THE STATE OF TUNIS.
Tunis is the smallest and most easterly of the Barbary States.
Ancient Carthage included within its territories those of the modern
state of Tunis. The ruins of the ancient city may be found about
thirteen miles northeast of the walled city of Tunis.
Nothing remains now of the ancient capital but scattered piles of stones
and two crumbling arcades, which, in the course of ages, have yielded to
the force of the elements.
Tunis, which is the political capital of the state, is situated upon the
Mediterranean Sea. It is located at the extreme end of a lagoon some
twelve miles in circumference. It is connected with the Bay of Tunis by
the narrow channel of Goletta. At the mouth of this channel is a little
town bearing the same name. Goletta is really the port of Tunis.
The city of Tunis is divided into an upper and a lower part. The upper
section is occupied by the Mohammedans. The lower section, as well as
the suburbs, is occupied by the Italians, Maltese, French, and Jews.
The streets of the city are narrow and exceedingly dirty. Modern
civilization seems to have done little in the way of improving their
sanitary conditions.
At Tunis is situated the palace of the _bey_, or Turkish ruler. There is
nothing remarkable about its exterior, but the interior is furnished
with all the luxuriance of the Moorish style. This palace is used as a
residence for distinguished foreigners. The _bey_ has his residence at
El-mersa, which is situated on the sea coast about three leagues from
the city.
About two miles northwest of the city of Tunis stands an immense
building, the Bardo, with many towers and projections. It is the
official seat of government. The state prisons, the garrison, the
military school, and an entire street of shops, are included within the
government grounds.
The city is connected by rail with several of the other chief towns in
the neighborhood. The principal railway, which belongs to a French
company, runs from Tunis to the Algerian frontier.
The trade with different ports of Europe, principally with Marseilles,
Genoa, and Leghorn, consists in exporting the productions of inner
Africa. Not only Tunis and its seaport Goletta, but also Susa and Sfaks
upon the east coast, are concerned in this trade with Europe. The latter
port is connected by telegraph with the capital.
Besides its political capital, the state has its spiritual capital,
Kairwan. It lies about seventy-five miles south of Tunis in a barren
plain and is regarded as one of the sacred cities of Islam. At one time
neither a Jew nor a Christian could have his residence there.
The manufactures of the state of Tunis are mostly woolen fabrics. These
consist of the burnooses, or Arab mantles, and the peculiar red caps,
familiar all along the Mediterranean. Soap, earthenware and the famous
Morocco leather are among the manufactures.
Two kinds of alcoholic beverages are made by the people. They are held
in great esteem, since the Koran does not forbid Mohammedans to use
them. One of these drinks is made from dates; the other from the Indian
fig.
Some of the products of the sea coast of Tunis are quite valuable, as
coral and sponge. Salt is also obtained. In various parts of the
mountains, lead ore and quicksilver are known to exist. Deposits of
saltpeter are found in the plateau of Kairwan.
The government of the state is despotic. The ruler bears the title
_bey_. In the spring of 1881 the French invaded the state to punish the
Berber inhabitants of the mountains in the extreme northwest, because
they had invaded French territory. This invasion by the Berbers was made
the pretext to compel the _bey_ to accept a treaty making the French
rule supreme in Tunis.
The inhabitants are, generally speaking, of good figure. The men are
rather spare and sinewy. The women are considered very beautiful. When
they are young they have a bright color, clear complexion, and large,
expressive eyes. Their hair, which is usually of a blue-black color, is
allowed to float freely over the shoulders.
In Tunis, as in other Oriental countries, flesh is considered a mark of
beauty. It is said that the Moorish ladies have a recipe for becoming
fleshy which never fails--to eat freely of young dogs.
The women of the wealthy classes decorate themselves with a profusion of
gold and silver ornaments, and carry about with them small mirrors and
scent-boxes. They adorn themselves, too, with precious stones, chains,
and corals. The poorer women of the Arab populace load themselves down
with strings of glass beads, and copper jewelry.
The Arab children when but a few days old have a skin almost as white as
a European's, though rather a dull white. Exposure to the sun soon tans
the skin, little by little, to a brownish hue. This is by no means
unpleasing to the eye.
The Jewish women of Tunis have a very different costume from that of the
women of Algeria and Morocco. It is strikingly original and of the most
brilliant coloring. Tradition identifies it with the old Hebrew costume
of Scriptural times.
Its peculiar features are a pointed cap set upon the head, and a very
loose jacket, which falls a little below the waist, and which is often
ornamented with the richest of embroidery. A close-fitting pair of
stockings to cover the legs, and peculiar slippers or Hessian boots
decorated with tassels, complete the quaint costume.
The Jewish men wear a costume much more like that of the Turks, except
that their full, loose trousers do not fall much below the knee.
The women of the Turkish households in Tunis, as well as in all
Mohammedan countries, are regarded more as pets and favorites than as
the companions and helpmates which they are in American and European
households. Their homes are like gilded cages, for the inmates can leave
them only by permission of the head of the household. Even when allowed
to go upon the street, they are always heavily veiled from observation.