The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-03-04

that the Sahara contains no green thing;
but this is now known to be IA mistake,
for in most parts tropical plants and
grasses find feeble nOurishment here
and there, while in many districts, after
a rama rare phenomenon, by the way
grass springs up as luXuriantly as on
,ome OF our Western plains
The extent of the Sahara can hardly
be realized by one who has not had his
attention expressly called 10 its geo
graphical limits. From east TO west its
length is about 1900 miles; from north
TO south over LOCO, comprising a terri
tory estimated at ., 500, 900 square miles,
thus equalng in size nearly the
whole of Europe and exceeding the area
of the United States. Nor is il destitute
Of population, for though no census has
ever been made of its wandering tribes,
estimates place the population Of the
Sahara at 800, 600, consisting OF Moors,
Arabs and negroes, wandering to and
fro among its sandy hills. The great
desert presents no more picturesque
spectacle than one of these wild horse
men. in gorgeous though dirty trappirgs,
and accoutered with his savage and inef-
fectivc arms. Ferocious as they look,
these bands OF homeless wanderers are
dangerous only when they are the
stronger party. Then they do not hest
tate a moment to plumber and slay: but
whenever they are in the minority they
display humility which is beautifully
touching; they will kiss the hem OF the
travellers garments, tell him they are his
slaves and beg hs-commands.
A very common mistake concerning
the Sahara is with regard TO the GASES.
1t is supposed shat these are few and far
between, but this Is a mistake. for there
are several hundreds; so many, in fact.
that onc-third the surface OF this mighty
desert is supposed to consist of more or
less fertile land. But it is not fertile by
nature, though rendered so by cultiva-
tion, for wherever there is a spring vege-
tation appears, and by care on the part
of the inhabitants TO prevent encroach-
ments of the sand the limits OF the arabic
land are greatly extended. Suppose, for
Instance, garden should be wanted.
The Arab scoops out the sand from a
space. necessarily limited. to depth five
TO fifteen feet below the surrounding
surface There he comes TO moist
ground, and In It plants his vegetables,
setting out palms on the wall surround
ing the cellar garden. II Is a slow and
ccstly way of cultivating the ground, but
81 is successful, and any tropical plants
and vegetables may be raised I'm the
neighborhood OF spring. The GASES
extend across the Sahara in lines. proba-
by following the courses OF subterranean
ri cr,. and along these lines are the car
AVIAN ioutes, though It is probable that
hundreds OF the green spots in the desert
arc known TO the natives but not 20 Eu-
ropeans, for the latter follow only the
source of the caravan roads, and no
thorough exploration has ever been
made.
Several caravan routes traverse the
Sahara I'm various directions. The one
from Tangicrs TO Timbuctoo has already
been mentioned, so has also the great
caravan route from Tripoli to Borneo, by
way OF tho central line o. GASES through
the desert: among others, there Is one from
Cairo 10 Lake Tchad. and another from
Cairo 70 Fczzan. The caravans general