The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-22
] sfaior Desany 1seinforeea.
i FRENCH GENTLEMAN WHO HAS BEEN IN
AFRICA SAYS THAT THERE rs NO SAHARA.
CHARLESTON, June 1T,1S7S.

Y
" CHARLESTON, june II, 1878.
To the Editor of the Nesos and Coarter
That the Sahara as presented by geogra-
phers-t. C., ss a great sea Of sand, with roll.
ing waves overwhelming whole caravans OF
men aud camels by thousands "--is myth,
makes no question for the scientific world
since the French conquest OF Algeria has,
by its extension to Biskra, led to regular
commercial intercourse with the nomadlc
Arabian tribes who people the central part
OF Africa.
Major NJ. r. Delany is thus perfectly
right when he says that this alleged SEQ Of
sand, one thousand by three thousand
miles. is in reality the richest part OF the
world. He is right, too, when he asserts
that the British East India Company was
instrumental in inventing and propaeating
that sandy fable, in close completely with
the Arabs of Central Africa, in order to
monopolize the profits growing out OF the
trade with this most fertile country.
The explorations made by the late Compile
du Cbaillu, Colonel Montalembert, and the
Rev. Fathers De la Mothe and Rousset in
Central Africa were conclusive on this point.
Even at the time OF Louis XIV. three in
trepid travellers-a Jesuit father and two
officers of the Royal navy-accompanied by
twenty sailors of Admiral DuqueSne's fleet,
succeeded in exploring Soudan and Nigri-
tin and going as far as Timbuctoo, aud they
sent to the French Academy OF Sciences
memorable reports which expressed strong
suspicion about the natural obstacles said
to exist in the way Of European settle ments
in Central Africa.
The only insurmountable difficulty so far
lies in the acknowledged hostility OF a say
age population numbering, it's stated, from
between 100,000,000 to 150,000,000, Jealous
of their independence and OF the treasures
which Nature has bestowed on their land.
They are perfectly aware that the intrusion
OF the ciu,lazed Europeans would have the
effect, i'll a short lapse Of time, OF depriying
them OF the first and cenfscating the other
for the exclusive profit of the white race,
and what they know Of the British conquest
| in India and Of the French establishment in
| Algeria is not likely TO change their Unborn
hatred into feeling Of sympathy for the
so-called acknowledgements Of Christianity
and civilization.
What would it he il they knew OF the
wholesale determination Of the redskins at
the hands Of the Spaniards and OF the An
glo-SaXons, on this continent?
In the fall OF 1867 an expedition was
fitted out by Mr.. Ernest Feydeau, hitherto
known us Journalist and romaDciSt, under
the auspices Of the Emperor Napoleon. 1t
was to start from La Ghouat, Algeria, and
to consist OF 500 mounted Arabs and 800
French Chasseurs d'Afrique, with 1000
camels to carry water for sixty days, besides
the baggage, arms, and ammunition.
This expedition, whose destination was
| Timbuctoo. through the Sahara, was about
| TO start, when the news was brought to AL
| gers. that the Arabs and niggers beyond
Biskra, having got intelligence OF it, (by
everywhere with the resolution OF resisting
| to the last the incursion Of the whites.
This news, corroborated by the most reii-
able reports, caused the abandonment OF the
contemplated expedition, as it was evident
that 100000 men, with 100000 camels,
would not have been too many to risk the
perilous task of reaching Timbuctoo through
the fertile valleys and hills known as the
Sahara, peopled with at least 100000 men
determined to oppose it. This was death
blow to Ernest Feydeau, who died OF grief
few months after.
Therefore conclude that your correspon-
dent with the Azor. Mr.. A. :. Williams,
should rather return home after the fulfil
ment of his mission to Liberia than go TO Il
certain death by attempting to solve the al
ready solved mystery OF the Sahara.
Not that he would be overwhelmed by
any '..rolling wave OF Sand," but, not be-
ing backed by powerful army at his COM
nand, he would, undoubtedly, in spite Of
his heroism, be made a prisoner and fattened
up to the point when his flesh would be
deemed worthy Of rejoicing the palate OF
King Observation-Disclosures, or any OF the
Sahara black chicftains.
Central Africa will doubtless be con-
quered to our civilization (:), as India has
already been, and as China will soon be.
But this will be accomplished only step by
step, one conquest paving the way for an
other, till the centre Of the mysterious con-
tinent being reached, the white side be-
comes irresistible.
And neither Major Delany nor Mr.. Will
liams will live long enough to see this prac-
tical solution OF the Saharan problem.
am, sir, your most obedent,
ALFRED EsMERY,
(of Ernest Feydeau's staff in his contem-
plated expedition through the Sahara.)