THE 



ANNUAL CYCLOPEDIA. 



AFRICA. The whole of Xorth Africa was, 

 during some months of the year 1864, in an 

 extraordinary fermentation, which was sup- 

 posed to spring, in part, from the fanatical 

 preaching and the influence of the Mohamme- 

 dan priests. On the 8th of April an insurrec- 

 tion broke out among the Arabian tribes in 

 Algeria against the French, which assumed 

 very large dimensions. The natives were un- 

 able to obtain any lasting successes, but at 

 the close of the year quiet was not wholly 

 restored. (See FEAXCE.) Simultaneously, a 

 violent outbreak occurred in Tunis. A body of 

 cavalry, which, under the command of Gen. 

 Si-Far-Hat, was sent out to collect taxes, was 

 murdered by the discontented tribes. The in- 

 surrection spread rapidly over a large portion 

 of the Tunisian territory. The cause of the 

 discontent was the doubling of the highly un- 

 popular personal tax which at the beginning 

 of the year 1864 was raised from 36 to 72 

 piastres, and the unpopularity of the courts 

 which had been introduced in 1860. The in- 

 surgents, numbering from 15,000 to 20,000, took 

 possession of the towns Kef-Kadgia, Kairvan, 

 and others, and threatened the coast towns 

 Monastir and Susa. The Bey of Tunis, Sidi- 

 Mohammed El Sadak, on May 1, consented 

 to the demanded abolition of the courts, 

 but the insurgents, whose chief leader was 

 Ali Ben Gahum, insisted on more concessions, 

 especially on the dismissal of the Kasnadar 

 (Minister), Sidi Mnstafa. This, however, the 

 Bey steadily refused to grant, and the insur- 

 rection continued. In July the Arabs marched 

 again in force upon Tunis, and when they 

 arrived within two leagues the army of the 

 Bey surrendered. On the 28th of July the 

 minister of the Bey officially informed the 

 French consul-general of the pacification of 

 the regency under the following conditions: 

 The granting of an amnesty without reserve, 

 VOL. iv. 1 A 



the reduction of the personal tax from 72 to 20 

 piastres, and the nomination, in the provinces, 

 of Caids (native governors), instead of Mame- 

 lukes. The insurrection was, however, far 

 from being completely subdued. While four- 

 teen of the tribes were stated to have made 

 their submission, forty others were said to 

 continue in insurrection. One chief who 

 signed the conditions of peace, was obliged to 

 take refuge in Tunis, and several other chiefs 

 who had manifested a wish for peace were 

 killed. Most of the tribes demanded the dis- 

 missal of the Kasnadar. The French and 

 Italian admirals despatched ships of war to 

 watch the coast and to protect French and 

 Italian subjects. The French admiral having 

 learned that the Turkish, flag had been substi- 

 tuted for that of Tunis, wrote a circular note, 

 on the 26th of June, protesting against mani- 

 festations disavowed even by the Ottoman 

 Government, and declaring that France would 

 countenance no intervention in the established 

 order of the regency. Toward the close of 

 the year the insurrection began again to ex- 

 tend. The Arabs, who had submitted, threw 

 off their allegiance to the Bey and surrounded 

 the camp of Gen. Euthen. On the loth of 

 December, Prince Alij set out with a body of 

 troops for his relief. 



The Government of Morocco seems to be 

 disposed to favor reforms. Sir Moses Monte- 

 fiore, who paid a visit to the Sultan of Mo- 

 rocco for the purpose of obtaining toleration 

 and protection for the persecuted Jews of the 

 empire, was entirely successful. A threatening 

 difficulty with France, arising out of the as- 

 sassination of a French subject, was promptly 

 adjusted. The four principals charged with 

 the deed were arrested, and the governor who 

 assisted the flight of the criminals, was dis- 

 missed and also arrested. 



Of all the native governments of Africa 



