460 THE HUNTING GKOUNDS 



nated wall, which bears the unmistakable marks of 

 the French cannon when they took the place. The 

 streets are extremely narrow, dirty, and badly paved, 

 and the houses ill built, with flat roofs, much re- 

 sembling those of the worst parts of the suburbs of 

 Stamboul. The French have constructed a hand- 

 some fortified barracks, called La Casbah, and 

 several cafes and shops : otherwise Constantine is 

 but little changed, and much resembles a third-rate 

 town in Turkey ; and, although the second capital 

 of Algeria, would be considered but a paltry village 

 were it in India, 



The evening wet and raw. Sat round a wood-fire 

 in the hotel with much pleasure. 



Sunday, \Uh. — The weather cold and disagree- 

 able ; snow and rain falling all day. 



Called on General Gastu, the Commandant of 

 the Division of Constantine, who Kves in the old 

 Moorish palace formerly belonging to the Bey of 

 Constantine. 



It is a low irregular building, having a courtyard 

 in the centre, with an oriental verandah all round, 

 supported by small columns of very fine marble of 

 different colours. It is, however, altogether but a 

 poor specimen of Moorish architecture. 



In the courtyard the General has some fine speci- 

 mens of ostriches and gazelles, from the deserts near 

 Biscara, which latter much resemble our Indian 

 antelope in form, except that they have not such 

 fine horns. 



