THE ALGERIAN SAHARA. 23" 



about 250 miles, which I preferred to travelling over land. 

 It was a clear day and a calm sea, and we coasted along 

 near enough to observe the verdant hills, in some places 

 sparsely covered, in others clothed with rich foliage. I 

 stood on deck watching some Manx Shearwaters, until the 

 blue bay of Algiers came in sight, and we cast anchor at a 

 short distance from the boulevards, constructed for the 

 French government by Sir Morton Peto. Algiers is one of 

 those places which have been so much written about, that 

 nothing more remains to be said. Piesse's " Itineraire de 

 I'Algerie," and Bernard's " Indicateur de I'Algerie," give a 

 sufficiently good account of it, and to them I refer the 

 reader. An astonishing number of English make it their 

 winter quarters, the climate being recommended in cases of 

 consumption and lung disease ; and some of them hire 

 houses, and have delightful gardens, in the suburb of 

 Mustapha. The Moorish part of the town is highly interest- 

 ing, while the French part can boast of capital hotels (the 

 Hotel d'Orient is perhaps the best,) and a great number 

 of first-class shops. There is very good society, and plenty 

 to see in the neighbourhood for those who do not go further 

 into the interior. 



I copy the following extracts from some correspondence 

 in the ''Field',' which may be of use to anyone intending to 

 go there. 



" Houses can be obtained in the suburbs at ^20 to ^40 per 

 inonth furnished, and the owners let them generally only for the 

 season of six months, and not for a less period. English furniture 

 would be 'useless here, or at any rate quite incongruous. The 

 houses, moreover, are let furnished. There are no dependable 

 house agents. It is a good plan to come here early, perhaps in 

 the beginning of October, and stoj) at an hotel until a selection of 

 a house can be made. There are doctors of all nations in the 

 season. Horses can be bought at all prices, from ;^8 to ;^i2o. 

 The best horses that can be bought (for the Arabs will not sell 



