Allok; amt is the Prophet of God." HIS is the call to Br that | ont, five times a doy from | wa the muessin. to the | people of the oo Guermensa, one of the "SS most inaccessible strongholds of the Troglodytes, cave dwellers, in | Tripoli, They come from es in the ghves, turn their faces tow Meer eh, } and bow together, Nuching | the/ir faces to the gronnd several times, ' Religion is foremost in the minds of | "these rugged Araba, dwellers in caves | in plmost impassable mountains, over: | the Great Sahars, descrited hy Frank Edward Johnson, who has just returned to the United States from al tour through the country for the Na- tional Geographic Society. In these underground dwellings the people live like the patriarchs of old. Sometimes one hundred persons live in a single dwelling. The head of the fam- iy 'W the mister, and he lives with his eons, his pons' sgps. their wives and their children. Each family has an in- dividual cave. Seattered from Gabes to Dehibat aml fom Matmata over the Tripeli horder are cave dwellers. They live on the -------i, sides. Sometimes there are "4mall groups, many times a single fam- fly. The towns are built in ovals, with anly one entrance for each tribe, so that | # small gronp of men heavily armed could if necessary. protect their strong- bolds from 'thieves or enemies. LAN of the Troglodyte towns are set far | in the wilderness and can be gpproached { only with the greatest difficulty, accord. fhg to the word brought baek by Mr. Johnson. This makes them places of exceptional vantage in time of war. The people cauld see an enemy approach- ing in the desert for many miles unless | it was at night. Even then the pas | sageway--a narrow path through the mountain--would be too dangerous for | approach, for a misstep would mean a, fall of hundreds of Yeet onto the roc cks below, "Guerm _ which Mr. Johnson | apent mosh is one of the most difficult Troglodyte towns to reach, for it is located on the tap of + sugar loaf mountain extending geqrly 2.000 feet | above the desert. The parrow, zigzag | hail to the summit is so slippery that even the mountain goats hifve difficnlty ih passing through it. Tt has beep worn | smooth by centuries of wear and the | rocks. are like polished marble. | Bidi Hadj, the holy man of the town, and Mr. dohngon became close frienfls and the American spent considerable | time in his cave at Guermessa. "Sidi Hadi's own cave was large, and | the rear part of the floor was raised about a foot higher than the front of the eave," said Mr. J on In describing it in the society's gazine. "Rugs from Kairowan 4 sia were laid over the stone floor aLG Domerous Tonareg leather cushions salfed »ith sheep's wool were strewn about. "These thick Oriental rigs were in- tended to 'sleep an and not (0 walk npop. The' tmeven stone floor of 8 Troglodyte cave is a very tnepmiortable place to sleép on, but use a couple of thick Ori- enthl rugs and cover yourself with a * bernous, or Arab Cloak and you have a most comfortable bed "On the stone walls of the cave hung * wilisture arsenal of flintlock pistols and long barrelled guns and shotguns. A very large wagden chigst. painted green. with Mpofish designs in red and gold, stood at the e back of the eave, which was ahout say » feel high by fourteen feet wide and about twenty- -four feet deep. "Two Persi pictures of Mecca deco- rated 'the wi , and some ornamental | bernons for Swearing during a fantasia, and the nsual cous-cous plates and plat- ters brought from Ghadames, usualy used for decoration by the Troglodytes. They reminded me of our Indian woven plates and baskets of certain tribes of the Far West anc New Mexico, They ard so we! woven. that they hold liquids like a dish, and they have simple but decorative patterns worked in color. "Dinner was served that night by the wives of Sidi Hadj's sons, sad, sthense it was extremely plain, alibi and excellent. On the e table ufually is placed a platter of Ja Xi with a half or whale shegp o *ldest son of the hol ae were all wountsis Tropladyten, ng on the pepest peaks of the table lands, over | Jobking great stretches of desert land. | But as years went on the searcity of food and wager drove the yanager generations of some of the villages fnto the plains. where they hava lived since. But they were veed to the cave homes, | ands in tae ldwlands they built artificial 'These are foand in Medenine, 17 and other towns further | of the cares are used as dn A larger, serve as ite Tor i dd don. Raine » joultaral implements. Neat nb 18 whew are nomadic during | Cdl Hine Matha of the yar : Bio f the party wre wandering MUN the i | JAS scarce, glodytes, Strange Cave Dwellers of Tripo eturning from Tour Through Mystic Country, Describes These People Cave Oweling Women at a Well, From Nutlousl Geographic Mazaning, - Washington, D. G. Copyright 1010 +. camels some of the strongest en stay behind to protect the caves and property. In the valleys of the Haugia mouse tains, where are located the" villages of | The tribes tired of living in the high 4 tablelands where climbing was difficult, 80 went to the lower sections, It was impossible there to JDailg houses, for food was lacking and water Instead they dug enor: mous circular holestin the earth aver- aging 27 feet in depth and 195 feet in circumference. Entrance to the great | courtyards, which are open to the sky, is gained through underground tunnels ent through the rock, which is