it was almost their first effort at colonization; all the greater that the unsettled state of the mother-country failed to set the example of steady tranquillity, or to provide the African province with a firm and even government.

A ball of contention and reproach between rival factions at Paris, Algeria was flung from one extreme to the other; now committed to a policy of retrenchment and conciliation, now crowded with troops and urged to do "great deeds." While M. Thiers, the historian of the Revolution, was warmly advocating in the Chamber, war à outrance against the perfidious Arabs, a policy known at that time as the système agité, M. Guizot, the historian of civilization, was loudly pleading the cause of moderation and native government.

To the ferocious martial law of the Duc de Rovigo, succeeded in 1834, the feeble and indecisive government of the kindly but incapable D'Erlon.

Just at the time when discontent was rife throughout the country, and a general insurrection threatened, the foreign legion was despatched to Spain, and various other regiments recalled to France.

Clauzel, who in August 1835, succeeded M. d'Erlon, in vain pleaded for reinforcements. After a brilliant campaign, in which he had subdued the Hadjoutes; at the head of five thousand men scoured the country about Algiers as far as the Tombeau de la Chrétienne; and successfully occupied Mascara, the head-quarters of Abd-el-Kader; instead of more troops being sent him, other regiments were ordered home; but when he failed in his attempt on Constantine, by reason of his insufficient army, he was disgraced from his command.

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The next governor, General Damrémont, succeeded at the head of ten thousand troops, in covering the disaster of his predecessor, and gained Constantine for the French, though at the cost of his own life.

During the rule of his successor, Marshal Valée (1837-40), the colony enjoyed a little peace, new roads were constructed, and new regulations for the better administration of justice put in force.

Algiers was at this time made the seat of a bishopric, "for," said the French, in the petition which they presented on the subject, "the Arabs reproach us that we have no religion-that we are Christians, but do not fulfil the duties of such, and, according to them, a man is no man who does not pray."

In 1838 Marshal Valée occupied Blidah and Koleah.

In October, 1839, the passage by the French of the mountain pass, Portes-de-fer, contrary to the spirit of the treaty they had made with Abd-el-Kader, led to the proclamation of the "Holy War" by that chieftain, and to a long and sanguinary struggle.

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CHAPTER VIII.

ABD-EL-KADER.

Sans peur et sans reproche,"

BD-EL-KADER, whose career is the one harmony amid the jarring discords of the French occupation of Algeria, the one shining spot in a dark tale of bloodshed and mutual recrimination, was born in the year 1807, in the plains of Ghris, in the province of Oran. He belonged to a family priding itself on its descent from the Prophet; and he as well as his father, Mehi-ed-deen, was a Marabout, that is to say, member of a kind of aristocratic priesthood, Mehi-eddeen, the father, being renowned throughout Northern Africa for the piety of his life and for his active charity; and Abd-el-Kader, we are assured, even as a youth, shared the unbounded respect, confidence, and affection which the Arabs of Oran had long extended to his father.

At the age of nineteen he accompanied Mehi-eddeen on a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, and afterwards to Bagdad, to the tomb of Abd-el-Kader-el-Djellali, the patron saint of Algeria, of whom the youthful chief was a namesake. Many stories are told about mysterious indications given to Abd-el-Kader while at Bagdad,

YOUTH OF ABD-EL-KADER.

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of his future greatness; the angel Gabriel was said to have appeared to his father charged with the message, and declaring that the young man would be raised up as a champion and leader of his people. "And truly," says a French writer frankly enough, "the angel Gabriel, or indeed God Himself, could hardly have made a better choice."

After two years' absence, part of which time they were detained prisoners by the jealousy of the Bey of Oran, Abd-el-Kader and his father returned home, to be received with rejoicings and thanksgivings, and a mighty sacrifice of oxen and sheep.

This was in the year 1828.

The conquest of 1830 at first inspired the Arabs with no great amount of anxiety or distrust. The Turkish yoke, though in truth, they had never thought it worth their while to throw it off, had been galling and oppressive. They were not sorry to see the ruling faction chased from Algiers, nor did the presence of the European on their shores, cause them any special annoyance. Times and again, the Franks had descended upon their coasts, and occupied one or other of their maritime towns, but after awhile the storm had blown over, the unbelievers had retired across the seas, and things had resumed their usual course. Very soon however, the proceedings of the French began to alarm the Arabs as to the future of their country. Not only did these invaders seem inclined to establish themselves on a permanent footing in Algiers, but they almost immediately began to extend their conquests inland. The advance upon Blidah (July 24, 1830) sounded the first note of warning, and the attitude of the Arabs on that occasion (page 123) showed very plainly what their feelings

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on the matter were. And this first defeat of the French inspired the natives with confidence in themselves. An enemy once beaten might be beaten again. "They ran away from Blidah," was the boast of the Arab warriors; soon we will make them glad to run from other places." Meanwhile, in the province of Oran, affairs were becoming more and more unsettled. The deposition of the Bey reduced the country to a complete state of anarchy. The bad government of the Turks was succeeded by no government at all, and robbery and violence were rampant.

By the orders of Mehi-ed-deen, to whom the tribes all looked up, Abd-el-Kader and his brothers, with effective escorts, scoured the plains in knight-errant fashion, relieving the oppressed, protecting fugitives, and executing vengeance on the common enemies of order.

At the same time a general feeling of indignation against the French was daily gaining ground, fanned not a little by the extortions of which they were guilty, and by the savage policy of General Boyer, Governor of Oran.

To fill up the measure of confusion, the Arab tribes, long united under a common oppression, now began to quarrel among themselves, and were literally as sheep having no shepherd. A head and ruler was felt to be necessary, and after an ineffectual appeal to the Emperor of Morocco, who was afraid of complicating matters with the French, they turned to Mehi-ed-deen, urging him strongly to become their leader and avenger-their elected Sultan.

After considerable hesitation Mehi-ed-deen yielded to the demand made of him. "But if I do so," he said at length, "it is only that I may at once abdicate in favour of my son Abd-el-Kader-he whose courage and prowess you have