and thence onward.  A way was gained through a formidable pass called the “Iron Gates,” in October, 1839, by a simple process.  The defile was one which a few hundred men could have held against any force, but the Kabyle sheiks were shown passports bearing Abd-el-Kader’s seal and authorizing the passage of French troops.  The seal of the Sultan had been forged.  On November 1st Valee and the French Prince made a triumphant entry into Algiers, after this despicable piece of treachery, and were saluted as the heroes of the “Iron Gates.”

The news reached Abd-el-Kader at Tekedemt.  He sprang on his horse, and in forty-eight hours, riding night and day, was at Medea, whence he despatched a reproachful and defiant letter to the French Governor.  He called the tribesmen to arms, formally declared war, swept down on the plains, destroyed the French cantonments, agricultural establishments, and outposts; slew many colonists, burned the villages and drove panic-stricken fugitives headlong into the city of Algiers.  The French Government then ostentatiously declared the adoption of a firm policy and announced Algeria to be “henceforth and forever a French province.”  Reenforcements were rapidly sent to Algiers, and the effective army of Valee was soon raised to thirty thousand men.  The Sultan headed about the same number of cavalry, regular and irregular, and six thousand regular infantry.  A fair trial of strength, Frenchman against Arab, was now to be made.

Concentrating his army at Blidah, at the foot of the lesser Atlas range, the French Marshal marched on Medea and Millana.  The river Chiffa was passed on April 27, 1840.  The Sultan’s cavalry appeared in large numbers.  By a feigned movement, Abd-el-Kader induced his enemy to enter the mountains by the gorges of the Monzaia, which he had spent months in fortifying.  Every eminence useful for the purpose was cut into intrenchments.  A redoubt with heavy batteries crowned the highest peak.  Near this were placed his regular infantry, officered by French deserters.  Arabs and Kabyles swarmed in all directions, and, crouching in nooks, were ready to open fire on the French army as it wound its way with steady march along the narrow causeway which hung midway on the mountain slopes.

Valee had divided his force into three columns, one of which was led by Lamoriciere, a man to become famous in Algerian warfare.  The Sultan was now to see the value of French infantry.  To the astonishment of the Arabs, the enemy, leaving the road, came darting over the steeps.  Ravines, woods, and rocks were all mastered in the rush.  Slowly but surely they were reaching the intrenchments, when a thick veil came over the scene from the smoke of incessant fire.  The mist rolled away before the breeze sweeping through the pass, and the combatants met and fought hand to hand.  The Arabs and Kabyles clung desperately to their places of shelter, but the French clambered up, grasping at shrubs and branches, ever winning