The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-30
AFRICA.

CYgKNAIKA AND THE OASIS OF JUPITER AAnAoN.
DIR. Gerhard Rohfs lectured last night at Steinway
Hall 'sCyrenaika and the Oasis OF Jupiter Ammon. "
The account of his journey proper he preaced by tell
Ing his hearers that IN 1865 he commissioned v
the then King OF Prussia TO forward presents to the
Sultan of Borrow, recognition OF his Kindness to two
distinguished German travellers while his domlnons.
This had to be done from Tripoi.
Aier having seen the royal presents on their way,
the distinguished traveller left Trpoh Cyrenaka on
board Turkish brig Cyrenaika described by the
lecturer perfect island, being cncompasscd
side by the Mediterranean and on :he other by the
Great Sahara This territory forms great contrast to
all the country about It, where nothing but dcsoation
regns. Cyrenaika rises up like supcrby wooded
island. II was termed by tho father ofpocts
''rnE PEARL xKDrERRASEAx."
II hardly be called to-day Beyond the forests
which it in parts, 1t possesses but few fauna.
The Wild beasts extinct here. Much has been
written by the learned touching the origin OF the
inhabitants DR. Rohlfs concludes that, whatever
shey may have beer, they to-day pure
Arabs. The territory itself covers about 200
square miles Its history ID rather singular
About COO years before Christ certain Greek. being
dissatisfied with island which he had attempted to
rolonzc settled down in Cyrenaika, drew thither
population and became their ruler. A republic FOL
lowed this form Of government but corruption became
rife that the country Tell easy prcynrst to the
Ptoemy3 and then TO the Romans. There are few
Examples In history OF n downfall rapid and COM
Qete that OF this once ilOurshng little state. lu-
lcrnal corruption, with It's attendant enem macy
went hand In hand with the assaults OF the y ban
hories to hasten its RUIZ. The crescent dealt the
finishing stroke To-day the people are nomad Arabs,
the only signs OF its high civilization being the
superb monuments upon which the hand OF time
hardly traceaDle And yet IN her day, Cyrenaika
10 Greece great poet, renowned astronomer, and
several men of mark
Cyrene. the scapitaI, still displays several small
theatres, evidently used ancient days tor purely
musical performances, while the great amnhi.
theatre Is still IN perfect preservation from the
top Of which the colonial parcians could the blue
Mediterranean, bearing on It's bosom the triremc aud
merchantmen OF the naughty imperial city. Many
temples and hippodromes still to be But the
most astounding SIGHT Is the Metropolis which has
Equal in the world. IL is Perc Ia Chase multiplied
hundredold with stately tombs large that the trav
sller and his party campcd In OF them with the
greatest Leaving Cyrene DR.. Rohfs' expedition
entered the Sahara, the praccabiity OF inundating
which he denies He further that Europe could
never allow the Sahara 10 be converted into inland
sea, for the simple reason that II would make the eli
mate Of Enrorc like that OF the high Alps. The
Sahara Is the great oven from which receive the
heat required TO melt Alpine SHOWS and supply
-vcrs with water. IL and the Gulf stream make the
slImate OF Europe what IL H. The hrst halttng
place the Lybian desert the oasis Au-
tiion the inhabitants Of which excessively fanat-
sal and bear such bad reputation that only two travel
ers lad previously vontufed into IL This Amiable