THE TAKOUSH TREASURE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1492, 27 November 1878, Page 3

THE TAKOUSH TREASURE.

It appears that a clue has at last been found to the discovery of the hidden treasure which French credulity has long supposed to lie buried in Algeria. Ever since the French occupation of the country sanguine explorers have been fired with the hope of bringing to light (Ida mysterious mine of wealth, which tradition described as lying hidden at the bottom of the cave of Takoush. But about twenty years ago a more definite shape was given to such hopes by means of an Arab manuscript which accidentally fell into the hands of one of the explorers. Attached to the document was a map or plan, showing the exact position of the vault containing the treasure ; but the vault was so far away from the entrance of the cave that it was found impossible to work a passage through. Quite lately, however, the possessor of the map lias adopted a scheme of operation, and has begun sinking a shaft from the top of the rocks instead of quarrying sideways as before ; and only a few days ago, as the “ Carrier de Bone” declares, ho sent a message to say that the workmen had como upon a vault of Roman construction, answering to the description given in parchment. By this lime probably the vault, or rather the three vaults, will have been pierced, and the contents brought to light. We will not anticipate the joy with which the world in general—to say nothing of the successful explorer bin s-.-lf—will hour of the forthcoming lice \asion to the national and private wealth of Fia-ee. But it may not be out qf place to recall the history uq it has been handed down 1 it rough some twenty centuries. Aocovoiue to received tale the original owner was Jugurlha, who after being defeated by Metellns retired to Zama, and with much difficulty succeeded in Dairying off all his huge iremm s-i ored in that city. They were sufficiently bulky to r-quire seventy-five camels to carry them ; and on arriving at the coast, after fifteen days’ journey, they were* buried at the extreme end of a grotio, 'thirty c .hits deep and then protected by a triple st-no vuilt, the cavity being afterwards entirely lilied up with earth and made level with the surrounding country.