Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-25

Two plans have been set before the public
with regard to the great project of flooding
the immense basin of Sahara, known as Ell
Juf, which is now generally conceded to be
the bed of former inland sea. One of these
plans is so far in actual operation that pre-
hminary surveys are now in progress, under
the direction of NJ. Ferdinand de Lesseps, to
test the feasibility of cutting q canal from
Cabes, on the coast of Tunis, to let the waters
ofthe Mediterranean into the great central de-
preston. Reports from the surveying par
ties are very favorable. They find .he soil
free from serious obstacles to engineering
work, generally sand TO great depth, resting
on a calcarcous foundation. They entertain
no doubt that the work can more easily ac-
cOmplished than the excavation of the SueZ
Canal
The other plan is that of re-opening the an
cient outlet of the inland sea to the Atlantic,
at place called Boca Grande or Great
Mouth, and thus filling with water the vast
depression of FL Juf, which lies far below the
level of the ocean. This basin, irregular in
shape, extends from within twelve miles of
the sea-coast TO as far south as the regions of
Azawad and Walata, to the north of TmbuctoO.
The greatest length of this depression is Civ
en- at about 500 miles, and the greatest breadth
at about 120 miles, altogether covering an
area Of about 10000 square miles. The
breadth of FL Juf ismuch greater in the south,
but toward the northwest it seems gradually
TO get narrower, terminating in the great
channel which in former years connected it
with the Atlantic Ocean. There cannot be
any doubt but that FL Juf at one time formed
part of the Atlantic Ocean, and that the
connection existed within historic times seems
clear enough Upon the cause which led to
the drying up of the FL Juf Sea the classic
writers arc not very clear. 1t is recorded by
Diodorus Siculus that, according to ancient
tradition lake called Hesperides, in the pOr-
tion of the Sahara now occupied by FL Juf,
was suddenly dried up. Arab traditions point
out that several depressions in the Sahara
were covered with water in A.. d. GSl, but
since the year 1900 the water gradually dis
appeared.
II is clear from research and the physical
character of the whole region that the waters
of FL Juf disappeared by the gradual accumu-
lation of sand across the mouth of the chan
mel which formed the connection between it
and the Atlantic Ocean, and which finally cut
off the water supply. Thus separated from
the sea- the vertical rays of the sun would
soon reduce the Ell Juf to the vast salt region
it now appears. Shells, pebbles, and other
marine remains are scattered thoroughout the
entire district, bearing witness to the fact that
its surface was covered at no remote period
by the waves of the Atlantic. The bed of the
El Juf is said by the Arabs TO be much lower
than the ocean. According TO the observa-
tions of Captain Riley and others, it would
appear to be about two hundred feet below
the sea-level-a statement in which the sail
ors of Canary. who know the place, concur.
The Belta Valley, supposed to have formed
the connection between the Atlantic Ocean and
FL Juf, was placed by travellers to the south
of Cape JUDY, and called by the natives
Sakiet Ell Hamra, the name of the Belta being
unknown TO them. Boca Grande, or Great
Mouth, which forms the entrance, has the ap-
pearance of a Gibraltar on a small scale. 1t
is formed between perpendicular rocks rising
te a height of about two hundred feet above
the sea- with a width of about two miles and
a half having sand-bar across, about thirty
feet at the south end and ten feet at the north,
and about three hundred yards across. In
stormy weather the waves break furiously
against this bar. There is also a strong cur
rent setting continually against the Shore
which caused the accumulation of sand that
ultimately separated Ell Juf from the Atlantic
The Sakiet Ell Hamra channel appears to
widen considerably inland a range of noun
tains at long distance from the shore stretch
es from north TO south, but opposite the Boca
Grande there is almost a perpendicular break
of about fifteen miles. The bed of this chan
mel il said to be incrusted with marine salt.
Capthn hley, VINO trhNeivu over many hiies
of II says there could be no doubt in the mind
of any one who should view it that the bank
of this valley was worn by the sea at COM
paratively modern period he also states that
the channel was not more than ten miles
wide where he passed it, but was very broad
within, and extended great way into the
country, which seems clearly to prove that
this valley was the northwest extremity of the
great basin of FL Juf which became narrower
as it approached the ocean.
The Importance Of the advantages TO be
gained by the accomplishment of this vast
enterprise can hardly be overestimated.
Soudan has population OF about 3S, 600 900
of the most intelligent and energetic of all the