin g to do w ith ” of Sheikhia an d few n n the Slayers the , the remai i g

’ e mployé s Of the S ociete Af a r seilla ise t ook refuge in

’

u n of . n n T is u n der an escort Mr Levy s te a ts . Ab out the same time E nglan d met the j ust reward of u OI1 i th an d 2 d her cred lity . the 9 3 May the ” Maltese ships Nu ova Stella an d Sa n ta Maria were boarded an d searched by the C omman der of “ the French gun b oat Leopar d off the T u n isia n c oast. A week later an other eviden ce Of the still sm oulderin g ﬂame of Arab discon ten t was afforded

of . n o on n by the murder M Segui , the c rresp de t Of

Télé r a he . On 2 8 th . the g p at Bej a the May, M Seguin was walkin g a Sh ort distance outside the tow n when he was suddenly set up on by an Arab

n w ho n o on fa atic , , quitti g a gr up Of natives the

o on an d to o n r ad , rushed up him felled him the gr u d w on n w ho n ith a heavy st e . Segui , was a small , thi m an to n , attempted defe d himself with a dagger

l n n o which he drew , but his assai a t s atched it fr m his han d an d i n ﬂicted n o less than eight fearful

o n o and o o w u ds ab ut his head , chest , st mach bef re h o o of e c ould be dragged fr m the b dy his victim .

n o f n o an d Segui b re his suf eri gs with much c urage ,

’ died in great agon y at six O clock the n ext m orn in g . His assassi n was a deserter from the 2 d Regimen t 2 3 TUNIS PAST AND PRESENT .

Of Algerian Native I n fan try— commonly called

o an n of Turc s d is said to be a ative M orocco . I

n n not o n afterwards lear ed that M . Segui was m re tha

- tw o of an d n o thirty years age , was a brillia t sch lar ;

n o o an d he had bee a pupil Of the Ec le N rmale, his career might have been a very successfu l on e but for the extreme vi ole n ce of his p olitical sympathies a n d n o n o n a tipathies . He j i ed the C mmu e heart a n d o an d to o s ul , acted as Private Secretary R ssel

n o n of . n duri g his ccupa cy the War Ofﬁce M . Segui

on to or o o o c trived escape, he w uld m st pr bably have

. t met with the fate Of his chief As it was , he lef his o n n n n n c u try u til the amnesty, ear i g his livi g by

n on o o givi g less s . Ab ut a year bef re his death he published a very remarkable book describin g the m o of o o o ilitary f rces the vari us Eur pean P wers , and estimatin g the probable results of the next trial Of

n n n an d n stre gth betwee Fra ce Germa y. The title “ of o o the w rk is La Pr chaine Guerre . But the

in u n an u h n d . ext war was T is , M Seg in imself was f on e o its earliest victims . Ten days afterwards a crowd assembled outside

of to see the gate Bej a the murderer die . As he

n to of on was marchi g the place executi , he was “ to o heard exclaim , I have d ne my duty ; I have

o an d o o killed a Christian . The Pr phet f rty H uris

fo in are waiting r me Paradise . His eyes were

RE 3 2 8 TUNIS PAST AN D P SENT .

on n the on of o f G n is c cer ed , executi the Treaty uara tees , has delegated by a decree (the tran slati on of which y o u will ﬁnd e n cl osed) the Reside n t Mi nister o f the Fre n ch Republic as his s ole represe n tative in his relati on s with the agen ts of the

I n n n o o foreign P owers at Tu n is . bri gi g these vari us d cu m e n ts to y o ur k n o wledge I am anxi ous to assure y ou o f my

n to n n in dou ble unctions ear est desire mai tai , the f which I am

n oo on n n t w o o n i vested , the g d relati s existi g betwee the G ver m n an d n an d o f B e an d o e ts , betwee them that the y , I h pe I may c ou n t on y o ur part on the reciprocity Of these se n ti

— m n s I am &c. e t , , l R TAN esident Minister o the F r ench Re u b ic. OUS , R f p

’ o n ﬁ in As a matter of c ou rse M . R usta s rst act

’ his n ew capacity was t o promulgate the Bey s decree u p on the subj ect

th e on t an d 6 of Whereas executi Of Ar icles 4 , 5 , the Treaty of Guaran tees c on cluded betwee n the Rege n cy an d the G overn men t of the Fre n ch Republic n ecessitates the c on stan t i n ter v en tion o f the Reside n t Mi n ister o f the Republic in the relati on s betwee n o u r Min ister for Foreign Affairs an d the

n o n an d n to o age ts Of the P wers at Tu is , whereas, desiri g av id

om on o n the c plicati s which might result fr m this state Of thi gs , w e for o of n R n delegate , the pr mpt despatch busi ess , the eside t Mi n ister o f the Fre n ch Republic as ou r s ole Ofﬁcial in ter mediary in the relation s with the represe ntatives of the

o n o ou r on n F reig P wers accredited to pers . We i vite the said Residen t Mi nister to c ommu nicate the prese n t decree Ofﬁcially in ou r n ame to the Govern men t Of the Republic an d to the age n ts of the F oreign P owers at Tu n is — Sign ed on

