The revolution of Feb., 1848, somewhat disturbed the progress of conquest and sub jugation in A. That superb race of mountaineers, the Kabyles, descendants of the ancient Numidians, and possessed of the same fiery and dauntless spirit, broke out into a new• insurrection, which, however, was speedily quelled. The national assembly now offered to the European population of A. to incorporate the country with the republic of France, and to grant it all the accompanying political privileges of a Ereneli but intelligent men of all parties acknowledged the uselessness and danger of this step. 'It was, therefore, simply declared to be a permanent possession of the republic. Four deputies from the colony were permitted to take a part in all dis cussions in the national assembly on Algerian affairs. Meanwhile, the work of conquest, colonization, and, in some respects, civilization went on. The French troops penetrated into the far south, almost to the borders of Sahara, sternly reducing to obedience the desert tribes, who manifested a not unnatural antipathy to these inroads, and in some cases fiercely resisted the invaders. Various tribes of the Kabyles, too, opposed every at empt at organized taxation, and the imposition of civilized discipline ; the result of which patriotic obstinacy was, a new campaign against them by the French gen. Bugia. Fortune again declared for the invaders • but the most alarming insurrection was that excited by the Cherif Bou-zian, who fled for freedom to Zaatcha in the oases. The French pursued him thither ; but were beaten, and had to retreat. Some months after, they returned largely reinforced, and in spite of the broad belt of palm-trees which hindered their operations, and the wild and strenuous heroism of the besieged, the place was stormed and destroyed. The defenders all perished.
In 1853-54, and again in 1856-57, expeditions were organized against the Kabyles, though not altogether with the will of the colonists, who could not but recognize the great intelligence and industry displayed by that highland race. The struggle was sanguinary and barbarous on both sides, but the French at last subdued their enemies. For two years (1858-60) the military government of A. was superseded by the institu tion of a special ministerial department for A. and the colonies, which was first of all intrusted to prince Napoleon. In Dec., 1860, however, a military government was re instituted, and marshal Pelissier made governor-general, with a vice-governor under him, a director-general for civil affairs, and a council of thirty members. In 1863, the emperor Napoleon announced that he was willing to give the colony a new constitution, with a chamber of representatives for provincial affairs: he also addressed a letter to the governor-general, in which he explained that A. was no colony in the strict sense of the word, but an Arabian kingdom ; and that the natives had the same right to protec tion as the colonists. In 1S64, strife again arose between the colonists and the Arabs : and it was only-after several engagements, during the months of April and May, that peace was restored by the submission of the conquered tribes. Pelissier having died,
in Nay, 1864, marshal 3facMalion was appointed to succeed him. In the following year, the emperor himself made a journey to A., and, on March 5 issued a proclamation, in which, although explaining to the Arabs that A. must continue to be united to France, he promised to maintain their nationality, and at the same time gave them assurance that they should always remain in undisturbed possession of their territories. Yet these and other measures for conciliating the Arabs were all in vain ; for, shortly after the emperor's return to France, insurrections broke out in the province of Oran and else where. Si-Hamed, a native chief, with 12,000 horsemen at his command, began to liar ass those tribes which remained in submission, until he was routed by col. Colomb of Geryville, and forced to escape into Sahara : after which, in the beginning of 1867, two expeditions, led by Colomb and Souis, succeeding in reducing to submission the other tribes which had revolted. In 1867 and 1868, a severe and general famine checked the military enterprises of the Arabs ; and there was peace till 1870, when, the Franco Prussian war having begun, the emperor found it necessary to withdraw to Europe the greater part of the forces in Africa. MacMahon's place was then taken by gen. Durieu, as interim governor-general ; and the natives began to entertain hopes of freeing them selves from the yoke of France. Movements were begun in the provinces of Constantine and Oran, which it required all gen. Durieu's vigilance and activity to hold in check. After this, again, some disorder arose among the colonists themselves, who strongly de sired the abolition of the military government—a change which the new republican government at Paris soon gratified them by effecting. To Durieu's place was appointed a civil governor, and under him prefects for each of the three provinces. A council was formed—composed of the prefects, archbishop, commander of the army, and other mem bers appointed by the French government—with which, in all important cases, the gov ernor has to take counsel. The territory of the Sahara and adjoining districts remain exclusively under military rule.
The French troops still stationed in A. consist of one "corps d'armee," numbering 60,000. It is said that the possession of A. has cost France the lives of 150,000 men, besides £120,000,000 in money. The revenue of A. is derived chiefly from indirect taxes, licenses, and customs duties on imports. In 1875 it amounted to 52,386,955 fr., and the expenditure to 57,110,872 fr. The cost of maintaining the army, however, the outlay for public works, and other large sums disbursed—estimated in 1877 at 25,111,472 fr.—are not included in the expenditure, being provided out of the French budget.