169.--12. abat-jour. This compound noun is invariable in
the plural because the plural idea does not really belong to the second
element, which is the only part capable of inflection.
17. Zaatcha. This oasis was captured in 1849, during what may be
termed the second period of the French occupation of Algeria; the first
period extends from the landing of French troops in 1830 until the
capture of Constantine in 1837, the second period, from 1837 to 1849,
was a period of resistance, the third period extending to 1901 was one
of partial insurrections; Algeria is now the most important French
colony. France now possesses the colonies of St. Pierre and Miquelon,
near Newfoundland; Guadaloupe, Martinique and French Guiana in the West
Indies and South America; New Caledonia, New Hebrides and about 116
other islands in Oceania; Indo-China (comprising Cochin-China, Annam
and Tonkin, with about 18,000,000 inhabitants); Madagascar, Reunion and
other near-by islands; Djibouti, an African port on the Gulf of Aden;
French Congo, French Soudan, French Guinea, French Senegal, on the
western coast of Africa; Tunis, Algeria and Morocco (the latter since
1912) on the Mediterranean, with strong influence in the country lying
between this territory and the Soudan. In addition the French language
is spoken by the descendants of French colonists in Canada, New Orleans,
the Mexican mountains, etc.
170.--3. mettant... ses souliers dans la cheminée. The
French children have this custom instead of hanging up their stockings.
171.--28. quelque espoir. The final vowel of _quelque_ is
elided only in _quelqu'un_ and _quelqu'une_.
172.--5. le dix-sept n'est pas sorti. The game of roulette
is played on a rectangular table with a revolving wheel in the center.
A ball is placed on the wheel which sends it into compartments; these
compartments (of which there are two series, one on each side of the
table) are numbered consecutively up to thirty-six and are arranged in
three parallel lines or columns. The players or punters stake their
money in various ways: on a single number or numéro, which means
that if the ball rests on that number the player receives thirty-five
times the amount risked; on a colonne or row of numbers, in that case if
the ball remains on any number of the column the player receives three
times the amount risked; on a couleur (the numbers are half red,
half black), in this case he receives, if he is successful, the amount
he has risked; on the douzaine, that is, on the first, second or
third series of twelve numbers, in case he wins the player then receives
three times the amount he has risked; other combinations may also be
used and there are two compartments, and 00, which enable the bank to
maintain a constant advantage.