The journey to-day was between hills all cultivated; and, near Physgeah, passed through the plain, bounded on each side by the high rocky mountains Niffen Sur and Geryon.
This is the territory of the ancient Makhzin tribe of Zemoul, situated between Djebel Gerioun on the east and another mountain to the south-west, the highest point of which is, from its peculiar shape, called by the natives Enf-en-neser, or the Eagle’s Beak.
The 4th, arrived at Tattubt, 5 miles; where there remains nothing but the ruins of a modern building.
Tattubt is also in the tribe of Zemoul, not far from the lakes. From the Roman remains here were obtained the columns used to build the Mosque of Souk el-Ghazel, now the Cathedral of Constantine.[35]
The 5th, encamped at the Smellie (Smala) of the Bey, 9 miles.
The 6th, arrived at Taggou Zainah, 16 miles from Tattubt, due west. It is situated at the foot of Jebbel Mustowah, whose Gellah or fortress lies immediately south of it. The inhabitants of Taggou Zainah and the mountain Mustowah are the Haract, a clan that pays no tribute or obedience to the Bey, and not the Welled Abdenore, as Dr. Shaw says, these last lying to the westward.
A small river runs immediately below Zainah on the northwards, over which are the large plains of Tattubt, bounded on the south by Jebbel Auress, and on the north by the high mountain Niffen Sur (Enf-en-neser), Geryoun, and Ziganeah.
The 7th, designed one triumphal arch and left the other, it being in a bad state; no other buildings on foot, or any remains of the amphitheatre mentioned by Shaw. Zainah is the Diana of the Itinerary, and Taggou is but the continuation of it to the eastward, along the riverside, which does not divide Taggou from Zainah, as Dr. Shaw says, but runs parallel to them from east to west.
The mountain Mustowah above mentioned is a very well known hill near Batna, which has the form of a table or martello tower, whence its name of Geläa, or fortress. It was here that the insurgents, who attacked Batna in 1871, established their head-quarters.
The Haract or Haracta, is a powerful tribe of Berber origin, still speaking the Chawi language and inhabiting the great plains around Ain Beida; they are beginning to abandon nomad life and to settle down to the cultivation of the soil. Like most of the Chawi branch of the Berber race, they are lax Mohammedans, but fanatically attached to their religious confraternities, or Khouans, particularly to that of Sidi Mohammed ben Abd-er-Rahman bou Koberain. The Abdenore, as Bruce calls them, or the Oulad Abd-en-Noor, is one of the largest tribes in the province of Constantine. They now occupy the high plateau between Constantine and Setif. Under the Turkish Government they extended much further south, and at one time actually occupied the plain of Zana, as mentioned by Shaw.