1-155-903 - Art Media/Heritage Images

'History of the Zouaves in Africa, in the Crimea and in Italy', (19th century). In the summer of 1830 a number of Zouaoua tendered their services to the French colonial army, and in October of that year were organized into two battalions of auxiliaries. Over the following decade these Zouaves - as the French styled them - proved their valour in dozens of bloody desert encounters under the command of the intrepid General La Moriciere. Although the Zouave units were increasingly comprised of native Frenchmen, their distinctive uniform remained a derivation of traditional North African dress: a short, collarless jacket; a sleeveless vest (gilet); voluminous trousers (serouel); 12-foot long woollen sash (ceinture); white canvas leggings (guetres); leather greaves (jambieres); and of course the tasseled fez (chechia) and turban (cheche).