1 1 th R 1 2 8 8 th n o nt n the edjeb 9 ( Ju e C u ersig ed ,

M T PH Minister th e o e B . US A A, f y 2 TH E EARLY DAYS OF THE PROTECTORATE . 3 9

On e on ly of the foreign represen tati v es hasten ed to Offer immediate c omplian ce with the terms of

n n r n u ncia men to this almost i sole t p o . The Cheva lier Charles Tulin de la Tu n isie at on ce ten dered to

on an d M . Rou stan the c on gratulati s adhesi on of

n u n ond n on w as Germa y . S ch u expected c esce si ,

o oo on o o h wever, l ked a little suspici usly b th at

i n n an d n . n Tu is Paris Duri g the crisis at Tu is M . Tulin certain ly did his best t o efface from the memory of Fren chmen his very differen t c on duc t f n d o 1 8 0 . In o duri g the dark ays 7 his y uth M . Tu lin had written an erudite w ork to pro v e that Tun isian c on suls were really mi n iature ambas sador s ; later in life he had been ready to call before a c ourt of law some luckless i ndividual w ho had dared to assume the n ame D e Tu nis in disparage me n t Of his ow n high s ou n din g title o f D e la Tu nisie (the un fortun ate Bey bei ng the foun tain of on o in o an d n h ur b th cases, ) he ﬁ ished his career

a ter e of l o . R o n ou stan . by bec mi g the g M M .

Tu lin b r istlin d o on in , g with ec rati s , learned etiquette ,

in Alma n a ch ole G otha and deeply versed the , was an excellen t type Of the Old sch ool of Tun isian

N ot n to n diplomatists . wishi g cha ge his peculiar

on o Tu n isie to D u o o patr ymic fr m De la Pr tect rat , he left Tunis as soon as he had d on e h omage to

Rou stan n n . M. and has ever retur ed there 0 3 3 TUN IS PAST A N D PRESENT .

Mustapha was n ow seized with an u n con trollable desire to see face to face the n ew allies an d masters of n Pr o- n Tu is . The Bey gra ted the required per missi on ; some a b a ds and n iehaus were prepared

n n o as fast as the Tu isia j ewellers c uld make them , autograph letters con tain in g complim en tary n othin gs

n an d m an -of— were writte , a French war was placed

o . . R ou stan o at his disp sal M n minated his suite ,

d o n E . o an Ge eral lias Musalli , Dr Mascar , the br ker

o n ow n n n . V lterra , Master Of the Tu isia Mi t The

o o in oo n wh le party assembled at the G letta , the w de

on on ou t n o sea o on pavili piles built i t the , c mm ly

to called the Summer Palace , take leave Of the Bey . At the supreme m omen t Mu ham ed es Sadek placed

o n f Rou stan d o on ar u d the neck o M . the same ec rati as had up to that time been reserved on ly for prin ces

n . an d p oten tates . The act was l ogical e ough : M Rou stan had bec ome the s overeign of the n early

- in broken hearted old m an . Later the day the

’ n n d Ar c o Jea e , with its preci us freight Of Tunisian

f o o or . o w rthies, left Marseilles N b dy has appreciated

n the hum our Of the situation m ore keenly tha M .

o w ho for n n De Bl witz , had been ma y days u der

o n ma l r é lu i u o of n n g i g g , a grad al pr cess dise cha t

on n n u n o aim of ment , c cer i g T is . The pr per the ” n o n o or t w o age ts Of a c u try , he wr te a day later, “ to all is serve it with their might , and have in

P E TUN IS AST AND PR SENT .

n n was saluted by ﬁftee n gu s . He visited the squadro in the “ ” o an d o n o the n o . harb ur , breakfasted b ard C lbert The he “ ’ ” n to n n d Ar c an d o on o in retur ed the Jea e , was r wed sh re the ’ o The - M S . admiral s b at . ub Prefect received him ustapha

w as in o o Pacha dressed a black c at, with the fez . He w re

n o on o f Nichan o of L on o f the Gra d C rd , the Cr ss the egi

on o an d th e o on o on H ur , c rd Of the same dec rati which has

o M ou stan o on n o n n R . just bee c ferred . He left T ul this

L an d n n n for M on . eve i g arseilles , y s , Paris Apartme ts are

f r l n o him n o ten . e gaged at the Gra d H te , where he stays days

o L on on inco nito n n It is rum ured that he will visit d g , the retur t o for an d o a to n o f B o Paris a week , g b ck Tu is by way rdeaux ,

M an d adrid , Algiers .

I must leave Mustapha to distribute his n iehau s

’ an d a b a ds with Gen eral Mu salli s assistan ce at the

n o l an d to o d of Gra d H te , return the seri us Si e the

in war Tunis . CHAPTER XXIII .

