PREHISTORIC TOMBS OF EASTERN ALGERIA. 397 



PKEHISTOEIC TOMBS OF EASTERN ALGERIA. 



By Professor ALPHEUS S. PACKARD, 



BROWN UNIVERSITY. 



FROM the wonderful hot baths at Hamman-Meskoutine, which are 

 situated near the Tunisian border of Algeria, on the railroad 

 leading from Constantine to Tunis, one can visit the little-known 

 necropolis of Roknia. 



On a delightful morning near the last of January, with a Moor- 

 ish guide, we set out for this locality. We had arrived at the baths only 

 the evening previous, having left Constantine a couple of days before. 

 In passing along the 'Tell/ or Algerian highland, the nights had been 

 cool and we saw the hoar frost along the railroad at Setif ; the pools 

 of standing water were frozen over and the distant low mountains were 

 capped with snow. But at this early hour flocks of thick-wooled sheep, and 

 long-haired goats and herds of undersized whitish-gray cattle, with long, 

 downy, thick hair, such as one sees on the highlands and elevated plains 

 of Asia Minor, were grazing in the fields, while among them were scat- 

 tered a few camels bending their tortuous necks over the herbage. 

 Although in some winters an inch of snow may fall in the streets of 

 Constantine, yet the winter climate of Algeria is most delightful. On 

 sunny days the morning soon grows warmer, and by noon the heat is 

 almost summer-like. 



We had not heard of Roknia and its dolmens until the evening we 

 arrived at Hamman-Meskoutine, when we at once made arrangements 

 for a horse and guide to the tombs, and for an early start the next 

 morning. 



Meanwhile, we found the springs wonderfully interesting. They 

 lie about half a mile from the railroad station, on the edge of a plateau. 

 The water carries lime in solution, is of a temperature of about 220° 

 Fahr., and has deposited on the hillside an elevated platform of cal- 

 careous sinter and travertine, with several imposing crater or tower-like 

 cones, six and ten feet high, from which formerly poured streams of 

 hot water and steam. The water of the stream overflows the tanks 

 and natural basins, and passes in cataracts down the declivity to enter 

 the little river, the Oued Chedakra, draining the valley, while clouds of 

 steam hover over the scene. These baths were used by the Romans, 

 and the grounds of the hotel are adorned with the remains of bathtubs, 

 statues and broken columns of marble. 



Our way to Roknia lay for six miles through a hilly country, with 



