The Red Cloud chief., 1886-09-17
SORSSY ElRES


No. rs-r Gss-xst ss.-~ s~v-a- Ssss-
~ tss- . p--.i r~--r.
Th- Aaua1g~ saa-s,l - tn r-v-n;
FIR nrr- y H.-rtt a.. caleb tia
tan 20 IL r1u-- shira hav~ r,n.ri
cvrtlia part. a fAs s,IaRtry . a -sAis
watt. f1r ~ Prosperity of N-rra-
lie thu ~, II tn l;arbar, static. IL
r--nd- almost entirety oa IL, rainfIll.
and every cr- 80 ci-aring. ~ ouc
Con>HlI.-nrrsl afli-mr,i m hi. report
.ncc on IN rlImat,." >ir Robert Piay-
far = indeed JI>tinr,i IN stating TIA.
after examining. che subject ii al IL
aspects. he = satisfied that the great
difference in point of fertility between
Algeria and Tuni>. which have much
the same climate and possess an A.
most Identical geological structure. Is
owing To the uiI.r destruction IF thu
forests in the LATTER Durin.
she period of the Roman occupation
Tuni> must have contained littlc short
OF 2o.Ooo."p of people. Now. even
under the fostering influences of u bet
ter government than it ever enioyed
since the cOnquerorS of the world dis
appeared. the most favorable estimates
do not venture on placing the popula-
ton ut more than l..OD 900. Div after
day the traveller rides over arid tree
less plains intersected by water
courses. in which no water flows,
and covered with sand and stones ill.,
capable OF supporting vegetable life.
Yet at one time these regions at pres
ent so barren were wealthy with crops
In places where not a tree is now visi-
bic, the ruins of Roman oil mills are
frequently mel with. But in those days
the country was clothed with iuxuriant
forests. Indeed. ii we are TO believe
lbn Khaldoun. there was a time, before
El-kahina began his marches. when all
the vast region between Tripoli and
Tangler had the appearance of an inn
mcnse thickct. under the shade Of
which arose y multitude of villages. the
orc touching the other. No sign Of
these hives of thriving farmers is now
visible. Ths early Arab c%onquerors
had ut least this Reuse for their de-
structive handiwork. that it was nccsS-
STATED by the demands of sclt-protec-
ton. No such apology avail> the de-
Saansylpfs nf thnSn fritsnl.n Uhn nxn
hesitate to set fire to 4 field to improve
the paSturagc. reckless how far the
flames may extend. or to- hcw down 4
tree without dreaming of planting an
other or of protecting from their flOcks
and herds those which spring up Spon-
~taneOusly. In Bruce's day. one hun
dred and twenty years ago. frequent
allusiOn is made to forests thr",,rh
IHYY{{tiid not 4 single tree. For instance.
Bruce mentions that Sbei,la is shaded AL
over by 4 wood Of frs. from which the
inhabitants made pitch. and ut a later
date-little more than Il century ago
DcsfontaineS. the French botanist. tells
much the same tale. Nowadays not \
tree or \ bush is to be q in the
whole plain as far as the eyecan range.
The inhabitants have disappeared A.
completely rs the trees. anu the traV-
eler may sleep in peace among she
ruins without any dread OF the Oula"
Amron, who twice attempted to sur
prise Brucc's camp at night. or OF the
lions. that greatly incOmmOded him.
and ..whO came to the door OF the tent.
| and afterward fell upon the neighbour
ING dowar." Lands which We're at
| one time the granany Of Rome nave
| thus been converted into deserts. wh'ch
! i'm an ~unfavOrable season can not sup
port the sparse population that now m
| habits them. Yet the soil is still there.
wanting to be stirred into life. All that
it needs IS water, and water can only
come from rain. in some form or other.
Nearly every country OFF which the
timber has been cut without discretion
is feeling in 4 greater or less degree
the same inconvenience. Even the
United States is taking warning IN
time. and by paying more attention te
arboriculturc is c~ndeavOring. not only
to replant the regions which have beer
partially CLEARED for the saw mills
but by passing strict laws regarding
the causes which led to the extensiv'
forest fires of the past. to prevent suc'
~rn;nou waste As that witnessed SO re
i, Gently in Algeria. III we'll As in man
parts Of Western America -LOndo
, Standard.