We cross the Seybouse and follow the narrow dale of the Oued Melah to the S.E., with its fine growth of underwood. 107½ (or 40½) M. Medjez-Sfa (476 ft.); the village (758 ft.) lies to the right, on the Souk-Ahras road. We then mount to (113 or 46 M.) Aïn-Tahamimine (about 1100 ft.), with its eucalyptus groves.
The finest part of the line lies between this point and Laverdure. We cross the ravine of the Oued Cherf by a viaduct. 116 (or 49) M. Aïn-Affra (1739 ft.). We ascend the hill-side to the N.E., partly through plantations of young cork-trees and underwood, and then on the crest of the hill turn sharply back to the S.W. Below lies the line just traversed. At several points we obtain a splendid view of the distant hills of the Beni Salah (p. [308]). Among the cork-trees appear the first evergreen oaks.
124 (or 57) M. Laverdure (2369 ft.). The village (2526 ft.; Hôt. Arena; Hôt. Raschiero), 1 M. to the W., on the Souk-Ahras road, with its woods and beautiful views, attracts summer visitors.
To the left appears Jebel Mahabouba (4144 ft.), often snow-clad in winter. Passing through woods of cork and evergreen oak, fringes of the Forêt de Fedj el-Makta, we come to the Col de Fedj el-Makta (tunnel), the watershed between the Seybouse and the Medjerda (p. [325]).
127 (or 60) M. Aïn-Sennour (2552 ft.). The forest-zone is succeeded by a region of meadows, fields, and vineyards. To the left we sight the bare mountains to the N. of Souk-Ahras.
134 (or 66½) M. Souk-Ahras.—Railway Restaurant.—Hotels. Hôtel d’Orient, in the market-place, with good restaurant, R., déj., D., 2½ fr. each, pens. 7½ omn. 1 fr., quite good; Hôt. de l’Univers, similar charges; Hôt. de France.—Café de Marseille, in the market-place.
Souk-Ahras (2297 ft.; pop. 9000) lies very prettily in a lofty, undulating plain enclosed by distant hills. It is a rapidly rising place, with quite a European aspect, and is one of the pleasantest provincial towns in Algeria. It dates only from 1852, when it was founded as a convenient centre for roads radiating to Constantine, Bona, and La Calle, and as a mart for the phosphates of Tebessa (p. [315]). It stands on the site of Thagaste, the birthplace of St. Augustine (p. [310]), who mentions it with affection in his Confessions. At the foot of the old castle-hill, an excellent point of view, are placed a few antiquities from Khamissa (see below). Cattle-breeding and vine-culture are the chief industries in the environs.
The Excursion to Khamissa, about 23 M. from Souk-Ahras, is best made by motor-car as far as Ksar Tifech and thence on mule-back. We follow the Sedrata highroad to the S.W., soon crossing the Medjerda (p. [325]). About halfway we enter the Plaine de Tifech, watered by the Oued Tifech and once fertile and populous. We then reach the Ksar Tifech (3150 ft.), on the slope of Jebel Tifech (3609 ft.), with the ruins of a Byzantine fortress, the most considerable relic of the Numidian Tipasa. Thence we ride to the N.W., in the direction of the ancient Roman road, to *Khamissa or Khemissa (3084 ft.; no inn), the interesting site of the Roman Thubursicum Numidarum, one of the oldest and most important towns in Inner Numidia. It lies on a hill high above the valley of the Medjerda, which rises a little to the N.W. on the Râs el-Alia (4321 ft.). Among the ruins may be noted the S.E. Gate, a triumphal arch with a single passage, on the Tipasa road; near it, the underground Columbarium (hypogæum); the Thermae; and also, in the Platea Vetus, the chief square in the E. quarter of the town, an unfinished Roman Temple besides other buildings. On the crest of the hill we come upon the foundations of a Byzantine Basilica and a small Byzantine Fortress (‘Ksar el-Kebîr’). On the N. hill-side is the Roman Theatre, with its fairly preserved stage-building (comp. p. [293]). The Forum, on the W. margin of the hill, and a Triumphal Arch with three passages were afterwards incorporated with a second Byzantine Fortress. All around are extensive Burial Grounds, some of them with rock-tombs.
From Souk-Ahras to Tebessa, see R. 50; to Tunis, see R. 51.