The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-22

| be formed from the fact that 10 takes q caravan
| forty days from Cairo TO Fezzan. and nearly
thirty more to the fertile regions South OF the
| desert.
The productions Of the Sahara are limited.
Camels and domestic animals are reared 10y
| the Moors and Arabs, but aside from these
| there are only three articles of export-sait,
| gum-arabic and ostrich feathers. salt Is
! found in many places, and is generally taken
| by the caravans going south for the SOudan
produces no salt. and enormous profits are
made by its purchase in the GASES OF the
| Sahara and sale along the Niger. The prln-
| cpal articles conveyed south by the caravans
are European cotton goods, gums, alnmunl-
ton and liquors. Much OF the gun-arabic
| used in Europe and America IL produced IN
the Sahara. for in the Southwestern district
are dense groves of acacias. and the product
of their branches is gathered by the Mo0rs
and sold to the French in ~. LOUIS on the
Senegal. Ostriches abound in most parts OF
the desert, though what they live on Is "A
problem They are hunted both Tor their
feathers and flesh. though only half starved
Moor could tolerate the tough, ibrous meat
of this able-bodied bird. Besides ostriches,
however there are very few animals IN the
desert, most Of the wells and springs being
monopolizcd by human beings.
1t is a remarkable fact. however. that there
are indications of a former abundant popu-
iatiOn in the Sahara. and signs that the
climate was once less intOlerably hot than 1t
is at present. Ia many of the valleys signs
of water courses are frequent, ana sometimes
on the sandy plains wells, still walled IN,
though now dry are 10 be found indicating
that springs were once more abundant than
they now seem TO be. But the best sign Of
all that there has been change IN climatic
conditions Of the Sahara Is the fact, that IN
the northern and GENITAL part. evidence exists
of a vast population. FezZan and the south
ern part of the Sahara were used by the no
mans rs penal colonies. Nero sent large
body Of political offenders there that they
might die the sooner. the climate then being
considered institutions for Europeans. The
same district was the Siberia of more than
one Roman Emperor and exile 10 the sands
of Africa was in ancient times as much dread
ed as is now a departure to Siberia.
At numerous points IN the Sahara are re-
mains Of ruined cities. Carthaginan or Ro-
man, which probably each contained from
5000 10 Is 900 inhabitants Walls cistcrns,
wells. baths. aqueducts. temples, huge man.
sions, oven great trumphal arches and large
theatres and amphitheatres, show teeming
population. Various travellers have gwen ac-
counts of these ruins. which are SD extensive
as to attract the notice OF even the Ignorant
and degraded natives. \ ten-fnile ride
through FeZZan. straight into the desert,
there Is a ruined city which. surrounded by
sand hills, presents a picture Of solitary gran
deur not surpassed 10y the remains OF Bail-
|
UNFOLDING vast cornlcc blocks: elegant sculp-
lures NAV still be tmccd On slab and block.
though partially obliterntod by the never
ceasng attrlton Of the flying sand. while here
and there fallen capitals, half covered, btspeak
a civilization which has passed away
In West Sahara 10 the south OF Algiers.
there stands in the middle OF n sandy PLAIN 4
trumphal arch. erected. n the Moors say, in
honor Of a great victory gained there. II Is
covered with inscriptions. which. however,
save n word here and there. are lllcnble. and
the dcciphercd portions being Latin. have
led 10 the conjecture that the monument was
erected either in honor Of Sciplo Africanus or
of Severus. There Is no marble IN the vcln-
itv like that which covers II. though how the
large slabs We're transported from the sea
coast 20 point nearly two hundred miles III
land is a problem equal 70 that which con-
Germs itself with the blocks Of the ryiumlds.
In the Lybian Desert are found tie ruins OF
a city near Moor Saba. The walls are IN large
part still standing. and indicates "a crcumter-
ence Of between seven and eight miles. II y
even grander in is proportions thanany one of
the cities and the strength Of It's toriliicationS
indicates that the enemy's country was not tar
away. II was probably an outpost OF the Ro-
mans against the Soudanese, and its large els
terms, choked-up wells, and filed amphthea-
tres indicate not only the size and M
pOrtance of the city, but also the lux
ury Of its population. Cities 90. not
spring up in deserts; hence, II Is probable
that the climate of Sahara was formerly more
pleasant that rains were more frequent, and
better conditions Of life prevailed. IL Is
known that iron ore. granite and marble are
abundant in the desert for mines and quar-
ries have been found. Thuse cities could be
easily builded. IL Is probable that when
Vegetation was more abundant and families,
both.wild and domestic, we're more nuner-
Gus. that the Sahara was not the unlnVtng
region that IL now l..
GeOlOgists believe that parts OF the Sahara
were once at the bottom of the sea- and that
in one Of those bygOne ages, the surrounding
coast, comprising now a sandy waste, was
formed like other tropical regions. Whether
this were true or not /. is not impossible that
the desert may again blossom like the rose.
for the French, who have an interest in the
country. and are credited with a desire 10
own 1t all. have "A project for making an
inland sea III the western part ~ the
desert. II appears from surveys made that
about 10000 square miles not lar from the
coast are below the level Of the shore, and
canal cut through the coast hills would flood
this portion Of the desert and might produce
a change in climate. This. however, l.
piece with the scheme for a transsaharan rail
road from Fezzan and the Gases TO TimbuctOO
and BOrneo.
This is a day Of great projects and whether
such giant undertakings will ever be realized
is impossible 10 predict; but even should the
canal be due and that portion OF the Sahara
flooded with water. there Is no reason to sup
pose that any very material change IN the
climate will result save in the immediate
vicinity Far more reliance can be placed on
the artcsian wells for wherever these have
been sunk excellent water has been found NJ
n depth OF 300 to 400 feet. and with good
water an inland sea Is by 10 means ncces-