E M H OW TH FRENCH TOOK ATER .

hist ory Of the ﬁrst Fren ch expediti on to Tunis

on n so d o so n c tai s much ipl macy and little ﬁghti g , that I have decided to gi ve Mater an d Gen eral

An on Mau r an d a chapter t o themselves . additi al reason for my d oin g this is my bein g ab le to ask

the o to o . o someb dy else tell st ry . Mr Th rwald

Llew llen an n l an d y Smith is E g ishman a farmer . For s ome years he has cultivated some of the rich pasture - lan d between Mater an d the G ebel Ishkel

an d h as n on ih Lake , aturally acquired c siderable

ﬂ u en ce on o ood am gst the Arabs Of the neighb urh ,

o n n o wh se la guage he ﬂue tly speaks , wh se petty

u o and o o disp tes he has s metimes settled , wh se b dily

’

n n . W ailme ts he has Ofte cured Mr , Smith s hite

o - an d - o n n h use , cattle sheds , trim hedge r ws , sta di g in of o n — ﬁelds o the midst his c r , are all visible fr m

l o on o of the w hill which the t wn Mater is built. ” n o of The Arabs take very little tice date , writes

n to m to Mr . Smith in a swer y appeal describe the 3 34 TUNIS PAST A ND PRESENT .

“ n of on n o taki g Mater , and c seque tly , alth ugh they may remember that the Fre n ch i n vasion began in

n - n o f 1 2 8 the spri g time , duri g the year the Flight 9 , they w ould certai nly n ot be able to say that the 8 th of May 1 8 8 1 w as an ill- fated day for the ih

of on habitants Mater . It was that day that Sheikh Hmed B en Yusef of the Algerian clan of the

Mu k r an ees o n an d on u n o , but b r bred T isian territ ry ,

' came ov er to Mater from Bizerta as an env oy of

n n o n to sa the Fre ch . I ca n t prete d y what his real

n o is i structi ns were , but it certain that if he had been specially c ommission ed to stir up all the m oun

of n to on o n ot tain tribes the vici ity rebelli , he c uld

o his o have d ne w rk better . The Arabs were already m ore or less excited an d in dign an t at the way in which Bizerta had been occupied the pre vions week with ou t a blow bei n g struck in its

n an d in defe ce , as well as at the free easy way which the Fren ch were walki ng over their c ou n try an d in n o n of , the in ce ce their hearts , they were

n o n d n n on o a xi usly awaiti g eﬁ ite i structi s fr m the Bey,

o to to thr ugh the Caid Of their district, prepare

an d resist turn ou t the in vaders . On the 2 9th April (tw o days pri or to the ocen

ou of m en o u nn n to pati Bizerta) , had c me r i g Mater

o o n an d n fr m the c ast betwee Tabarca Bizerta , sayi g

n on n tw o n d that the Fre ch ﬂeet , c sisti g Of hu red

6 A N D 3 3 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

o n n o n ot rec gnised as Fre chme , they w uld have

n n n o o on - or bee , u der the existi g pr v cati , ill treated , p ossibly killed . Every Arab in Mater knew w hat had bee n d one at Tabarca an d was bein g done

on Khamir s . n o w am gst the As it happe ed , h ever ,

o a n an d w an d o b th capt i cre escaped unhurt , acc rd ing to their ow n Sh owing had n othin g to complai n

of. n o Nevertheless, whe s me days later Mater was o d o n n n of ccupie , the tribes adj i i g the sce e the disaster were given up to i ndiscrimin ate pillage ;

’ n o n their huts were bur ed , their w me s bracelets

w on taken a ay, and their cattle c ﬁscated . The

n n n pu ishme t was as severe as it was u merited , u n less it was a crime for these p oor pe ople to have all owed a French vessel to be wrecked on their c oast .

As in ih days passed by , the Arabs were an creasi n g state O f u n certainty as to the c ourse they o to b u t to ught pursue , were fully determined be

o to o to u and l yal their Bey, if he pr ved true his tr st , in any case an d un der all circumstances n ot to allow the Fre n ch t o c on quer them with out a stru ggle .

n on o o can The se sati pr duced , theref re , be very well

n n B en s u d imagi ed , whe Hamed Yusef appeared

’ denl on n o n y the sce e, l udly declari g that the Bey s

n for an d o dy asty had passed away ever , that th se w ho did n ot side with the French must be pre M H OW TH E FRENCH TOOK ATER . 3 3 7

pared to ﬁght for their indepen den ce and their

o h mes . “ to n o w ho Their ﬁrst idea was kill the e v y, by the in solent way he Sp oke alm ost seemed to c ourt

lu ck for or su b death ; but i him the Khalifa ,

o n o m h w ho o on d g ver r, Ha da El Kate , p ssessed c si er

n n o n u e t o able i ﬂue ce ver the tribesme , ref s d leave

n f o n his Side . Durin g the dark ess o the f ll owi g even in g Sidi Hamda man aged to smuggle the

ou t in o n so r an emissary Of the place , but d i g he

on n of c siderable risk , as ma y the Arabs rushed wildly ab out the town callin g ou t that the Khalifa

