In Barbary

"In Barbary : Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and the Sahara" by E. Alexander Powell is a travelogue and historical-cultural survey written in the early 20th century. It follows the author’s journeys through Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and the Sahara, interweaving vivid travel writing with history, politics, and practical guidance to correct common Western misconceptions about Barbary. Expect close attention to landscapes, cities, and peoples (notably distinguishing Berbers from Arabs), alongside a critical-yet-appreciative view of French colonial administration. The opening of the book sets out its mission: to dispel popular myths about North Africa’s peoples, climate, geography, and politics, and to present the whole of French North Africa—its history, resources, and travel conditions—in one volume; it also acknowledges extensive help from French officials while insisting on independent judgment. The narrative then shifts to the author’s “wander-thirst,” his map-prompted decision to go, and a detailed approach to routes and seasons, choosing to enter via Tunis. He describes departure from Marseilles, a brief, violent incident at Bizerta, the sea approach to Carthage (with a priest evoking its vanished glory), and a night arrival in Tunis that contrasts Europeanized boulevards with the preserved Medina. Rich, sensory tours of the souks follow—perfume-sellers, textiles, carpets, saddlery, chéchias, cobblers, and multi-tasking barbers—along with the Kasbah’s grim slave history, panoramic views, the Dar-el-Bey’s ceremonies of justice and blood-money, and the Bardo’s ornate, eclectic palaces, where European gaudiness meets Moorish elegance.

In Barbary, by E. Alexander Powell. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #76665.