The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-16
In THE SAHARA.
The Largeau Expedition at
the Oasis City.
Treachery and Inconsistency
Of the Ghadameee.
A ROBBER BATTLE.
A Governors Makeshift Force Chas-
ing the Touat Thieves.
Desperate Fighting Between the
Souafa and Raj.
A TERRIFIC DUEL.
A TERRIFIC DUEL.

ten to send you few rapid sketches by an express
courier meharl mail carrier, who win arrive at
Bxkra some Hfteen days before US avail myself Of
this opportunity to give you fcw details as to the
suit OF expedition hither and also to advise you OF
terrible robber fight which has just taken place be-
tween Rhat and this city, in which our chief guide
the leading khebir Of the tribo Of RcbaIa was.
fortunately killed In my letter OF January 10 ex-
pressed tho hope that we should take back with US
Algeria caravan Of Ghadam6se merchants But tho
late events have not benefited In this respect and
tomorrow we shall retakc tho droary route through
the everlasting sands of the Erg to the sour The
Ghadamese did not care to come with us; but will
add that at the last moment oven opposed tho
journey the reasons for which will DO readily by
the incidents connected With tho attack OF the
razeun
GHApAxEsE TREAcnERY.
The object Of the expedition Is obtained neverthe-
less a. will show II Is perhaps, just to state that
our patience has been tried to the utmost from tho
FIRST and failure must have followed but for the te-
nacity OF explorer, who determined not 70 leave
this oasis until he had secured the fullest and most
minute information concerning every resource key
be productive and ascertancd the best possible
for opening up commercial relations with the soudan
from this time forward Some ti,no after our arrival
here, and after had boon promised that several
merchants had decided to follow us-prom,ses made
us by the Governor himsefwe discovered that
tho objects OF a continual intrigue, by NO
ing to personal safety, and especially
with reference TO tho results OF the expedition
From evidences OF great consideration, ioowodby
couraging promises VIC all at once noticed a marked
reserve on the part OF our hosts followed by most
unsatisfactory Indifference Our apprchc nsions were
confirmed by statement from one OF the Khars, FL
Hadj- Atja to the effect that the Ghadamese feared
they would not be well received In Algeria; that moro
over no French merchant had accompanied us; that
tho route to The Eouf not safe; that water was
short among the hills and many other objections
made which he said they had forgotten at rst but all
of which we very easily answered; and finally we
learned that tho Ghadamese-who are imbued with an
entcrprising commercial spirit, but chicken hearted
ike most Of the sons Barbary feared they would
be
cESsuRRD THE GOVERNMENT
OF rripo II they should enter into commercial rela-
tons with To this argument, which seemed TO I'M
worthy OF reply, the Knimakam himself replied, pro.
testing that his had the best Of intentions
in favoring commerce with France The Pacha Of
Tripoli himself had to Ghadamas TO take cognz-
ancc OF the meeting between Mr. Largeau and tho
Medjeles tho year previous, and hc raised objection
whatever to the opening OF commercial relations be-
tween tho oasis and Algeria And added the Kaimakam
tho IoSouTCcn Ccpueu ~ ure Qulte
to meet all their demands without interfering in any
way with Trpolitan trade; In case commercial re-
ia,ions with Algeria should wide proportions,
IL would simply necessate the removal by his govern
ment or tho Custom House from Tripoh to Ghadanles
thereby inducing order Of things and adding i'm
mcuaey to the commercial prosperity OF the provinces
OF ne Sultan THIS another quieus 10 the Ghada-
mese
JEALOUSY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SPOILED.
But what were 10 dor wo could not leave the
oasis without thoroughly canvassng the Intentions Of
the people, aud therefore decided to remain until VIC
had completely mastered tho situation Days
passed by We employed leisure hours
In looking about tho city and exploring
the environS busted myself more especially
In collecting documents and information generally
upon tho history Of the city, It's origin and
D, esent status thmanners and habits OF tho people,
and, above all to their commercial relations with
the soudan-mattcrs which shall communicate in 4
subsequent iet,or. We entered into the most amsbo
rotations with the tribes OF Touareg camped without
tho walls OF the city. These trbcs tho faithful OBJ
servers OF the treaty Of peace entered into between
them and the government Of Algeria through tho
French mission sent TO Ghadamas in 1862 assured us
Of their protection in case should desire to pene-
tfatc into the Hoggar. Indeed, the warm sentiments
Of their chiefs toward us led TO GOODNESS the
part of the Ghadamesc The discomfort OF the latter
will be better understood when II is explained that tho
Touarcg these OF the desert escort the Ghada
Nose and protect thcm against tho attacks OF
pundcrors through ali tho countries which skirt the
Sahara We learned that bad feeling OF the Ghadamese
had boon engendercd account pass over these
calumnies and chickering's here however, irtcna tc
make them the subject Of special report to the gov
eminent at Algeria may add that they, nevertheless
Nj
showing us the importance OF future commerce open
ing our eyes as to the best means OF nsuring immo
date good results In word, uncovered the whole
intriguccarricd for the most part by few black
boys-around US, but which will not DO fully explained
until after our arrival at Alsicrs
JOHN CONTROLS THR souDAS TRADE
In tho meanwhile, am convinced personally that
the oasis Of Ghadames Is now tho central point tc
which sent oil the products Of the soudan through
Rhat and AYn-Calah. From Ghadames tho caravans
20 to Tripoli and after having passed through tho
hands OF brokers, who mostly Hebrews the
goods are sent to English markets by way Of Malta
and after passing again through the hands OF English
brokers pass to Franco and elsewhere From Ain
Caiah however, . few caravans are sent "a
Tangiers, the goods from which also pass into
tho English markets BY way OF Gibraltar From
the souaan 10 Rhat Ain Calah from these two places
10 Ghadames, nom Ghadamcs to Tripoli, from Tripo
20 Malta from Malta 70 England and from Eng
land 70 Francc--herc you have six ,ntermc
diary stations before The projects Of tho Sou.
Dan reach France. II may be readily understood that
this systcm Of exchange extremely onerous and the
hnaIsh themselves ought 70 discover that Il 10 by nc
means sspractcai' for ~ whose Algerian Sahara ex'
tcnds from Morocco TO the gates OF chsdames 10 thus
permit . continuance Of the diversion OF commerce
which prevents the complete development OF Algeria
Tho merchandise OF The soudan such ivory ostrich
feathers and hides superior to those Of Morocoo
"nsIs they called and which would suice for
The WHO'S o. European consumption now have "a
pas through six or seven intermediary hands before
reaching French markets. From ibis u can te under
STOOD Why the centres Of production made 10 ap
nms y ~ ltsQ ~ pasksw " eonsunpsaon and win