soft and yields easily to the spade. This. rot hardens when it comes into contact with the hir. : Grain will keep indefinitely in these subterranean caves, which are perfectly dry. The men more of Matmata have energy than most Arabs, 'audi the heads | aida hi 1d more fritters are f | of the household are supreme. a we intins are 7 adventurous "Often two or three youths receive permission from their fathers, for without permission they could do nothing, and start en foot or on donkeys for Tunis," says Mr. Johnson. "The journey is long. XKaironan, ¢ity of the sands, is usually visited en route; also the tombs of several cele- brated marabouts. Arriving penniless and unknown in Tunis, these young Troglodytes earn money hy carrying trunks, runpipg erands or geing to sacred | market and carrying vegetables and pro- visions for housekeepers. "When have earned mondy to buy two or th and what looks like a large Flower pot they hire a suall shop, a8 a closet, with an open front f the street. Here the morning thn they enongh ing on jing' cakes in like apple fritters centimes. or ong cent. ing to work are their patrons { | { salutation. | would © Copper pots | | Matma ta, Benioyssa, Beniziten and Hadi |. | diji, the building of caves was a necessity. fhe Sheik's Private Cave. Trun National Gengraphic Maguzine, Washington, D, C. Copyright 1080 blown with small bellows until they glow The demand | sce greater than the supply | "In about four years' time these young men can lay aside enough money to. hu some broadtail sheep and eral cainels Troglodyte thems oats and sev- | and return to their nativ wher dy te ppy hon their own." © Pea interest elves a ' ind esta lish a small bat } bir his visi Mr ing enstoms t to these pieturesat Johnson discovered son practised by travellers rior of Northern Africa." When ONE CArAVAR encoutiiprs gnather 1 Pea the inte ever "Salam salikoum,' upon you," s awaited mean littl when it is supg ont | is safety, hardly as large | abaut four o'clock in | { their copper pots, which tasth something | They sell for five | The dax laborers | "About seven o'clock in the 'morning | work is over, and they. chge the sl clean up and go to sleep. out Ha f- { past three in the afternoun the shop is The embers in the flower which is in reality a stove. are again opened, pot, | I 4 Mighty Dreadnoights Battle Desperately BE ITTLE ch Ocean for anything smaller than itsel®nand that includes bulkhead lines along shore and 26.000 ton steel battle ships. The younger officers' snd sailors of the nary learned ' this ther wighly on the homeward bound voyage (wi the recent cpuise to the Mediterranean, Many of them imagined that the huge engines of steel beneath them would rige calmly © through the worst Old Ocean could do. but when the seas began to smash en tic fo'cgstios aud the bows Began to Ht sud phage through wn are of foity uo City feet they realized (that Father Nepione is still in omand. As a matier of fact, the apie nzh which the Batre ships rode demonstrated Jib iagttificent Jines of the Wy- a? Via "No ont anlikoum' using the greeting would ever dare hy wrath of God upon his } i to rob your r sieop." Mr to the g the ahovgs Ihe we CATAVAD ion then thy greeling, know that all wou ane does pier 3 is pear. The ¢ Maohami ns Christin¥y is accompanying the is included nger oply between with this phn has the = Atlantic; oming the Arksusis and the other new! sup.rdreadnonghts are correct iu the' ory and sre calculated to. make these ! imunense skips as Sani as it possible to make any kind offtraft. The concave bows threw the seas backward, and the smaller waves which did come' aver were tufned aside by waters. with which. this type of bat! tie gahiip is equipped. At the same time the Vermont, built some time ago, and alpng different lines, was ploughing her nose dyolay under every sea that came alung, lifting it ap and throwing it back, aver her superstructure like an elephait at the bath, i | Nor did the Wyoming and the Avkan<! sas eséape. They reached port with! Geir' funnels and bridges streaked with to the I ighest, meet he elder, Courtyard of a-House at Matmata, "Showing the Snsnings Leading to Little Caves for the Animals, From: National Geographic Mamaine, Washington, 1. €. Copyright 1914, View of the Troglodyte Town of Douirat, Showing Mosque and Strong- hold, Now Falling Rap idly into Decay. From National Geographic Magazine, Washington, Oy C. Copyrig General View of Matmata, a Town of 5,000 Inhabitants, Without One House. From National Geographic. Magazine, Washington, D. C. hs. that accompany the | tation alsa is used by friends g alone. No matter what the rih or his power or is on horse 1 on foot. Tl man that is wack speak The 1 first to the man on the first an on iis the rule of greeting is from the and never the low rest, If two men of younger in 'ordex the then to show re: man shal | with Relentless ceremonial of unusual me spread wrn Afries e to all ind, altho lish brea n tried, i or is not con wost excel zlodyte sheik when serving fea behind a low table, inches d several ss and silver. from Mecea. As there are guests are placed an'a } s rock ally only On this are arrang ave about five tea- of copper and hrs These oftentimes gome mapy tiny cups as the break- | Copyright 1014 *. 