The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-01-29
FLOODING THE SAHARA.
Importance OF the Results to he Obtained
IRON nArpers Neekly.l

From HarPsrs Weeklyl
Two plans have been set before the
public with regard to the great project
Of flooding the immense basin OF Sa'
hara, known as ri Juf, which is now
generally conceded to be the bed OF O
former inland sea. One Of these plans
is so far in actual operation that pre-
lminary surveys are now in progress
under the direction Of nj. Ferdinand de
Lesseps, 10 test the feasibility OF cutting
a canal from Cabes, on the coast OF
Tunis, TO let the waters OF the Mediter'
ranean into the great central depres-
sion. Reports from these parties are
very favorable. They find the soil free
from serious obstacles TO engineering
work, generally sand, TO a great depth,
resting on a lcareousfoundation. They
entertain no doubt that the work can be
more easily accomplished than the eI-
cavation of the Suez canal.
The other plan is that Of reopening
the ancient outlet OF the inland sea to
the Atlantic, at a place called Boca
Grande, or Great Mouth, and thus fill
ing with water the vast depression Of
Ell 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
region of Azawad and Walata, TO the
north of Timbuctoo. The greatest
length OF this depression is given at
about 800 miles, and the greatest
breadth at about 100 miles, altogether
covering an area of about 10000 square
miles. The breadth of Ell Juf is much
greater in the south, but toward the
northwest it seems gradually to get mar
rover, terminating in the great channel
which in former years connected it with
the Atlantic ocean. There cannot be
any doubt but that Ell Juf at one time
formed part of the Atlantic ocean, and
that the connection existed within his
toric times seems clear enough. Upon
the cause which led to the drying up Of
the Ell Juf sea the classic writers are
not very clear. 1t is recorded by Di-
odorus Siculus that, according to an
cient tradition, a lake called Hesperides,
in the portion of the Sahara now occu-
pied by Ell Juf, was suddenly dried up.
Arab traditions point out that several
depressions in the Sahara we're covered
with water in A. d. 661, but, since the
year 1900, the water gradually disap-
peared.
The Importance Of the advantages TO
be gained by the accomplishment Of
this vast enterprise can hardly be over
estimated. SoudAn has a population Of
about 100000 of the most intelligent
and energetic of all the African races.
They have successfully been brought
under the influence Of C~arthagenian,
Roman Egyptian, and Mohammedan
civilization. They have formed them
selves into independent states, and pos
sess numerous walled towns of COM
mercial Importance. They have estab-
lished laws and education, and stamped
out many of the worst forms of pagan
They cultivate the soil,
and carry IN several branches of manu-
facture with remarkable success. The
people of Soudan receive their supply
of European merchandise across the
Sahara from the ports of Morocco, Al
geria, Tupis, and Tripoli-s system Of
communication with the outer world
which has existed for thousands Of
years. Caravans proceeding by any Of
these routes can only make one journey
a year, traversing about 1000 miles of
mountainous and difficult country be-
fore the ear st market of Soudan is
reached. These paths, formerly used
by the merchants of antiquity, now
serve the Arab caravans. Notwithstand-
all these difficulties, the annual val
ne Of the trade between the northern
ports and Soudan amounts to about
$4,000, 900. An easier mode of transit
would evidently lead to a large develop
ment Of this trade.
The distance from Cape Judy to
on the Upper Niger, is
about 800 miles of level country, thus
being 1900 miles shorter than the pres
emit routes. On the line proposed by
Mr.. Mackenzie there are no less than
forty-two stations, with plenty of water.
He thinks that caravans could make
three journeys q year by it with greater
ease than one by the present roads.
Therefore, without any outlay whatever
Tor roads, an annual trade of $12, 000,0 0
would soon be established. To attain
This object all that is necessary is to
iorm a commercial station at Port ST
Bartholomew, Cape JUDY, where the
is equal to that of Madeira and
Canary, obtain the protection of the
chiefs Of the Western Sahara
whose protection the present
is carried on), and place agents in
jhe principal towns on the road to Tim
The road to Central Africa
would then be practically opened to
commerce through a healthy country,
md from a point within nine days sail
If European shores.
With the Sahara flooded, direct navi-
cation with Europe would be estab-
ished. And thus will also be opened a
extensive market for American
goods. We have heard of the desert
being made "to blossom as a rose; !" it is
certainly a fascinating idea hat a vast
md arid waste is to be covered by q
of the waters of the mighty
Atlantic. And if this opening.up Of
he interior of Africa to civilization
md commerce is to abolish the African
lave trade, with all its attendant hor-
'ors, then do we most earnestly wish it
hearty Godspeed.
-.o, =. G-..-nzIl A. - "