Ancient Rome In Africa (1930s)

[Music] at the foot of the AY mountains lies timad once a thriving Roman County but now so desolate that it is hard to believe it was a City and the home of a great populace in general appearance these ruins are like those of Pompei uncovering of the original Pavements revealed hundreds and hundreds of columns files of which spread over the area of the former city who knows perhaps these traffic towers of another day this is the central Forum around which timgad was built and its remains stand today as the giant Grove of groundstone columns excavations here Unearthed 15 bathing establishments near an old prayer altar proving that the Romans too believed in cleanliness Next to Godliness these must be some of those sunken baths we've heard so much about only some of them have sunk right out of the picture note the beautiful carvings of the seats arches and temples which must have made this a truly beautiful [Music] city this Ampitheater Bears mute testimony to the activities of these early inhabitants this may be the very theater in which the fies of that bygone day [Music] play these counters may have been part of the stock exchange something like our own right now so quiet and peaceful this beautiful Arch is a remarkable specimen of architecture retained in its original form in this Museum are stored the few pieces of mosaic art overlooked by the vandals north of timgad Constantine situated high on the edge of a Rocky Gorge in the northern mountains of Algeria though enjoying an apparently impregnable position it has been besieged and taken no less than 80 times 1,000 ft below we find the raml river in a deep depression that's a familiar word which it has carved around three sides of the city Constantine boasts of many wonderful Bridges which cross the chasm of the unique raml Gorge it would take 2 days of climbing to get from one Peak to the other if it weren't for these Bridges Nice Bridge work eh and pretty good size too in in fact if we dared we might call them the bridge of size oh dear the streets of Constantine are no less picturesque than its location here before these ancient houses the native Craftsman sit in their open fronted chops working on leather silks Woolen and what have [Music] you by a strange in congruity the making of their old world garments is done on our very modern sewing machine this we suppose is the sweat shop of Constantine although they surely have no kick coming about lack of fresh air we are told they employ nonunion help here and the workers do not have to punch a Time Clock want a job these youngsters are just loafing here and can hardly keep their hands off the bread uh-oh this looks a bit more like home doesn't it our young friend seems to be a highly polished gentleman oh all right all right we'll be good no folks this is not a movie test for Hollywood the young lady is just a bit too camera shy for that isn't she cute we now come to the moss covered Runes of ancient cage once the proud Queen of the Seas with a fleet that even Rome Endy but today our imaginations must recreate the scenes of its former splendors for of all the beauties of architecture which once were here only the aqueduct remains built in the second century it withstood the ravages of time so well that 6 years after the French occupied Tunis Engineers cleaned it out and connected the old Aqueduct with the main reservoir there thus Carthage and nearby Villages are today served with Waters from the same Banks and through the same Aqueduct which was used 13 centuries [Music] ago these are the remains of the vast Coliseum at El gem the amphitheater of which was considered the handsomest structure of its kind in the world but which now stands crumbling and desolate in view of a straggling Arab Village in the near proximity one of its Chambers has been made into a chapel in memory of two Saints who were thrown to the lions in the year 202 the amphitheater as we pointed out is rapidly crumbling away and a good Cyclone would move it into the front yards of the villagers homes never tiring we travel on to the moish city of Tunis affectionately called the White City by the Arabs since it is a very colorful place it is difficult to learn just why it was so called unless it was because of its white mosques and minettes it is very exotic and Oriental and the capital of the country and much larger and more Cosmopolitan than the other Tunisian centers not withstanding the French occupation Tunis remains distinctly Oriental for 13 centuries the lofty minet of the largest mosque in Tunis has looked down upon our world which just think of it was already worn with Antiquity when Columbus sailed into the West it is made entirely of tile and painted in a highly decorative manner the typical Moorish Arch hor shoe shaped enters everywhere into the city's architecture most of the women are still heavily veiled which in a great many cases is just as well and perfectly okay with us no this is not a modern bar encounter but it is one of the most interesting sites in Tunis the soups or covered bazaars known in our world as a market where trade is carried on in the traditional Eastern f passion in these recesses the merchants sit cross-legged like so many Buddhas it looks as though they are clipping coupons an old custom long since forgotten in our own country after he made his sale this Merchant advised his customer to count his change before leaving life here is not measured in hours nor is business permitted to interfere with pleasure Tunis has its tea time pardon me pardon me coffee time let this be a lesson to the coffee clutchers in the audience and how to serve without spilling this fellow will probably be asked for a testimonial for this particular brand when he's through tasting This Is A well-dressed Tunisian woman proving that taste after all is relative we are now giving you the same special treat which was afforded us when we visited this moish Palace which is a revelation in Beauty not surpassed by anything to be seen in our Western Hemisphere there are no finer examples of tile and stonework to be seen anywhere we are sure its stately Garden is a vision of Grace and symmetry outside the walls in the background can be seen the French Quarters with its public shops buildings and theaters in no way conflicting with the old world Tunis only a picturesque portion remains of the Old Stone Aqueduct built in the reign of the old Roman Justinian which is connected with the one at Carthage and over which time and nature have thrown a concealing [Music] mantle on the desert wastes surrounding these ancient Roman cities in Africa vins make their homes the women and children do all the work while the Chic rests here unemployment and bad business no cause no worry is this young lady flirting with us now what do you suppose all that wagging means let's get up a little closer and find out no that wasn't it just a nice little family gathering out on the front lawn for an airing this ladies is just to prove that children need not interfere with your daily tasks this old chap apparently has never heard of daylight shaving time uhoh when the Sheik is tired of his surroundings and of his landlord he puts his bed in a bag packs up and moves since he finds it cheaper to move than pay rent even as you and I [Music]