18 sheik hey bold t then any other mee of people in world. A sem is not pe of his father, more smebe in the presence ¢ sons then bring in a loaf of sugar, | ph g it with a hammer no the sheik. The teapots, which have 1 water, then are placed on glowing coals. When the water ny at the fille is all right into the poured out agajw nes for a-fong tine nmps of s afte pots Each cup is All the then teapots, n ap This pi until the tea is al- er p------------ [wight before, jou board the Wyoming. i Weaidnesday { morning, | | i (aad poling like a tortnred animal Rising to a Big Sea. Frow Scientific Amerionn, the rime of salt and their decks 1 filled with boils the tea is added placed in slowly cups are emptied and rs contin. Winter Gales at Sea | covers were a Persian picture and an in- Courtyard,or Patio, of the Sheik Troglodyte of Matwata Showing Entrances Into Vark * ous Caves. .. ? from Nations! Geographie | | bey Cs gous wait on their father, | respect for their | Mepuding Waskington, D. 0. Copseighe 1914 most like a liquor. Mint and other in- gredients often are added, so that the mixture does not resemble tes. In extreme Southern Tunisia, Mr. Johnson says, the more noige one nthkes in drinking tes the better pleased ap pears the host. --- Matmata is the chief town of the cnid- ship of Matmata, which comprises the villages of Tamesred, Zeraona, Benioussa, Toudjane, Benizelten and Hadidjl, and has 5,000 inhabitants. In the town of Matmata there js not a single house, only a picturesque mosque, built since the French occupation. They live in caves dug in the earth. J The holes in Matmata vary in depth and width, but most of then are fifteen metres deep by fifteen métres in cireum- ference. Around these, which serve as a courtyird, are numerous caves dug in the sides of the hole. These serve as living rooms and storehouses. Entrance to the dwellings is had by means of under- ground tunnels through rock or earth. In the centre of the courtyard there is usually a huge cistern, large masonry troughs running into it. re is hut little rain there, but" when there is it pours, and every drop is carefully pre served. The Troglodytes are so careful of water that they only give it to their horses and other animals once in twenty- four hours, and then not all they wank. Matmata has a special code of etiquette, says Mr. Johnson. It is pot omly con- sidered bad form, but exceedingly danger ous, to approach near enough another man's dwelling to look down into the cir cular courtyard to see his women, Each dwelling has'a pack of white Kabyle doge that keep a constant watch and would fly at and tear to pieces any person whe approached Besides this, it is ciently impropax to enter a passageway to a dwelling house without sending a small girl or in first to let the women know that 0 are coming. Sheik Ferdjani's cave in Matmata is | described by Mr. Johnson in the mest rmitted to | minate detail. "The cave was whitewasked," be said. 1 "To the left 1& a woeden chest and a gun, | one of many. | to the Greek and Roman days. Back of the gun is a stand cut out of the rock, and & dark ob- Ject, an ofl lamp, the form dating back There | was a white object in the centre, a bed- { stead eut out of the rock, and there ind the sheik tastes his to see if it | | wool, | =1 i | | erosted with the crystajs left by the {smashing seas. were comfortable mattresses filled with and pative blankets and rugs Above the bedstead was a sort of eup- board where snuff, matches snd other articles are placed. "To the right were rarge oil and water jars. At the back of the cave are cohs cous covers, the largest ones having come from Ghadames. These covers and cous cous plates are highly. prised snd yery ornamental. Above the plates and Arab almanac. When Mohammed bad to flee from Mecca, 622 A. D., that date became the first year of the Mahamme dan calendar, and 1s called 'Hegira." When a man marries in this country he has to give to the parents of the bride a gift, these gifts varying a to the tribe and locality. In the rtd ranges around Tatahouine, in Matmate, be gives four goats and two kids, four sheep and two lambs, twenty litres of . olive gil," sixty litres of barley and forty of wheat. Other gifts, in some sectiops, are made to the father-in-law, dnd in some a present to the mother of the girl. By these gifts he may obtain a physi- cally petféct girl, but with less be may obtain a girl blind in one eye, but other- wise sound. Ju certain tribes the form of abdue- tien takes place," said Mr. Johnson. "The marriage and the value of pres nts is arranged by a mufugl friend. he bridegroom and his chums miake wp a\sppall but warlike party, fully ariied. and about miduight they stealtisly ap proach the village ten} of cave of Kis be- loved, who is waiting. He pats her up The storm came upon the nag" sare] behind him on his full Hipoded Arab in the morning of Thursday, 111 A fresh gale had sprony medicine ball on the forward deck afternoon, only up they but it did net ankoy 1s We even played stopping when he ball was lost overboard, Bs however, wo were stateivom: was well forward, and awgke with water two inches doch wash ling' fn every direction over the floor: plabgi {HE My Decensber| Stallion and. away they caeed. famentations au gun h Wails. coli from he home of the girl. She is taken at mee to the Home of the nintaal friepd who has arranged the mariage and is Banieil over to the mre of the women. "in Le morning a warlike pasty ot frily armed, fide up and dema the 18 ase of the abductad girl" Affer inth fount ix prapared aud. Hho gifts + the home of Sab toe Ue: Blac