Ziganiah is the Roman Sigus, twenty-four miles from Constantine. This was an ancient and celebrated city, memorable as the residence during various epochs of several Numidian kings. The destruction of this place appears to have been very violent, and little remains save the foundations of a few buildings and a considerable necropolis, not only of Roman, but of the so-called pre-historic tombs, dolmens, cromlechs, and menhirs. At Bou-Merzoug also there is an immense number of these megalithic remains, which were first explored by Mr. Christy and M. Féraud in 1863.[95]
We returned to Constantine on May 13, and here my explorations in the footsteps of Bruce may be said to have ended for the season. All that remained to be done was to return to Algiers; but, instead of doing so by railway and steamer, or by diligence, I determined to adopt a more interesting and less known route, on which I will ask the reader to accompany me.
FOOTNOTES:
[88]L. Renier, Insc. No. 3,078.
[89]Morcelli, Afr. Chris. i. 308.
[90]L. Renier, Insc. No. 3,089.
[91]Consult the interesting papers on the exploration of Tebessa, by MM. Moll and Girol in Ann. Arch. Constantine, 1862-1870.
[92]L. Renier, Insc. No. 3,085.
[93]Ibid. No. 3,088.
[94]L. Renier, Insc. No. 3,087.