478 The Hunting Grounds 



Charles, a small fortified village about fifteen miles 

 from Philippeville, on the confluence of the rivers 

 Saf-Saf and Oued Zerga. 



Our driver assured us that lions were very nume- 

 rous in this part of the country, that on two occasions 

 within the last month he had fallen in with them on 

 the road during the night, and once one followed the 

 diligence for three miles, to the great consternation of 

 the horses and passengers. Leaving St. Charles we 

 passed through the villages of Gastonville and El 

 Arrouch, where we changed horses ; and about 1 P.M. 

 we arrived at El Kantour (the Gap), where we 

 dined. 



Should the proposed railway be constructed be- 

 tween Philippeville and Constantine, the cost between 

 El Arrdtich and El Kantour will be something enor- 

 mous, on account of the fearful cuttings, excavations, 

 and tunnellings that will have to be made. The 

 winding of the road round the ravines and hills makes 

 the distance more than three times that by which the 

 crow flies, and even then some of the heights are very 

 steep, so that we had to get out and walk, as the 

 horses could not pull us up. 



The aspect of the country completely changes 

 after passing El Kantour. The hills are bleak and 

 rocky, and there is no wood to be seen. We passed 

 a few roadside inns and cabarets en route, but the 

 country appeared thinly populated until we arrived 



