The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-03-07

i5y OF the English in Africa awakened
the Gauls to q realization Of the danger
they were ia. They saw that they would
not be able to resist any sudden move on
Great Britain's part so long as they were
practically outside of the city and de-
termined to reclaim that which had long
since been conceded to them Response
blIfy for taking possession of the city
was disclaimed by the government. and
the act was said to be wholly nnauthor-
led Nevertheless it was noticeable
that the ministry declared in the cham
Der Of deputies that there could be no
question Of evacuating Timbuctoo. The
French flag had been raised, and it would
be an insult to French valor to lower it
voluntarily.
Timbucto0 lies on the borders Of the
Sahara. about nine miles from the river
Niger. 1t has q population of about 90
600. which is greatly increased during
the season Of Grade, from Novemb Der to
January. The houses are closely packed
together and are mostly built Of clay
and stone. Some of them are two sto-
ries high and show considerable taste flo
their decoration. The port of Tim ouc-
too is at Kabara, on the Niger, which
has a vast artificial basin, but lis access
IDLE for only four or five months in the
shallow for navigation
The most valuable traffic is bv cara
vans, for which Timbuctoo is the cen
tral station of northern Africa Gold
dust is the great article of trade The
merchants of Iimbuctoo are usually
agents Of those at Aogadore, Morocco,
Fez and other places in northern Africa.
The Inhabitants are q mixed population
of negroes. Tuariks. Bambarras, Man
dingoes. Arabs and Fulahs-
The city dates from the twelfth CEN
fury, but 1t was long known ia Europe
only by reports off native travellers until
IL was first reached by Major LANG III
1926 and furtively visited by Caille ia
1925 Barth. the great scientific traveller,
spent seven months thereln 1853 and col
lected a lot Of valuable data He was
the last white man to reach the city till
DR.. LEM went there in 1880 disguised as
d Mahommedan pilgrim
The town is not healthful. Numerous
pools Of stagnant water between the city
and the Niger breed fevers. There are
mo public squares or gardens, and the
only verdure is four or five siczly little
trees. They only public buildings are
the mosques, and no European has ever
entered them except Caille. Schools are
connected with the mosques. and here
of them doubtless of much historical
Importance. though Barth translated and
published the most valuable Of them.
Most Of the Inhabitants can read and
write and know a large part of the Koran
by heart. Some Of the men are ren0wn-
ed for their learning. LEM says that If
he could have spared the money he might
have purchased some very interesting
manuscripts.
Iimbuctoo today is only the shadow of
its former self. The time was when the
town did large trade with the 1Iediter-
ranean states. Sultan El kal Of Moroc-
co planted wooden posts clear across the
desert to mark the best route for cara
vans between his dOminions and Tim
buctoo. The Tuaregs have ruined this
caravan route and almost depopulated
the town.
It is stil1, however. the natural center
of commerce and the principal town Of
the upper Niger. With Iimbuctoo in
their hands. the French viii control
thousand miles of navigation On the great
west African river and may make the
place center Of large influence fer the
extension of their authority and trade.
There are at present no means Of esti-
mating the FIXTURE growth and prosper
ity Of inh0spstable Timbuctoo with the
assistance of rhe railroads that are sure
liz COMING