THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 
Photo by Frank Edward Johnson 
A DAUGHTER OF THE SHEIK OF MATMATA ON THE RIGHT, AND HER CHUM AIESCHA 
AND HER BROTHERS 
the construction of roads the question 
of water adds a large item to price per 
kilometer, and water has to be had in 
order to roll the road properly. 
A road once made requires, in order to 
be well kept up, for every 30 kilometers 
one foreman and four workmen, with 
mules and a watering cart. ‘Then the 
road can be kept in perfect condition, 
and if kept up in this way will last from 
12 to 15 years, whereas if neglected the 
road will be worn out in from four to 
five years. 
To build a road in Tunisia costs from 
5,000 to 7,500 francs per kilometer. The 
latter price is considered very expensive. 
These figures were given me by four con- 
tractors, now constructing portions of 
the road between Médenine and Foum 
Tatahouine, and verified by the chief offi- 
cers superintending the construction. All 
southern Tunisia is under martial law, 
so that road-building comes under mili- 
tary supervision. 
The country between Gabes and Me- 
denine is arid save for small oases of 
palm trees that dot the landscape. A 
chain of bluish pink mountains stretches 
from northwest to southeast, and occa- 
sionally we catch a glimpse of dark blue 
sea off to the left (almost due east). We 
rush past shepherds watching their large 
flocks of long black-haired goats or 
broad-tailed sheep. Caravans of nomads 
are coming northward for the summer, 
and we pass their camps of numerous 
gourbis, tents made of goat and camel 
hair woven into a strong material; the 
countless Kabyle dogs bark furiously and 
the women and girls draw their haiks - 
over their faces so that we may not see 
them. 
