The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1892-01-09

seas, becomes averse to the world, finding
charm only In the solitary abode and har-
mony only in the murmur of the waves,
SO the Nomads of the Sahara feel an at
traction for the frightful solitude, which
appears so ugly to the European traveller:
they care for nothing but the dead silence
of the desert waste.
The Nomands keep several cameIs for
transporting their goods, and one or
more horses and donkeys, according to
their means. They cost nothing to keep,
however as they are fed wild grass,
plants or stones of dates, and the horses
run unshod. The horse or donkey is for
the special use of the husband, while the
camels bear the light household utensils
and provisions, besides dates, when COM
ing from the Sahara and grain when re-
turning southwark. Some of them are
also used for transporting the children
and the sick women.
For this purpose a kind OF covered litter
called palanquin, is turned sideways upon
the camel, and thus made to contain
several persons.
Thus organized and equipped, the
Nomad family is always ready to move or
flee with all its possessions, as its males
are always prepared to mount AMI fight
tor lis security.
The Nomad tribe travels as a whole
body. In the spring, on the occasion of
their annual journey to the north, they
carry from the oasis immense quantities
of dates to sell in the northern markets at
three TO four times the price at which they
bought them, or to exchange them for
grain. With the proceeds of this venture
and the price obtained from the sale of
their cattle, wool, henna, musk, and vari-
Gus other articles manufactured by them.
selves during the winter, each family buys
enough grain for the whole year. When
they re-enter the solitudes of the Sahara
in autumn, this grain is stored in silos
that they rent in the oasis or ksour tthe
ksour are fortified villages in the desert,
whose inhabitants are the bond keepers or
constituents of the Nomads.) A great
part of the re-victualing of the northern
oasis is also due to the Nomads, but their
traffic il limited TO Central Sahara. The
caravans trading further beyond. as far as
the SOudan, are generally formed by the
Mzabits.
The Nomads of the Sahara show plainly
the wholesome effects of the open air when
contrasted with their brethren who live in
'gourbi' (hOuses) almost closed to the air
and light. Ii seems inConceivable that
their poor food can produce In them so
much strength and vigor, but we must
believe that they are better fed by the pure
air than by their scalt nourishment.
they are tall. muscular, slender, and
1.-THE; their simple garments do not re-
strain their bodies from acquiring round
ness and perfect development Nowhere
could be seen more life and yigor than in
the unconscious attitudes of the children
or young people, especially before their
marriage. They are used to every inclem-
enCy of the weather; up to the age of ten
they are allowed to run half-clad. Their
skins being exposed to the air all day, be-
come unusually thick, so that they scarce
ly feel the changes Of temperature.
Aside from the malady which aifiicts
their eyes, and certain diseases of the
blood, tEey are seldom i'll. Among the
women rare cases of cn1mia, typhus, and
fever are only occasionally observed The
horrible custom Of killing sickly children.
which was so long practiced before and
even after Mahomet, has completely dis
here, again, the humane feel
ings OF the prophet took the upper hand
and prohibited the custom.
The Nomads are in general very care
Tess abOut lHcu puyslCdl COnulllOn; lazy
and avaricious. most of them do nothing
to restore health until they suffer too
much to feel the danger of death. How
ever. certain medical practitioners, called
'.tubib,' speculate upon the ignorance of
the people.
These traditional rovers, inhabiting
that wild expanse of desert which extends |
from the Atlantic Ocean |
to the NORTH of China, played most i'm
portant part in ancient history. The No
mads, indeed, participated largely in the
destruction of the Roman Empire Start. |
ing from Asia, they entered and conquered |
the African provinces, at that time occu- |
pied 10y the Roman, whose empire they |
also threatened from the east of Europe |
In TIP they invaded southwestern Europe.
the conquered territory for al
most eight centuries. In 1872 they at.
tempted to invade northern Europe. but |
were checked and finally driven out of |
France by Charles Martel This bafled |
horde of Nomadic invaders were then
called Saracens.-H. Michel in Edlnburg