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Handbook for travellers in Algeria and Tunis
Handbook for travellers in Algeria and Tunis Author:John Murray This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 Excerpt: ... situated in a fertile district. 29 kil. Robertville. 579 inhabit. The corn-lands are extensive and rich. They gradually become scantier a... more »s the railway ascends to 46 kil. Col des Oliviers. Here the train waits 15 min. It is a narrow col between» the valley of the Oued elKhamza on the W., and that of ElArrouch on the E., across which one sees the twin peaks of Djebel Toumiet, "lies deux Mamelles" (2931 feet). After leaving the station the railway ascends the mountain of El-Kantour by a series of curves, following to a great extent the old post road. The views looking back are very striking. The previous course of the line is seen far below, and the beautiful valley of El-Arrouc/t is spread out towards the N. till the highest point is passed, after which the railway descends to 60 kil. Condi Smendou. Pop. 2236. After passing through a tunnel under the village, the valley of the Oued Smendou is followed as far as A'ioun Sdad, where it is quitted for one of its affluents. This is followed to the top of a col, after passing which an affluent of the Roummel is followed to 73 kil. Bizot. Pop. 338. A village named after an engineer officer killed at Sebastopol. It is built on a spot called El-Hadjar, "The Stones." Water is scarce, and attempts to sink an Artesian well having failed, it has been brought from a distance by an aqueduct. The land, however, is fertile, and vines and fruit-trees flourish. On leaving it the railway sweeps round the valley, and the beautiful oasis, for such it is, of El-Hamma comes into view. Several hot springs here burst from the limestone strata, producing the most luxuriant vegetation, whose varied colours contrast most strikingly with the gray of the limestone and the uniform green of the corn-lands. Every kin...« less