3-070-834 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The French Occupation of Tunis: Biserta, Tunis, occupied by a French garrison, 1881. Engraving from a photograph by M. Catalanotti, of Tunis. 'The force which is to occupy Biserta...comprises 2000 men. These troops have taken the place of the brigade of sailors who were landed on the first May to take possession of the town. The reason officially assigned for the occupation of the place is that it was the centre from which the Khroumirs drew their supplies of provisions; and, further, that the occupation will complete the blockade of the Khroumirs, and facilitate the revictualling of the French army. This once important seaport town, to which much attention is now directed on account of the French occupation, is situated at the bottom of the bay formed by the Cape Ras-el-Zebib (the Promontorium Apollinis) and Cape El-Alrid (Promontorium Candidum)...In the time of Barbarossa it was a city of great strength and magnificence; but this has disappeared and it is now but a small town of some 8000 inhabitants, for the most part Arabs and a few Europeans. The Lake of Biserta is the chief source of the trade, abounding as it does in tunny and other kinds of fish, the monopoly of which is farmed out by the Government for £1600 a year'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.