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VIEWS FROM A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD
#21 - ALGIERS, ALGERIA
Size: 3" x 5"
Copyrighted: 1891
Lithographer: Joseph P. Knapp
  
Illustrations: A Sheik; Exhibition by Snake Charmer; The City and Bay
| Reverse - Text |
Left section:
GRIND
YOUR COFFEE AT HOME
Right section: |
| ALGIERS, ALGERIA. |
| This city of North
Africa, on a bay of the same name
in the Mediterranean, is built on
the slope of a steep hill rising
abruptly from the coast. It is in
the form of a triangle, its apex,
the Casbah, an ancient fortress
of the deys, which is about 500
feet above the sea level. The
houses being all built of white
stone and thus arranged one above
the other, give a striking aspect
from a distance, which has been
compared to a ship under sail.
There are two towns--the portion
built on the lower part of the
slope along the shore being
entirely European in character,
and the old town on the higher
region, wholly oriental. The new
town has handsome streets and
squares, in the centre the Place
du Gouvernement. The city is
surrounded by walls and otherwise
fortified, but its chief defences
are toward the sea. The streets
of the old town are narrow,
winding and dingy; the houses
present bare walls to the street
with only narrow grated openings,
and a low door-way leading to the
inner court-yard from which the
interior is lighted. |
| The
French have laid out large sums
in improvements of the Port of
Algiers. It has an area of 220
acres, requiring only the removal
of a rock in the centre to
accommodate 40 ships of war and
300 trading vessels. |
| The
city is the residence of the
Governor General of Algeria, the
Prefect of the Department of
Algiers, and the Chiefs of the
different Administrative
Services. |
| Among
its public buildings are the
Royal College, Public Library,
Museum, and various churches,
synagogues and mosques. |
| The place has become noted as a
winter resort for invalids. |
| The
city has a fine water supply, and
a large number of fountains and
baths, public and private, are
located throughout the city. |
| Population, 74,792. |
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