ALGIERS, hl-jere (Ar. A l-jaza'ir, the islands, referring to an island in its bay; Fr. Alger, arzlth!, formerly fil'zhtle). The capital and chief seaport of Algeria, situated on the west shore of the Bay of Algiers, in lat. 36° 47' N., and long. 3° 3' E. (Map: Africa, E 1). It is located on the slope of the Sahel chain, the rich verdure of the mountains giving a beautiful background to the dazzling white of the city, which has the shape of a triangle, while over all towers the Moorish citadel or Kasbah, over 400 feet above the sea. Algiers is divided into two parts. The lower part is occu pied by the modern city, which has been brought into existence by the French, and which differs in no respect from any well-appointed European city. It has wide and well shaded streets, spa cious squares with statues and parks, and five munieipal buildings, mostly located in the Boule vard de la Republique. The city is lighted by gas, and the water is supplied by four aqueducts, built in the beginning of the seventeenth century. In strong contrast to the European Algiers is the old Moorish part of the city, which rises above the former, and which, in all es sentials, continues to be what it was during the reirm of the Turkish Deys. The streets are narrow and crooked and often impassable for vehicles. The houses are very plain from the outside, but their interiors bear all the marks of splendor and beauty so characteristic of Moorish architecture. The roofs are flat, and in the evening become centres of gayety, and are even used occasionally for social functions. An addi tional pietnresqueness is given to the Moorish part of the town by the motley crowds on its streets, including the elegantly dressed French man, the splendidly arrayed Moor, as well as the scantily clad native from the interior. The mosques are less numerous than they were before the French occupation, when their number was estimated at about one hundred. At present there are only four mosques used as regular places of worship, but there are numbers of tombs of saints or "kubas," which are also used occasionally for that purpose. The citadel or
Kasbah was eonstrueted in the beginning of the sixteenth century, and was the scene of many at tacks. At present it is used as barracks for the French soldiers, and many of its historical fea tures have been entirely obliterated. The mod ern city has several splendid ehurehes, including a Roman Catholic cathedral. Of educational in stitutions the city has schools of law, medicine, science, and letters, several lyeees for the natives, as well as for Frenchmen, a number of commercial colleges and higher Mussulman schools. There are also a library and museum, two theatres, and a number of scientific societies. The harbor is very spacious and well fortified. The commerce of Algiers is very extensive, and its shipping amounts to nearly 7,000,000 tons an nually. The commerce is chiefly with France; but there is also considerable export trade with Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Al giers is also one of the most important coaling stations on the Mediterranean. Owing to its mild climate and the fertile as well as pictur esque country in which it is situated, Algiers is rapidly becoming a favorite • health resort, and its transient population is steadily increasing. Algiers is connected by rail with Oran and Con stantine, and communicates with France by steamer and cable. Since the French occupation, the growth of Algiers has been quite rapid. In 1838, it had a population of 30,000; 1881, 65, 000; 1S91, S3,000: 1896, 96,784, of which over 40 per cent, were French, about 24 per cent. Moors, and a great number Jews. The percentage of natives is steadily declining, while the foreign population, especially the French, shows a steady increase. Algiers is the seat of the Governor General and of the superior civil and mili tary officials of Algeria and the department and arrondissement of Algiers. The city is supposed to have been founded in the first half of the tenth century, and fell into the hands of France in 1830.