New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-19
pERILS OF AFRICAN TRAVEL.

CAMP OF SUBSTITUTION OF THE sCiEN-
TIylc NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. RETURN OF
RoHLrs
In recent number Of The TRIBUNE was de-
scribed the journey of the German explorer, Ger
hard Rohlfs, and his companion the Austrian zool-
oeist Dr. Stecker. across tho Sahara Desert from
Tripod to the oasis group Of Kusara. The 'nfoIlna
tion was taken from a letter from the pen oil Di'
Schwenfurth, WHO'S also distinguished African
traveller. Two other letters from TIE same
source have since appeared, which narrate
tie mishaps which befell the exploring
expedition in Kusara, the narrow escape
of its two chiefs from death at the hands of band
of robbers and their return to the coast On the "a
of last August Rohlfs's caravan reached Taserbo'
the northernmost oasis OF the Kusara group af;er
severe march across the desert. On the 9TH IL
;ourueyed 100 kilometres further IN southeastern
direction 10 the oasis of Buseima. Here bIackish
lake was found, with rim of palm trees around H.
The vivid blue of the water the dark green loliagc
of the date palms and the garing yellow color Oh
the desert sand hills seen through the tree-stems
made landscape Of stSikingly brilliant hnes.
Everywhere in the oasis excellent water
was found by digging few feet. hohls
concluded that there were underground water
courses drawing their supplies from the noun
tains of Tbeste, 600 kilometres to the south
west. which, according to DR.. Nachtigal lie within
the great rain belt of Central Africa. The nomadc
Arabs, gathered at Buseima for the date harvest.
were friendly toward the expedition. Rnlns OF
houses were found the walls constructed OF lime
stone blocks cemented with mortar. Rohlis sup
posed these to be the dwellings of the ancient in
babitants of Central Africa known TO the Romans
by the name of Garamanten. More recent ruins
were also observed of the dwellings of the heather
tribe of Tibbres who dspossessed by the Arabs
After travelling three days across the sandy sea
which envelopes the cases. the caravan reached
Kebabo the largest of the Kusara group,
and stopped at a place called Howewiri. Here the
troubles OF the adventurous explorers began IN
earnest A threatening mob assembled in the vicin-
Ity of Rohlfss camp, and demanded of the Arab
guides and canel-drivers that they should kill the
Europeans and divide the plumber of the
caravan Rohlfs's people stood by him faith
fully and the mob dispersed. 1t had been
lncated so the travellers learned subsequently,
by the fanatica Mahometan brotherhood
Of the Snuff which had a mosque and school upon
the neighboring oasis of Sawya. To get away from
this hostile neighborhood the caravan pushed ON
next day 70 Boema, where Rohifs hoped to make
preparations for the further journey to Wada, the
objective point OF the expedition lie found, how
ever that he had jumped from the frying-pan INTO
the fire. for ho marched straight into the camp OF
rsscally Shek named Observation-Disclosures, VINO
ruled tribe OF fifty warriors.
Kebabo is shaped like a balf-mOon, and
has a breadth of 200 kilometres. Its eleva-
ton is 500 feet above the sea. In the
centre of the oasis are extensive palm
rroyes surrounding little lakes and salt
marshes There are no cultivated fields, but there
are gardens around the houses inhabited by the per-
mancnt population, and deceptive appearance of
cultivation given to the country by large level
expanses covered with growth of green rushes.
The largest wild animals nhabitng the oasis are the
gazee and the little desert fox called the fennek
The fora could not be studied owing to the Summer
heats-few plants growing through the hot season.
Rohlfs soon found that he was prisoner IN his own
camp. His Arab servants were illtreated when
they went out to buy provisions, and the second
day Ba-Bekr appeared before his tent with
thirty armed followers and demanded 1000
thalers as toll for passing through the
country. This demand was not acceded to. In
fortunately messenger arrived from Benghasi
with the news of the detention of the three Suya
Sheiks whom the Pacha had held as hostages for
the safe conduct of the expedition. The Arabs were
great ly enragod at this news, and Ba-Belr and his
people came daily before Rohlfs tent and cried out
that while the Christians were eating meat their
brothers in Benghasi had nothing but bread and
water Rollfs hired messenger to go to Benghasi
with letters and scientific specimens, but the mes
senger was detained and the papers and specimens
DESTROYED Two other messengers took money for
making the Journey but did not o.. ROhlfs
heard of Sheik Of high character and great
Influence named Dschib-el-Lah, who WAS IN
the ncchborh0od with his band. but Ba-Bekr would
not allow any communication 10 reach nm.
For nearly month ROhlfs and his companions
were a prey 10 constant fears. They could neither
advance nor retreat he roDoeI rIDg M nela
tack. Among the most hostile OF the Arabs was
member of the Snnf Order. named Agul whose
brother of the three shelks held as hostages
at Benghasi. This man forced ROhfs 10 sign an
Arabic letter demanding the release OF the hostages
tended TO send as bakshcesh to the Pacha.
One day Ba-Bckr came to ROhltss tent and coollv
told him ;hat he believed the expedition possessed
1000 thalcrs, and that he intended to take the
money and 90 with his band TO Wadai, beyond the
reach of Turkish authority.
A last assistance came TO the Deleaguereu e1pe-
aitiOn i'm the person OF Iim-Bu-A Dd-e-RDa sheik
who's dwelline-place was at Surk, ten miles west
Of RohlfS's camp On the 1871 OF September hrlm
came 10 ROhlfss tent and said that Ba-Bekr had
proposed to him to join in an attack on the Chris
tiaus that night murder them and divide TIC SPOTS.
The only way their lives could be saved. he SAID,
was for them to quietly leave their tents as
it became dark and make Their
way 10 Surk In their extremity the travellers re-
solved 10 trust this man, of whom they knew moth,
Ing so just after nlghtfall Rohlfs, Stecker and
their two German servants left the tents one by
one. each carrying many OF the silver thaers,
which comprised the cash capital of the expedition.
as he could After painful journey foot through
swamps and sand they reached Krim's camp In
safety They learned afterward from the Arabs
that only few minutes after their flight Ba-Bekr
entered Rohlls's tent with band of armed fol-
lowers. so great was the robber chiefs anger at
the escape of the Christians and at his failure to
End the 1000 thalers he believed they
possessed. that he broke up all the scientific
Instruments destroyed the medicine chest, and tore
in pieces the records and papers OF the expedition
Sheik Krim proved faithful to the info tunate
travellers but Us his band was small and Ba-Bekr
Threatened TO attack it. they took refuge with the
more powerful old Sheik Dschb-el- Lab, with whom
they had tried in vain to communicate before ther
fight, He treated the refugees with great KIND
ness and after a while succeeded in forcing Inc
robbers restore such of the goods pundered from
the earn van as they bad not DESTROYED There wac