With the advent of the French, circumstances altered, and now, thanks to the supervision of the military authorities, the Urghamma behave more like peaceful nomads.
Everywhere in the plains of Southern Tunisia I found remains of ancient towers—now lying in ruins, since the need for them no longer exists, but where formerly the nomads sought refuge when they were pursued. The decay of these towers proves that the French have known how to establish quiet and order in the country.
According to inquiries which I made in the south, the Urghamma are divided into the following groups:—
The Khezur and the Mehaben in and around Medinin.
The Accara on the coast.
The Tuasin on the plains.
The Uderma on the mountain slopes and on the plains.
The Jelidat people the eastern mountains.
The Duiri are found in the mountains and on the high tablelands.
We visited the Jews in their own quarter, and conversed with a couple of women, who, with their children, lived in a little hut stuck away in a corner of a yard. One of the women was a soothsayer, and showed us a book with closely written leaves, evidently the source of her cunning.