Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-17
FROM THE SANDso OF SAHARA
TRANsPLANT1NG DATE PALMS FROM
AFRICA TO ARIZONA.
The Experiences. Of a Representative
Of the Department of Agriculture
ON a Long Trip Over the Desert.

periences 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
a few trees which bear fruit have sprung
up under very adverse conditions. 1t 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 condi
lions are all right.
Good Supply of Young Plants.
Mr.. Walter 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
nnest kinds Of date palms. He brought
back with him 45O young plants, safely
packed In moss, which he took from France
for the purpose, and which will be planted
in Arizona.
Mr.. Swingle landed at Algiers and took .
train for Biskra. $50 miles south. and which
lies thirty miles within the Sahara This
is famous Saharan winter resort, and al
though he reached there in May, 1t was still
comfortable. He then started from Biskra
and travelled in carriages out into the Sa-
nara distance of $50 miles. The journey
was made over the French military road,
which is a well-kept thoroughfare and free
from sand or stones. AT distances of about
1orty-hVe miles part there are fortified
posts. maintained by the French army for
the pacifcation of the country. There is
well at each post, the first essential of
travel in the desert The American ex-
plorer, however. did not depend upon the
precious fluid in bottles. The water of the
wells in the desert is said to be strongly
alkaline and very distasteful to the ordi-
nary aa,S,,, mans stomach The natives carry
drlnk1ng water in goat skins, and while
this method cools the water, 1t does not add
to Its deliciousness.
A Long Journey.
The journey down was rather monoton-
Gus, Just the same stretch of desert, blaze
OF sun and intolerable heat in the middle
OF the day. The road was good, however,
ana fa1r time was made. 1t is mistake to
suppose that the Sahara is all sand. In
most places it is said to be good, loamy soil
which. If irrigated, is as fertile as an ILL.,
no1s prairie. In some sections there are
immense sand dunes, higher than the
Washington city post Office and in others
there are stretches of "hamada.' the rocky
desert which is said to be the most fearful
of all.
The people of the desert live mainly on
'cous cous, which is a kind of tapioca
steamed and served with meat gravy sheen
or goats furnishing the meat. The mess Is
highly seasoned with red pepper and would
be good if 1t We're not so hot Dates and
barley bread form the other staple articles
OF food. While there are probably 1900 600
or 100000 date palms in Algeria, each tree
producing from 100 to 800 pounds of dates
n:ne-tenths of the product is consumed at
home
Where Dates Are Grown.
or course, the dates are only grown in
the GASES which form about the wells in
the desert. Wherever there is enough water
to supply irrigation there will be a little
cluster of palm. some fig trees. barley vege-
tables growing under the palms; bunch
of sheep or goats and a few camels for
each Arabs establishment. He lives sim
ply and frugally, and in the heat of sum
mer hopes to send his stock and his family
into the mountain country to weather the
heat.
Since the French occupied the country
they have sunk artesian wells, about which
new cases and great plantations of dates
nave sprung up, much TO the surprise of
the aged nomads who have lived to see the
desert blossom like the rose. Several hum
dred thousand new date trees have grown
UP in these plantations.
Near the plantations is the holy city Of
Sid Okba. which contains the tomb of
saint. The people are very pious and very
poor. This is the oldest Mohammedan city
in the Sahara, and contains a population
OF about 5000.
Temperature of the Sahara
When Mr.. Swingle and his party reached
this part of the country they were intro
duced to some severe climatic conditions
ard made close acquaintance with a Saba
ran sirocco. In the desert one never seems
to perspire, no matter how high the tenn
perature. The moisture evaporates SO rap
idly that 1t leaves no trace, and one can
wear high collar without fear of its wilt
ing. The temperature in the Sahara some
&c Ill
heit in the shade GRANTED that shade can
be found). This occurs during the preya-
lence of the sirocco. The highest tempera-
ture encountered by Mr.. Swingle was 10
degrees
The sirocco is a hot wind that blows over
the desert. filling the air with fine particles
o. sand and dust, which penetrate eyery-
where. The thermometer goes IN and with
every window and aperture closed ifa he
comes almost unbearable. Everyone he
comes depressed TO an unusual degree the
nerves seeming to be affected in some way
The wind sometimes blows steadily for two
or three days. and during that time no one
ventures about and all business is at a
standstill.
Some beautiful mirage effects were wit
messed by Mr.. Swingle although he saws
he has seen better ones in Arizona In tho
Sahara the mirage always brings visions of
water, lakes and pillows with recdy shores
ana the overhanglng bushes reflected in the
stream. In Arizona the mirage is USUALLY
a reflection of mountains
Nights in the Desert.
The nights in the desert are described nc
wonderful. They are always cool. the tenn
perature falling from 40 degrees to 80
degrees and lower, and a blanket and
wraps are acceptable. A great deal of
travelling is done by night. and the long
caravans go swinging by, silently and mys-
teriously, in the shadows of the sand
dunes. Owing to the clearness of the at
mosphere the stars and the heavens can
be studied closely, and one ceases to mar
vel that the Arabs have always been stu
dents Of astronomy. A sunrise in the des-
ert is described by Mr. Swingle as the most
magnificent scene he ever witnessed and
one which the beholder is likely never to
forget. D.
There is a great deal Of malaria among
the resident Arabs and blindness prevails
to alarming degree. Visual affections
are due to the action of the sand and the
white glare of the sun. The malaria comes
from the iYrigating bitches and pooIs
which abound in the neighborhood Of all
GASES. The water is often stagnant in
these and productive of disease.
Many herds Of magnificent horses were