’ o n had been bribed t facilitate the ma s escape . S oon after the arrival in Mater Of Ha med B en Yusef the heads of the tribes came in a b ody t o

on an d n u o c sult me , ask me if I k ew the tr th ab ut w hat was goin g on between the Fren ch an d the

n n d n ot n n Bey . I aturally a swere , that havi g bee in n for o o n Tu is s me time , I was as ign ra t as they were They the n en treated me to g o on their behalf to the Prime Mi nister ; an d I acc ordin gly

n oon an d od to n started the same after r e Tu is , a distan ce Of some ﬁfty miles : this was on the 8 th

n o n n n to see Of May . Early the ext m r i g I we t

an d o n Mustapha, t ld him all that had happe ed .

o i to n n He pr m sed se d a letter by a special messe ger , but could n ot give me any satisfactory a n swer for Y V OL . 1 . 8 AN D 3 3 TUNIS PAST PRESENT .

n o an d o n the tribes , merely repeati g ver ver agai ,

‘ that they sh ould n ot opp ose the entry Of the Fren ch

’ n o n n i t Mater if they came there . Whe I retur ed

m on n oon of th with this essage the after the 9 May , I fou n d m ost o f the chiefs assembled about a mile

011 n o f o n n the Tu is side the t w awaiti g my arrival .

’ not Mu sta ha s n They were at all paciﬁed by p a swer , an d did n ot on to declared that Mater bel g the Bey ,

to b an d o n ot i but the Ara s , that they w uld g ve it

o 8 0 n up . Ab ut 00 Of them were ow assembled

o six m on o an d ab ut iles the Bizerta r ad , they appeared t o be determin ed to march on Bizerta i tself. “ ﬁ an d It was with the greatest dif culty, after

o n n of on in o empl yi g every mea s persuasi my p wer , that I preve n ted this rabble army of half- mad fanatics fr om marchi ng to certain destruction .

to an d n They at last came back Mater, made ight hide ous by repeated false alarms that the French were u p on us ; each of these scares bein g aec om

an ied for o p by a rush their h rses, and a general stampede in the directi on of a bridge which crosses

n d in a little river outside the t ow . This bri ge is

o o w oo o o o a h ll , and the f lish pe ple th ught they c uld

n o o o defe d it , alth ugh , Of c urse, it w uld have been

n n o n l n o for a quite u te able . F rtu ate y e ugh the Ar bs,

n ot i 8 th n the French did arrive till the May, whe

P A N D RE 3 40 TUNIS AST P SENT .

’ o f of n oo and su r the arrival the Sulta s tr ps ,

n l n n - re dered s ome ve n erable Be gia ﬂi t l ock i n stead. These fr om their e n orm o us le ngth l ook as if theyr w o an d on ere s ld by the yard , are ly preserved from bursti ng by the fact that the p owder usually

o in n c o t w o - o s ld the Rege y is ab ut thirds charc al ,

n an d c on sequen tly n ot very str o g . I w as n o w to reap the reward of my hon est

’ e n deav ours to preser v e the Arabs from a helpless

u an d n o oo str ggle , give the Fre ch the m st bl dless

o oon of v ictories . N s er had the Fren ch o ccupied

n o an d o Mater , tha ﬁfty cavalry made a s rtie gall ped

o o n o n o all ver my pr perty , treadi g d w the ripe c rn

n d n an d frighte n i g the h orses . After evastati g the

’ n - n o to o kitche garde , they r de up my lab urers huts ,

a f the i n m tes o which immediately ﬂed . I then wen t to Mater an d expressed a h ope that Gen eral Mau r an d would preven t the destructi on Of my

n on u o t property . The Ge eral c d cted me u side his

n an d in o o o all te t , addressed me a l ud v ice bef re

‘ his troops as follows The French forces have behaved in a magn iﬁcen t man n er through out the campaign (they had on ly marched ﬁfteen miles

om n o an d on fr Ma uba) , I am ast ished that a member o f on ou to o a civilised nati , as y appear be , c uld c omplain of a nythi n g the Fre n ch might do for the

n of o and on for furthera ce civilisati n ; learn , ce and H OW TH E 1 FRENCH TOOK M ATER . 3 4 all of n do n ot on n , that in time war the Fre ch c ﬁ e

to o the o themselves r ads, but always take sh rtest ’ to o an d lor l n h o w cut vict ry g y The ext day ,

I n o v o oo an d ever, had a ther isit fr m the tr pers, a

’ n c orp oral held a rev olver at my serva t s head . I s oon perceived that it w ould be imp ossible for

to n in n n of me remai Mater u der the reig terror . My

o n an d pr perty had already bee greatly damaged , it was very n ecessary that I sh ould protec t the rest o o f f it . Several f the Arabs o course came to

an old n to h me , as frie d , ask my advice , w ich was i n variably to obtai n the Fren ch a m cm as s oon as

’ o da or t w o p ssible . A y after a Maltese h orse dealer an d a Greek t obacco- merchan t called at my

o e to m n u n an d oo o t o h us , ask y i ﬂ e ce g d fﬁces get

m o them s ome custo fr m the troops . After this the attitude of the Ge n eral became so me n aci n g that I felt I was n o l on ger safe in Mater ; an d although I

in of n a nd n I was the midst my reapi g harvesti g , was c ompelled to c ome to Tu n is to place the matter before my ow n authorities . The same day m y frien d the Ge n eral wr ote the foll owin g letter con cern ing me to Gen eral B r é ar t

M ATE R Ma 2 , y 4 .

