ALGERIA AND TUNIS. 231 



the Mussulmans, or their acquaintance was limited to 

 those who inhabited the towns, where the pre- 

 sence of the French had revolutionised all their 

 habits of life, increased the friction, and engendered 

 profound antipathy. 



The opinion of those who have been in constant 

 communication with the Arabs is, as a rule, very dif- 

 ferent. They have understood that fanaticism had 

 not nearly so much to do with the resistance of the 

 Arabs as patriotism. Eeligion was the only flag 

 around which they could rally and concentrate their 

 efforts, and it indisputably has been a powerful stimu- 

 lant for inducing them to confront the perils of an 

 unequal struggle, to support the evils of war, ruin, 

 exile, and misery, though since December, 1847, 

 when Abd-el-Kader declared it impossible to continue 

 resistance, religion has not been for an instant an 

 obstacle in the way of pacification. The exhausted 

 tribes have accepted French rule ; the so-called fanati- 

 cism has disappeared, as if by enchantment, in the 

 course of the relations which ensued on the establish- 

 ment of peace ; the taxes have been regularly paid*; 

 and the chiefs invested with authority have been uni- 

 versally obeyed. 



This is not the place to explain the causes which 

 have, on various occasions, interrupted these friendly 

 dispositions, and led to severe repression, but some- 

 thing may surely be forgiven this grand people if 

 they exhibit some little mistrust and irritability against 



