The sun., 1900-12-09
CROSSING THE SAHARA.
Experiences Of the FouIeau Expedition In Its
Journey Across the Great Desert.


Mr.. Y. Foureau. ono Of the most tireless
and intrepid explorers Of tho Sahara. recently
returned 10 France from his tenth expedition
among the Sand wastes and oass OF the desert.
on this Journey he led tho largest party that
has ever crossed the Sahara. II was a Gov
ernment expedition and WAS equipped regard
less Of expense. The party was TO travel
through tho country OF the hostile Tuaregs
and, as IL was on political mission and fair
rate OF speed was desired. great palms were
taken 70 make the expedition 30 strong that
the natives could not seriously impede It's
progress. The Government, however, could
take no precautions against the overwhelming
heat reflected from the sand wastes. II could
provide no relief for a scanty water supply.
and the party was really embarrassed by is
unusual size on account OF tho inadeuuacy OF
the lnfrequent wells to provide sufficient water.
So the expedition was a long time In crossing
the desert 10 the Sudan,
Poureau set out with iso Algerian soldiers
under tho orders Of Commandant Larny and
five other officers. The entire personnel num-
bered about 3)o men. and 1000 camels carried
their equipment. 1t started from Wargla.
little south OF Algeria. and the expedition made
an imposing appearance ns 1t marched out
of the fertile oasis BIZ. |. was terribly deci-
before it reached the southern edge Of tho
Sahara Mr. Foureau has Just given La Geo
,raphie the story Of his journey and II is inter-
eetinc ~ the experiences OF large expedition
In crossing the Sahara
A the great caravan turned fs back On
Warg!a in October. ises. II saw the desert sands
stretching ahead while behind II were hun
dreds Of thousands Of date palms watered from
the wells that are scattered over the oaSis.
The route led nearly straight south across
the large sand eypanse of the Erg and into
the country Of the warlike niarecs who killed
Col Tlatters in issi When tie expedition
reached the scene ri the tragic death 81 flaiters
they had penetrated the desert for 30 miles
south ~ NarSla. So far the Journey had be"n
fairly comfortable. but II recalled the horrible
slf'erings Of the fftv-nine survivors Of tho
Il1'tHrs expedition who. after their leader
and many % his mon Ind been killed. retreated
for. over two months, during which they, often
Ing To drink hut blood Only thirteen of them
survived their terrible hardshirs md staggered
into Warcl1 n last
inGs # the fonrear party began in earnest
Ther" was not snNl"ient water for so large
required, but scores of N" canIcl- died every
dn-. Their baggage was added "a the leads
the other animals earned ior some days. hnt
this could rot long continue II was found
necessary IT last 10 huiid q little eaithwork
and ieave within It n pgrt Of tho baggage under
q riprd ~ soldiers. The sarthwork wis named
Fort Flitfers.
The rost Of ~" party pushed on over re-
Ciors now sandy. nov r.e-clv rooR-s'rcwn
aud barren. until they Cnr>e to lferonnne whore
II hCcaTIc necessary 10 procure mora Ca'lel~.
Tho Tuarcc- dared no, attack so strong n parry
and were keeping ort Oi 'hn way \ few Of
them were caught and released uron thor
promise 20 rotlrn with CH!rsl-, but nothing
more was ssor OF th"in. Thu men in ono Of
IA" Villages one day made bold TO attack
the uhitcs b,, we're speedily driven on. and
Four"ap ict himself warranted on account
Of thls assault in marching against tho town
and selZing all the camels and donkeys he
found there. This ron-dera ne addition 10 tho
n'irh"r OF ms TRANSPORT animals a'ied h,nI
short ilIno 'he men and supplies left behind
rclnucd the main parry.
NhpG' hali a. tho Journey aClOss tho desert
was "" 10 hc rnhd" and ~" r,oet tr'iug IHr,
they ore. f"d upon the approach of so large
Dody ~ invaders. FOGrc1u had the great
es' difficulty IN rcplenishing his food supplies,
ttoncn h" p,ii handsomolv for oySv pound
BIN So'no "i tho people simulated by tie
large prl"c- offered, sr"occi"i in smuggling
q iev sheep, clebpored inilk and ground NUS
into ~" camp luring the dIrkno>s oi the nigh,
their hnrdsnp>, For day N u time II thing
bur drod-np wells were met and the party
vas son IctiInes reduced to n lew drops oi water
Zoe ra,E man. When the rar'v finally arrived
n, Iinc"r The end of IN" Journey, oL tho north
crn ed%r o. the : udyn, 4 had been travelling
very slowly and painiully with long pau-rs
NJ large wells for thirteen month, and had
proven quito "opciU~vcly that, though large
caravan so.nrcs comparative imUuni;y from
attack by The dr-crt noIrads il ircurs rerls
that arc nrcl rorr fo1uidublc on account Of
the increased difficulty of procuring water
and food ior large parties.