MY E ER — I ono to ort t o o u i n m G N AL, had the h ur rep y y despatch o f yesterday the arrival at Mater o f the En glish an d

n on o f B a w o o n t Italia C suls izert , as ell as the alm st arr ga 2 P N D ES E ' ‘ 3 4 T UNIS AST A P l N I .

o f M r S an E n an d n attitude . mith , glish subject a large la d o w n o f M on n o n er ater . The relati s betwee these three pers s

m n o o n e t - M r S h to . n o are a ystery here I lear day that . mit has supplied p owder a n d bullets to th e Arabs W h o fought a n ou o n 1 8 th o n o gai st y the . He p ssesses Withi ab ut three

o to n O i th - o f in o f kil metres the west the camp , the midst a douar r n w n - o f . a eside ce hich is said t o be a meeti g place

an d o a n d n o f n n Arab emissaries thers , a ce tre i trigues agai st

Pei h a s ou r n n o of ou r o us . p he keeps e emies i f rmed all m ve

n an d to him o w e o me ts , it may be that it is we the sh ts w ou r o n of on hich are fired at patr ls . The prese ce such a pers

o t o M n o B u t for n an cl se ater is really i t lerable . his bei g E nglish subject I sh o uld have already take n rigorous measures n an d I n n o ou in n o n h ow agai st him , ca t leave y ig ra ce much this situation adds to the difficulties which I have already to o o in o to o n n verc me here , rder rally by degrees the m u tai

S a nd o in on M n o f heikhs , I h pe , that c cert with the i ister n n ou ﬁn d n to n Fra ce at Tu is , y will mea s secure us agai st his

for n I u n M r . S proceedi gs . have j st lear t that mith has left ’

u n S n MAU RAND . T is . ( ig ed )

n n n I had o s oon er arrived at Tu is tha M . Rou stan made an oﬂi cial c omplain t again st me to

on - n o t n b e the British C sul Ge eral , but very f r u ately ’ en cl osed the ab ove c opy of Gen eral Mau r and s rep ort . The Italian Con sul at Bizerta turn ed ou t n ot to have

n for col bee at Mater eight years , while his

u of n n d o o o leag e E gla , a tim r us m rtal , had never quitted his h ouse sin ce the takin g of Bizerta ! The

n o other charges in the letter are ot less ap cryphal .

n Rou stan o to Eve M . was bliged declare that he

ou n ot o on an d o w ld supp rt the accusati , after a f rt

CHAPTER XXIV .

’ TH E A X K H AMI R CHASSE U S .

E F R Rou stan n o on B O E M . had ma aged t c vert the Fre n ch Protectorate over Tun is i n t o a pers onal

o n l of dictat rship, Fra ce was a ready heartily tired

Khamir s on in the . The expediti which began the enthusias m of credulity w as destin ed to en d amidst

o of u n N 0 o of a st rm iversal ridicule . am unt press restricti on s could c on ceal the patent fact that the Kh amirs were difficult to ﬁnd an d still m ore dith

t to n o of cul catch , and early in Ju e the c mic papers Paris an d Ly on s were either representin g G en erals V in cen don and Forg emol en gaged in a minute examin ation of the Tabarca m ou n tain s with Brob di na ian n or o g g mag ifying glasses , p rtrayed the Commander-in - chief carefully searchin g a bush with

n n an d n n to o a la ter , si gi g a p pular refrain

For g em ol dit la lan tern e a la main ’ ‘ — O ii le o ? J ai beau chercher. diable est Kr umir

I l etait la on n , disait , hier mati

Sec a Vincen don me o n n ? r , v is tu rie ve ir ’ TH E CHASSE AUX K HAMi Rs . 3 45

t on n 022 est le Khamir ? The ques i was the , It has

n n n and r o ever bee a swered yet , there seems little p

An b ab ility of its bein g ever en tirely cleared up . e n terpri si n g Pa ris man ufacturer paten ted a me chan ical toy which c on sisted in the perpetually revolvin g ﬁgures of a m oun ted Arab pursued by a

n an d Cha sse a u x Fre ch hussar , called it the ” Kr ona/Lia' s Khamirs man u n ( ) . This at least der

oo o of on an d o st d the hum ur the situati , the m ve men ts of the toy are hardly m ore m on oton ou s tha n

of n so n the details the e terprise it fairly represe ts .

