THE TROGLODYTES OF SOUTHERN TUNISIA 
INHABITANTS OF MEDENINE 
tains great quantities of magnesium and 
stands out white against a range of pink- 
ish mountains; hence its name, Djebel- 
El-Abiodh (the White Mountain). 
After the Bey of Tunis and his prime 
ministers comes the position of caid. He 
administers the government, acts as su- 
preme judge, and collects taxes and 
debts. A caliph represents the caid in 
districts far away from where the caid 
resides, but he cannot collect taxes. 
Photo by Katrice Nicolson 
CLIMBING INTO THEIR HOMES 
A cadi is the head of the religious code. 
The Koran being the law, the cadi sees 
that the law is carried out; but it does 
not mean that he is a priest. He acts as 
judge in family disputes, in matters of 
inheritance, in questions of land. He 
marries and divorces, and above all he 
acts as peacemaker. Many were the 
wise judgments I heard during my stay 
at Foum Tatahouine. 
A retired chef from Chinini, who had 
