THE  PIOIG
 

249
 

The  Figig
 

J-'huto du. (iouv*'
:  El Maiz.
 

C'^^ de VAlgerie.
 

General Survey. — The name Figig denotes, not a particular village, but
a whole district, situated at an alt of ab. 900 m., and occupying an elliptical
depression, some 20 sq. k. in area. It comprises seven lisur, or native settle-
rlients, surrounded by high walls and which for a long time were mutually
hostile to one another : Senaga (the most important), El Udaghir. El Abid. El
Maiz, Uled Sliman, ElHammam Fukani (upper), ElHammam Talitani {lower).

The aggregate population numbers ab. 15,000 inhab.,incl.l4,500 Moslems and
500 Jews, living in mud cabins, somewhat roughly put together, but devoid
neither of art,, nor especially of originality. Rerber is the aboriginal language.
, The waters used for irrigation purposes have their springs on the Udaghir
tableland, notably at A'in Taddert, or are brought from without, e. g. from
Takriimet in the W., and from IJar El Beida, in the N.-W., by underground
canals, called feggaguir (sing, foggara), with draft-holes hero and there;
other canals, or seguias, and reservoirs regulate the distribution of tho waters
among the plantations by an ingenious though primitive process.

The gardens, well cultivated and protected by watch-towers, are enclosed
within clay walls, sufficiently high to prevent even a man on horseback from
looking over them. But the natives are usually quite willing to allow one
to step inside (slight gratuity). The growing of market-garden produce is
restricted to onions and turnips, and though there are plenty of palm-trees
(200,000 trees, producing large quantities of dates, but of poor quality),
fruit-trees and vines are very scarce.

The Figigians are shrewd dealers; they also favour temporary emigration,
. tcfv the purpose of hiring themselves out as labourers in Algeria, etc.
Local industry is very primitive and practically consists merely in the manu¬
facture of a few fabrics (burnouses, haiks, tellises) and leather goods (hand-
bsigs), set off by coloured designs and embroidery.