M . Albert de la Berge has devoted twen ty pages of his History of the Tun isian Expedition to the even ts in Khamir - lan d between the 2 7 th April an d

I 6 th n n n n the Ju e , but eve he begi s his arrative with an ap ol ogy for its barre n n ess of any n otable eve n t “ o n Khamir s The attack the , he writes, is rather

n o or o of o o a great military ma euvre , a v yage t p

discov er t n w ar o n graphical y , tha a in the rdi ary sense 7 ) of the term . Alth ou gh I can hardly agree with

i n n of an in for M . De la Berge, the abse ce y precise mati on as to the scien tiﬁc result attain ed by the

n o n e terprise , I sh uld certai ly advise my readers t o skip over this chapter as i n evitably dull an d

n n n u i teresti g . Up t o the n ight in which Ali Bey made good his

to 2 th r o retreat Ben Bachir (April 7 ) , very little p 6 ' L‘ AN D 3 4 TUNIS FAS PRESENT .

a n n gress h d bee n made by the i nvadi g c olum s . The

V incen don w o o n brigade , hich f rmed b th the ce tre an d n d n n on the adva ced guar , was the e camped the

- a o to on an d om Kef Cher ga plateau cl se the fr tier , fr which rec on noitri n g parties were despatched t o

w n o n of n operate in t o directio s . The c lum Ge eral

n to on d n o n Galla d was the left, the ri ge k w as

E n o B itter n ow com eched Ma k ura , but the brigade , m an ded n o n to by Ge eral Caill t , had retur ed the camp at El Aioun This force had en coun tered severe

n an d of o o resista ce , the cause its retr grade m ve

Tor men t has never bee n satisfactorily explain ed. r en tial rain n ow impeded any further progress the

o n thick fo s ldiers , e camped in a g , were severely tried ’ b oth by wet an d cold an d after the ﬁrst day s ﬁght in g the main b ody of the Khamfrs had disappeared f t o the n orth . The huts o the Ouled Cedra were

n to oa mier s of n give up the g their Algeria rivals,

Nehed w ho o o the Ouled , c mpletely destr yed them . Durin g the tw o foll owin g days the n eighbourin g valleys w ere expl ored en r econna issa n ce at times a

Khamirs oo b u t o n brush with the t k place , fte er

n o n n o n othi g was f u d but aba d ned villages . O n the 1 st May all the three brigades received orders to u n ite at El Hammam an d to move eastwards

o t owards Fer n an a. Meanwhile the f rce u n der

n o on o el Ge eral Brem ccupied the stati at S uk Arba,

8 AND 3 4 TUNIS PAST PRESENT . h n of o n o n u dred head cattle , h wever, fell i t the ha ds

’ f o n o n o o . o AM G the tr ps At eleve cl ck . the e eral a ma r a b ou t r e rrived at the itself, where he was ceiv ed old an d ir w ho by a very dirty Kham ,

u n of declared he was the g ardia the place , which

of n on o was the mea est descripti , alth ugh revered fo on n o h r a l g dista ce n b ot sides of the frontier .

\ on of o n ot Vith the excepti this s litary ecclesiastic ,

n n m a other livi g s oul was visible . The i mediate v ici n ity of the koa b a seemed to be the n ecrop olis of - n or o all Khamir la d . The c pses were c vered with

n n of an d an o n n w as the thi est layer earth , pe i g

n of u n for actually left ab ove the head . Ma y the tu n ate v ictims of the 26 th April had eviden tly

n o o of n an d bee buried there in the d ur sa ctity , the p ois on ed atm osphere ab out the sp ot re n dered the

r t o n ma a b ou a m st u desirable abidin g place . While the ﬁy in g column u n der Ge n eral D eleb ecqu e

n to i n n t on was climbi g up the great Kham r shri e , be

o cha sse a u x X ha w ir s n Lo er ot the h peless , Ge eral g had pushed on to a p osition ab out seven miles n orth

of n n in on of or B ou east Fer a a , the directi Ben

o n o n t o Matir, but f u d that it w uld be ecessary carry ou t somewhat exten sive works before the c ou n try could be made accessible to cavalry an d

n o o n o h of r econ artillery . The f ll wed a t er series n a issa nces t o o an , but all attempts c me up with y ’ T E n i H a ss AUX K H AM ns . 3 49

of Khamirs On e number seemed fruitless . day a few of them were dislodged from a ravi n e by ﬁrin g

oo b u t on o o w l o th the brushw d , the m rr (May ) they cam e back cl ose to the cam p an d killed three

s oldiers before their prese n ce was discovered . On the followin g m orn i n g the Fren ch m oved to a p osi ti on betwee n Sidi Abdallah an d the Meridj m ou n “ n in on of Ain n tai , the directi Draha ( the silver where a j u n ction with Ge n eral Log er ot ” to f O ur o was be ef ected . s ldiers , writes M . De

“ ’ o n o of o Kha ml r s la Berge , f u d the dead b dies s me in o n the the f rest , several deserted huts were bur ed ,

o on a n d the barley cr ps the march were reaped , eng in eer s r eceived or der s to destr oy the ma r a b ou t of S idi Ab da lla h. The same aftern oon Ge n eral

Lo er ot El an d g reached Fedj , while the camp was

n n l bei g pitched , the Algeria irregular cava ry were

n o B en n se t ahead t wards Matir. They sudde ly

m on n an d ou on n ca e up the e emy , alth gh str g rei

o n s n to on Khamir s for f rceme t were se t the fr t , the

o n to o o w n a l ng time ma aged h ld their , till dis lodg ed from their p osition by the ﬁre of the m ou n

