The men dress in Arab costume, with the white turban on their heads, a
short red jacket, and baggy blue Turkish breeches with boots of red
morocco leather. They also wear a huge red cloak in cold weather.
[Illustration: ASPAHI, OR NATIVE CAVALRYMAN OF THE FRENCH ARMY IN
ALGERIA.]
They are mounted on small grey Arab horses, and sit in a very
high-peaked saddle, and the horses all wear blinkers. Altogether they
make very picturesque soldiers, and at the same time are good riders
and brave fighters.
* * * * *
A TRAMPING CAMP.
Prom Biskra on the Sahara we started' on a walking tour among the
mountains of the desert.
We got a couple of tents, bedding, camp furniture, and food, and two
mules to carry it all. We also got two Arabs to guide us and be
generally useful. Their names were Rahmoun and Ibrahim.
Our preparations did not take us long, and we were soon camped out on
the desert, far from other human habitations, in the glorious sunshine
of North Africa.
At night, although the air was keen and cold, we had our beds put
outside the tent in the open, and we slept under the stars.
Pages:
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220