Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-06-12

E-ases sssHzsaxaSax.
nense wild garden. where numaro,.s
OF fruits ana flowers crowd each Other
wild confusion, but 1t Is niggardlv rs.- =
cultivated almost to the extreme bv b7,,--
industry, which refuses space IA -.
fruit or flower which does notaid tss.,..-.!
life. An oasis Is usually about mia .''li
a quarter In length and about ive.aiol.,l -.
a mile in breadth. In nearly eyere ~ 1.
occupies the bottom Of some ravipe IA Il
shelters it in every direction. Tits iral-..5i
by mud or stone wall about eiobt fe's
height and about a foot In thickness 4,
regular intervals about this wall 3r4 49,;
stone towers; these are sentry boxes 81, .L1
fiat roofs OF which are stationed ui,.tt-
guards to protect the place from rt7..-
The gardens of the oasis lie auaiust ,T
outer wall, and are divided into .mslI ~
closures, each of which is the pr0partv 4
one person. Next to the gardens tov.s-i
the center, are fields Of corn. barlav a5
onions, divided into parts as in the lrr.l. .'''i
which are watered and tended H. r..
favorite flower beds in the center i, ( I,-t1,
rivulet. which runs from springs near ~.
of the extreme ends. -7
The inhabitants Of this oasis DO maj H..
each family In a separate dwelling. Int l.
one large house called ksar. which X NM
ally built of stone, giving it the dppp8rl9@s
OF solld mass, perforated here ana tbars
with small window and diversified zr;t4
luttlng angles The halls are narrar
dark, lll-smelhng, uneven passage, wind.
ing about the building The apartment
are low-ceiIed filthy places, lighted III
single aperture in the wall The whale
place reminds one more of a dog kennel
than human habitation In some AZ H.
ksars are about 300 or.400 men, women an5
children, sickly, scrofulous pepprlri9r
are huddled together in a binding wbi.s
would seem to a European hardly alba 4
contain more than 100
The only Interesting thing about tFa
whole oasis is tie marabet or senulebrg
chapel, which stands outside the walls Il
Is generally square, surmounted byacup7a
the whole being built of stone or brick py
ecuted by artisans brought from Moroesa
for that express purpose. 0ccasiona.lytba
cupola is ftanked by four smaller
ones. the interior presenting a court SIR.
rounded by gallery supported on Moorish
arcadeS. In most cases the ostrich a,g
crowns the summit of the cupola. but ~.
casionally q stone or metal ball NAV Ia
found occupying the exalted position T5s
inhabitants Of the oasis choose to reserve
all the luxury and maguitcance Of their
to adore the little tpnp'p
around which they exeavate their resting
places. They are not. like the habitafions
of the living, subject to the ravages Of foes
but are universally held sacred. and tha
conqueror with blood approaches here with
reverence and prostrates himself In I6Wv
Life is So uncertain. when lbp
arms OF the enemy combine with element,
Of nature to threaten its existacp. that If
Is no wonder the inhabitants of the 0a-Is
cares to lavish all MS wealth, not On tie
dwelling which will probably shelter him
bat day, but on the place which will
shelter HIM forever from the storm Of life.
In the gardens near the ON -er wall Of Gle
oasis are grown the date-palu which &
the principal food all Over the Sahara.
The trunk Of this palm is usually about
fifty or sixty feet in height and is crowned
by a tuft OF radiatlng leaves The eayy
has six divisions, and the fruit is drupe.
larger than the acorn it is AIRED
color when ripe. and is iuclosed in a hard
kernel, form which it Is easily separated.
a slight astrl agency. The tree is ised
from shoots, which arrive at maturity in
about thirty years. and continues bearing
for about seventy more produciu. yearly
about fifteen or twenty clusters which
weigh usually about eighteen pounds each
When any one wishes to create date
garden he summons the neighborng
gardeners 10 his assistance, and thus he
lccomphshes his work with economy and
dispatch, for their services cost him n0th-
ing except the Obligation to return the
same when demanded. The sand is first
removed to a depth of several feet, in order
that the roots may reach the water; besides
4 trench is dug around the tree at regular
distance, and into this. when necessary
water is poured, in order that sinking
through the soil, it may etfectuay reach
me hbers which require it. This irrigation
IS chiefly committed to the women and chill
iren by those who have no slaves and the
precious fluid is carried in skins of animals
)r baskets of balpo flouted so closely as t9
De waterproof In most oasis canals are
mt IN every direction, communicating with
he springs which supply the oasis and
when restriction Is necessary each gardner
pays so much per hoar for the use Of tine
water in his garden. In some oasis each
has the right to the springs for
IN hour or two. according to the title deeds
If his estate. The time IS measured by
.ude chronometer held by The officer who
,pens and shuts its conGuit
In the above imperfect account ! have
to give my readers deseup-
ION of the GASES as it is. and not as The
1oets or romaneers would have us believe