Ten o her s dc co tain gun s . s ldiers were placed mb a t on of n of o the side the Fre ch , wh m ﬁve were killed . Stati on s were n ow perman en tly established at Aiu

a d on n an d er n an a n on . Draha F , str gly garris ed On the 1 4th May the colum n s Caillot and V in cendon S 3 5 0 TUNIS PAST AN D PRE ENT . m o rd B en n l arched t wa s Matir, which was evide t y th n f n e strategic stro gh old o that c ou try . The way la o w oo deﬁles Khamirs had y thr ugh dy , which the e n deav oured to m ake impregn able by throwi n g

o n oak - o an d d w huge trees acr ss the paths , the passage was u nd oubtedly a task of seri ous difﬁculty .

It o om l o of o was h wever acc p ished , with the l ss s me of m an d n on f the baggage ules , a j u cti e fected with

’ G o r s oo o n o d e n eral L g e ot tr ps c mi g fr m El Fe j .

’ The c olum n c omman ded by C ol on el O N eill sus t ain ed an e n gagemen t w ith the Khamir s in the w oo n om o b u t on ds duri g s e h urs, with the excepti o f o n o n this c mparatively u imp rta t resistance , the

of B en o t o in rich valley Matir , the m s fertile sp t

o o n o o ow the wh le c u try , was ccupied with ut a bl

n n n of bei g struck . Here a certai umber tribes

o on o n con made their f rmal submissi , but ther cla s tin u o Mek n a on ed t o h old u t . The ly y ielded after tw o n n an d e gageme ts , the Ouled Yahia never asked for the a ma n till they had l ost b oth h omes an d

i herds (June st) . This is a brief outlin e of the operati on s which

n ow o to o the summer heat br ught abruptly a cl se . The r a z z ia s an d r econ na issan ces which were n eces

to of n on ffo sary up the very day their termi ati , a rd the best proof of their i n completen ess and iusuf

ﬁcien c so to n o o y , except far as give a ta gible c l ur

3 5 2 TUNIS PAST AND P RESENT .

Preside n t o f the Republic whe n n ot a year ag o h e prese nted o o to their c l urs each army c orps . I n all ranks u n rivalled zeal an d patri o tism have bee n dis

y n o m n o pla ed duri g this ardu us ca paig . The s ldiers have e n dured u n t old privati on s in the midst o f an impe n etrable c ou n try and u nder the disadvan tages of an u n fav ourable

and on n N climate c sta t bad weather . evertheless , their

o o n o and o to ard ur has surm u ted all bstacles, I am rej iced on c gratulate them .

B u t n o t on — I must the less c gratulate their chiefs , the o of n o n of l fﬁcers all grades , the fu cti aries all classes , the zea ,

n n o an d of o on i i tellige ce , ard ur, capacity wh m have c tr buted to o n o o ou r o n oo btai such satisfact ry re sults fr m y u g tr ps . Their i n cessan t care an d patern al vigilance have pr eserved sanitar conditions which ar e r eall sur r isin n y y p g, whe the circum stan ces an d difﬁculties of the operati on s themselves are con i s der ed.

on on to n For emol I must address special c gratulati s Ge eral g , wh o se supreme c o mman d has bee n exercised with rare Wisd om t o ne D eleb ec u e w ho o n oo Ge ral q , led the c lum which t k the

n in o on t o n Lo er ot w h o pri cipal part the perati s ; Ge eral g , k n ew h ow t o give u ne energigue imp ulsion t o his s oldiers to n B ré ar t w ho n ou r o n n di icult Ge eral , represe ted c u try u der ﬁ cir cu mstances to n an d o of , as well as the ge erals superi r ﬁcers u n der their orders . ll n ot o o n Ev on e w ho These services w i be f rg tte . ery has take n part in the campaign has earn ed the gratitude of the

Republic . M ni of The i ster War, S n E ( ig ed) FARR .

’ At the very time when General Farre s pr ocla

on d of mati was issue , the streets Marseilles were w itnessi ng the unedifying spectacle of a cha sse a ux ’ TH E a ssn AUX K H AMI RS . 3 5 3

