The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-04
Expedition Of Both to 60 to Alas
Ia From Seattle.
CONDUCTED BY PROF. HEuLPalN
Scientific Investigatien the Main Jb-
VIII Look for GOld-InterestinR
Lecture 1T the University on .
aims and Desert Wilds of Africa.


the Academy of Natural Sciences. of Phil
adeiphia, has been in the city for several
days making preparations 10 lead an expo
dltion into Alaska this spring. combining
search for gold and scientific investt-
CATION Prof. Heilprin returns TO Philadei-
ptia In few days. and in April or May ne
win return with party OF scientists who
viii go up the Yukon in boat Of their
own. QUILTED for two years Of work in the
new gold fieds Scientific investigation 10
the main object of this expedition. but
there viii be in the party practical min
ing men 20 take advantage OF any rich finds
OF gold that may be made during these
investigations.
Prof. Heilprin gave an interesting lecture
in Denny hall Of the University of Wash
ington yesterday afternoon. He started in
by stating that he would try TO avoid talk
ing shop, meaning that he would not at
tempt technical discourse on some geo.
logical subject He was introduced to the
audience by President Charles +. Reeves,
OF the university. and at once enlisted the
warmest interest Of his audience while he
told OF a journey in the mountains and
deserts of Africa.
His trip was made with single COM
panion. young man OF Philadelphia He
had received q vast store OF advice from
friends. who told of the great heat 10 be
endured the venomous insects and rep.
tiles and the ferocious beasts to be encoun-
tered. In all these he was disappointed.
He never saw a snake, except one In the
arms Of a snake charmer. He never saw
even a mosquito 50 far troublesome in.
secis go. and he never saw a single wild
beast Though he travelled hundreds OF miles
in the wiids OF Africa. Even In the heat
lie was disappointed. When he had left
New York the thermometer had stood at
IS degrees. When he arrived in Morocco
the Thermometer was at "a degrees.
Tangier was described as having the APP
pearance of a glacier when one approaches
it by water. The streets are so narrow
that If you are riding on loaded mule
you are liable to touch the houses on both
sides. One of the first things noticed is
the total absence of vehicles He saw but
one cart which had been left on the beach
OF the Mediterranean and had never been
taken into the city. Tangier is perfectly
Moorish.
Algiers seemed like a beautiful city
freshly transpanted from France. One
of the most remarkable things about Al
geria is the system Of military roads. The
people have reduced road building TO a
perfect science and the roads are prob
ably without az equal in the world. Tray
cling along these roads at the average rate
OF twelve miles an hour, Prof. Heilprin
and his companion came TO their first view
OF the Atlas mountains. to study the gla-
ciers OF which was the object of the
journey.
AT this place the mountains were about
5000 feet high. presenting sheer preeipices
of 5000 10 i.0o0 feet in height. Though the
mountains seemed impossible. they found
a guide TO show the way. The path soon
seemed TO be intended for goats more than
for men and laden mules and donkeys.
They finally attained divide at about 6 900
feet elevation, and the highest peak tow
cred about 5000 feet above them. This
they assembled and spent the night on the
summit While there severe August
rain storm was experienced. accompanied
by such fierce winds that the guide was
twice blown from his feet and once came
near losing his life.
They then emerged out upon the central
plateau OF Algeria, where they seemed to
be IN Franee. Here they found Arabs
the Bedouins. and the stationary or fixed
tribes. The latter had houses OF adobe
sometimes attaining the surprising height
of sixteen stories.
Approaching the second range Of the At
las mountains. lying just north OF the Sa-
hara desert. they sought the pass known
as THE Gate" Here is presented what
is claimed by travellers the two most dis
tinc,ly different pictures Of the world. To
the north is civilization well developed In
beautiful Algeria, while 10 the south Is
harharism and wastes of desert Here
again, one finds his text book notions
harshly shattered. The desert does not at
first stretch in sea Of level sands and
one OF the first objects met Is an oasis
We have always thought Of ar oasis rs a
pool or half staAnant wate- with a few
palm trees. under which man would have
10 sniff h,s position in order 10 enjoy the
scant shade. Instead of that the travellers
approached a forest tangle In which there
are S,eoo palm trees which have been
actually counted by the Arabs There are
also such trees as almond, peach annie
fig. olive and other fruits There are nm
ing streams and copious pools OF water
Riding from the parched sands into this
shade IL seems to the traveller that night
has suddenly overtaken him. The trees
are fesiooned with vines, bearing the lrs-
cious African grape, and there is not seen
anywhere q single withered leaf The
third oasis met contained 90 oa0 palm and
many other trees. The seventh oasis CON-
tanned 4c"tso palm trees and was twelve
miles long.
In leaving one OF these oases they faund
the way iFnpa sSable. a sudden storm I'm
The mountains had swollen an insignificant
creek I1to n raging river two miles wide
The next day they started out through the
mud. Among the geological specfnens
were cubes % sand melted together hv
lightning The regular road pursued hv
the caravans Is wen cut and hacked
though 81 places 81 Is. covered hv great
sand dunes. which attain the height oet,s-
sion3lly Of l.ss.l feet The French have
Improved the country by making new
cases ny boring arteS.An wells Wherever
this water rises 10 the service the soil is
soon covered by vigorous plants o. palm
trees. etc.
IL some Places the dead trunks OF trees
are ioand showing where an oasis had once
Houristaed- The lecturer drew rsanv h.au-
lfgl word pictures OF ;he wonderful scenes
eneoanterei en- the journey and he GER
tainly caused many 81 his listeners 20 COR
rect their impressions. % the afrs~ar
desert and its wondorfal cases.