A Spahi, late 19th century

Originally, the spahis were a traditional and prestigious cavalry corps of the dey of Algiers. After the conquest of Algeria by France, they were integrated into the French Army of Africa (from 1834) and participated in the "pacification" of the territory. Their name is said to derive from the Arabic word sbah, meaning morning; they are literally the "morning riders."
This engraving is the work of late 19th-century travelers, linked to colonial interests, who wanted to showcase this part of the French Empire.