' I ta hen s as a melan ch oly sequel to the chasse a u x

f 1 n X ha w i r s . On v n n o the e e i g the 7th Ju e , as a p ortion of the exp editi on ary c orps were deﬁh ng in triumphal procession through the capital o f the ” o n V in cen don or o h e S uth , Ge eral heard , th ught

n o . heard , furtive hisses issue fr m the Italia Club

n n o n o d Tur i g t wards the buildi g he exclaimed al u , ” ﬁf er ct Zldessteu r s les ﬂ a tten s n o , This i cauti us

e on o o an d for a xpressi b re disastr us fruit, three d ys

’ n i n ot an Italia s life was safe n Marseilles . It was afterwards pro v ed that the Italian hisses were as

r n n imagin ary as the Kha ntr rai ds . A Fre ch ge tle

m an w h o ou on of n in , was the balc y the buildi g

n n to on . o questi at the time (M Gib ) , haste ed publish

’ an emphatic refu tati on of Gen eral V in cen don s ill timed accusation in the followi n g terms

th e n n n n n n on on I , u dersig ed , a Fre chma sta di g the balc y of n N on on n o on of 1 the Italia ati al Club the after the 7 th ,

n o o o o o u t of t for whe the tr ps passed , f rmally pr test , respec

n on h n the truth , agai st the accusati that the isses were give

on N n or an o on in from that balc y . either I y ther pers my c ompan y made an y man ifestati on h o stile to ou r val o rous

o an d o n to an s ldiers , I sh uld have bee the ﬁrst repress y such

an d to n o n o . oo act , de u ce its auth r I declare that the r ms om n an d o n o f the Club were empty at that m e t , that the ly pers on s prese n t were Sign or T on ietti an d his s o n E n ric o

n d R f o w ho on on Pier r u z z in i a a faell Pirri , were the balc y

with me .

V L. O I . — 3 5 i TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT .

too l no do an n off n But it was ate . Sig r Od , u e d in n n w ho of n g Italia de tist , , after a quarter a ce tury p assed in curi n g the t oothache of successi v e Beys of n o to in Tu is , had c me settle Marseilles , was on e of the ﬁrst to be k n ocked d ow n an d brutally kicked . He at last escaped with his life by a

on to his n miracle , but ly break up establishme t a n n an d d seek refuge in Naples . Several Italia s

’ n n an d I cu of n n Fre chme were killed , taly s p ve gea ce

- fairly r an over . An ti Fre n ch dem on strati on s spread from on e en d of the Pe n in sula to the o ther ; an d “ the w ord Marseilles has becom e the watchw ord of n u en detta f n o of Italia , e faci g the mem ry half a

n of n an d o n ou t r ecol ce tury frie dship , bl tti g the

n lecti on of Magen ta an d S olferin o . Behi d the real grievan ce of the riots of Marseilles the militan t

of n o Tw p olicy Sig or Macei o will be forg tten . o weeks later the Fre n ch fleet w as b ombardin g the

of in o n u n and of city Sfax S uther T is, three parts

n in o n o the Rege cy were pe rev lt . The Fren ch papers were n ot the o n ly ones to

of n realise the grim hu m our the wh ole busi ess . A

s o Pu n ch in n on of oon few verse fr m , expla ati a cart in which the Republic of Peace is seen tryin g on the

of o of n garb war, sums up the ﬁrst ep ch the Fre ch I n vasi on with caustic c orrectn ess

TUNIS PAST AN D PRESENT .

A sh ot or tw o perhaps mig ht te n d to stre ngthe n M o y m ral ﬁbres , An d cause the physi ogn omies to le ngthe n n Of foreig gibers . Eh ? What ? That Circular o f SAINT- II ILAI RE Causes hilarity

D n ! o n isgusti g F reig critics , I declare , r o f A e v oid charity . ’ I ve bee n a Sai n t in patie n ce all men k now Alm o st too sai n tly ; Ast on ished Eur ope thi nks my bl ood must fl ow Feebly an d fai n tly Let th ose w h o d o ubt me read the declarati on

h r Of men c e F ERRY .

R fo r o on espect law, strict justice , m derati

— oh True , true , very

’ l o n An n ex . F i done ! I s lem ly pro claim ’

o . Tis false , c mpletely

n d Well this j au ty hea piece , all the same , B o ec mes me sweetly .

Le t admir in hersel ( f g f. )

END OF THE F IRST VOLUME . I E N D A V I C O R R G , O L.

’

ion fr m M ll ook . 2 u o a o . V i ot s to end n e 2 a e 8 , q t t b , li , p g

” 1 3 n e 1 or a sa r ead af a 7 s s . , li , f G G

” ” 23 ne 24 r a t r o r ilc r ead h ift . , li , f f “ 30 n e 1 4 or ou ssa r ead u a. , li , f S S s

“ ” 3 e 1 or r a Z ir 0 n 5 Z orb ir e d ob . , li , f

230 n e 1 5 r F i r e d o eb r a e . , li , f F hri 4 “ 3 n e 7 or Menak in r ea d Men ak ir . , li , f ” 42 n e 2 or Cossier r ead o e , li , f C pi r.

45 n e 1 4 or G alib r a. r ead G ali ia , li , f pp . “ 48 in e an d 1 6 or na r ead nau 3 u . , l s , f Si Si “ “ ” 21 r u en r ead u n 89 n e o J J e . , li , f ri ri ” 1 28 ne 1 3 or on su r ea d ce- on u , li , f C l Vi C s l .

6 or o f e d f 1 48 ne r a o s . , li , f R l s R hl

1 48 n e 1 4 et a ssim or B otmilian r ead B otmili a n . , li , p , f “ ” 1 n e 23 r Le un r ead Leb l ant e s o 5 8 o t as i n . , li , f bl t p