New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-04

had forbidden his followers to give any
assistance to Christians, and no one would
guide the caravan neighboring Suya Sheik
was won over by large presents, but Rohlfs
did not venture to trust 10 his protec-
ton alone After much precious time had
been wasted, Rohlfs's companion, the Austrian
zo6ogist, Stecker, started for the coast at
Benghasi to obtain the assistance of the Pacha
Of Cvrenaika. whose authority is acknowledged
by the dwellers in The Gases and by the
wandering Suya tribes. stecker made the
Journey of coo miles successfully but failed
to accomplish anything, and Rohlfs followed
him after waiting eighty days at Dchalo.
Fortunately new Governor came into power
inst before Rohlfs reached Benghasi who had
received orders from COnstantncple to- do
all in his power TO aid the expedition
The new Pacba assembled all tine
Suya Sheiks of the surrounding country, or
dered four of them, with eight of their follow
ers and their camels, to accompany the e1pe-
dition, and, to insure the safety of Rohlfs ana
his companions, imprisoned three other Shelks
"a hostages. These unlucky fellows were
i'm arrears for taxes, and the Pacha
assured them that as soon as lie should hear
of the safe arrival of the caravan at kuSara
he would release them and pay them for their
trouble by renting their Indebtedness. The
caravan consisting of twenty-aix camels, put
off on the 9TH of July. On the 28th it left
Battesal. the last fountain, and entered the
great desert which stretches from Dchalo to
Kusara. The travellers had now march OF
60 miles to make before reaching IaiseTD0,
the norlhcrumOst oasis of the kusara group,
and they knew that not a drop Of water could
be found upon the way. Three days is the long
est time cainels can safely go without water
in the hot season. Fortunately a cool north
ern breeze blew. The journey lasted four
DAVIS and nights, and twelve hours besides,
and men and beasts all got through
safely. Only four hours out OF twenty
four were allowed for rcst The average
daily march was 115 miles. The country
travcrsed was 80 Rat that the highest hills
seen were n few sand-baukS five or six feet
high The surface OF the ground was covered
with small pebbles, which for stretches OF
many miles were of the size OF peas, aud then
for other long stretches were as large as wal
nuts.
During the march across the desert many
S1vas Joined the caravan. it was the time OF
getber annually about 5000 nomadic Ara bs
The date-palm groves Of Kusara, according
TO ROhfss estimate contain over million
trees. The Arabs visit the GASES in midsnm-
mer to gather the fruit, end encamD IN COM
panies or groups, each comprising from nifty
to eighty Warriors. The permanent inhabitants
Of Kusara number only about 300 souls, who
live IN two villages, in one of which, sur
rounded by cloister-lkc walls, stands the
mosque and the school of the Snuff, the ia
natcal religious order before referred to-
Rohlfs and Stockcr soon found out to their
sorrow that these Mahometan monks paid
no respect 70 the authority of the Pacha at
Bcnghasi. The letter from winch the above
information Is translated closes however
with their arrival at Kusara and leaves
for a future account the story OF
their imprisonment and their return
to the coast, robbed of money, goods and
scientific instruments. They scarcely got half
way to Wadi. Unless the hostility of the
fanatical Arab brotherhood can be overcome
by force or persuasion, there seems TO be no
announcement for making a second attempt
10 get beyond Kusara. Ii is possible, how
ever that "a caravan route may exist further
to the west which avoids this unfrendly oasis.