The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-25
JUST BACK FROM SAHARA.
Mr.. swingle Found the Days Hotter
and the Nights Cooler Than Here.


and the Nights Cooler Than Here.
A traveller from the hot sands Of the
Sahara has just returned TO the De-
partment of Agriculture with some
valuable collections. and what is more
to the point for this story, an inter-
esting account of his experiences in the
desert. The long journey was made to
bring to this country, for transplanting
in Arizona, some of the finest species OF
date palms. Dates are now grown in
Arizona in small quantities. The early
settlers planted seeds, and from these
few trees which bear fruit have
sprung up, under very adverse condi-
tions. II was thought that by securing
some offshoots OF the date trees-for
the Arabs never raise from the seed
excellent results might be obtained in
Arizona. as the climatic conditions are
AL right. Mr. Waiter T. Swingle of the
Department of Agriculture was sent to
the desert OF Sahara, in the French
province Of Algeria, on an exploring
expedition in search OF the finest kinds
OF date palms. He brought back with
him $50 young plants. safely packed in
moss. which ne took from France for
the purpose, which win be planted in
Arizona.
Mr.. Swingle landed at Algiers and
took a train for Biskra, 25O miles south.
and 90 miles within the Sahara. This
is a famous Saharan winter resort. and
although he reached there in May, ii
was still comfortable. He then started
from Biskra and travelled in carriages
out into the Sahara a distance Of 15c
miles. The journey was made over the
French military road. which is a we'll
kept thoroughfare and free from sand
or stones. At distances Of about forty
FIVE miles apart there are fortified
posts. maintained by the French Army
for the paciflcation of the country
There is a we'll at each post, the frs
essential Of travel in the desert. Th'
American explorer, however. did no
depend upon the native supply of wa
ter. but carried the precious fluid II
! bottles. The water of the wells in tn
desert Is said to be strongly alkalin
and very distasteful to the ordinar.
mans stomach. The natives carr.
drinking water in goat skins, and Will
add 10 It's deliciousness.
The journey down was rather monot
onOus, just the same stretch OF desert
blaze of sun and intolerable heat i
the middle OF the day. The road wa
good. however. and fair time was mad
II is a mistake to suppose that tn
Sahara is all sand. In most places
is said TO be good. Ioamy soil, which.
irrigated. is as fertile as an Illinoi
prairie. IN some sections there are i'm
mense sand dunes. higher than III
Washington city Post Office and
others there are stretches Of "hamada
the rocky desert. which is said To /
: the most fearful OF all
The people of the desert live mainl
on 'cous cous." which is kind of tar
I ioca. steamed and served with me;
gravy. sheep or goats furnishing II
! meat. The mess is highly seasone
with red pepper and would be good
It were not so hot. Dates and barrie
bread form the other staple articles
food. While there are probably 5000. 90
or 1000. 900 date palms in Algeria, eaC
tree producing from 100 to 300 poun,
of dates. nine-tenths of the product
consumed at home.
. OF course the dates are only grown
. the Gases which form about the wells
| the desert. Wherever there Is enouS
!. water TO supply irrigation there W
be a little cluster OF palm, some I
Z trees, barley, vegetables growing und
the palms; a bunch of sheep or goa
: and a few camels for each Arabs e
Establishment. He lives simply and fr
= gally and in the heat of summer hop
TO send his stock and his family in
$ the mountain country To weather q
heat.
r Since the French occupied the count
they have sunk artesian wells. abo
II which new GASES and great plantatio
of dates have sprung up. much to {
j surprise Of the aged nomads who ha
lived 70 see the desert blossom like &
% rose. Several hundred thousand ne
o date trees have grown up in these pla
tations. Near the plantations is the h
ly city Of sidi okba, which contai
the tomb of saint. The people a
very pious and very poor This is I
Oldest Mohammedan city in the sab
ra and contains population Of abo
3 5000.
y When Mr.. Swingle and his par
= reached this part Of the country tn
were introduced To some severe cliI
y attic conditions and made close a
quaintance with "A Saharan sirocco.
the desert one never seems to perspi
y no matter how high the temperatu
The moisture evaporates so rapid
that II leaves no trace. and one G
y wear a high collar without fear of
whiting. The temperature in t
Is sahara sometimes goes as high as
g degrees Fahrenheit in the sha
(granted that shade can be foun
This occurs during the prevalence
~ the sirocco. The highest temperate
se felt by Mr.. Swingle was ITO degrees
e' The sirocco is a hot wind that bio