Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-06-12

outer wall, and are divided into small in
closures, each of which is the property of
one person. Next to the gardens. towards
the center. are fields of corn, barley. and
onions. divided into parts as in the gardens,
which are watered and tended like our
favorite flower beds: in the center is a little
rlvulet. which runs from springs near one
OF the extreme ends.
The inhabitants of this oasis do not live
each family In separate dwelling, but in
one large house called ksar, which is usu-
ally built of stone, giving it the appearance
OF solid mass. perforated here and there
with small window and diversified with
Juttlng angles. The halls are narrow
dark, lll-smelling. uneven passages wind
ing about the building. The apartments
are low-celled, filthy places, lighted by a
single aperture IN the wall. The whole
place reminds one more of a dog kennel
than human habitation. In some of the
ksars are aboutS00 or.400 men, women, and
children, a sickly, scrofulous generation.
are huddled together in building which
would seem to European hardly able to
contain more than 100
The only interesting thing about the
whole oasis is the marabet or sepulchral
chapel. which stands outside the walls 1t
Is generally square, surmounted by cupola,
the whole being built of stone or brick, ex-
ecuted by artisans brought from Morocco
for that express purpose. Occasionally the
principal cupola is hanked by four smaller
ones, the interior presenting a court, sur
rounded by gallery supported on Moorish
arcades. In most cases the ostrich egg
crowns the summit of the cupola, but oc-
Ilr ctona ,,,oAol hol lo
found occupying the exalted position. The
inhabitants of the oasis choose to reserve
all the luxury and magnifcance of their
around which they excavate their resting
places. They are not, like the habitations
of the living, subject to the ravages of foes,
but are universally held sacred, and the
conqueror with blood, approaches here with
reverence and prostrates himself in lowly
worship. Life is so uncertain, when the
arms of the enemy combine with elements
OF nature to threaten its existance, that it
cares to lavish all mis- wealth, not on the
dwelling which will probably shelter him
but day, but on the place which will
shelter him forever from the storm of life
In the gardens near the outer wall of the
oasis are grown the date-palm, which is
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 tuft of radiating leaves. The calyx
has six divisions, and the fruit is drupe,
somewhat larger than the acorn; it is red
color when ripe, and is inclosed in a hard
kernel, form which it is easily separated.
1t is pulpy, firm, esculent and sweet, with
slight astringency. The tree is raised
from shoots, which arrive at maturity in
about thirty years, and continues bearing
for about seventy more, producing yearly
about fifteen or twenty clusters, which
weigh usually about eighteen pounds each.
When any one wishes to create date
garden he summons the neighboring
gardeners to his assistance. and thus he
accomplishes his work with economy and
dispatch, for their services cost him moth
ing except the obligation to return the
same when demanded. The sand is first
removed to depth of several feet, in order
that the roots may reach the water; besides,
a 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 effectually reach
the fbers which require it. This irrigation
Is chiefly committed to the women and chill
dren by those who have no slaves, and the
precious fluids carried in skins of animals
or baskets of balpo fouted so closely as to
be waterproof. In most oasis canals are
cut in every direction, communicating with
the springs which supply the oasis, and
when restriction is necessary each gardner
pays so much per hour for the use of the
water in his garden. In some oasis each
proprietor has the right to the springs for
an hour or two, according to the title deeds
of his estate. The time is measured by a
rude chronometer held by the officer who
opens and shuts its CONDUIT.
In the above imperfect account | have
endeavored to give my readers descrip-
ton of the GASES as it is, and not as the
poets or romancers would have us believe