The Grit-advocate. (Julesburg, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1901-04-19

The Journey, to that charming retreat
the oasis of Biskra, in the Algerian
desert, on the edge of the Great Saba
ra, is not at all arduous. and can be &C
complished direct from London in four
days, the through ticket costing a lit
tie over IL pounds. says the Pail Mall
Gazette. From Marseilles the COM
Portable steamers Of the Transatlan-
tique company leave once a week d.
rect for Phillippeville, and once weekly
via Bona, the direct crossing taking
thirty hours. From Phillippeville Bis
kra Is reached by rail in day. Most
travellers will prefer to break their
journey at Constantine, that inland
Gibraltar. whose splendid situation,
enthroned on it's isolated plateau Of
rock, Is unique in the world. Interest
ing as it is, however, it unfortunately
lacks good hotel accommodations, an
accusation which can not be urged
against Biskra, which possesses at
least one frst-class hotel in the Royal.
and several others, the Victoria, the
Oasis, the Des Zibans, ETC., clean, COM
Portable and moderate enough to suit
every ones means. The Royal Is the
most modern, and has a large inner
court laid out as garden, an extern
sive nat roof and a minaret, whence
the gorgeous desert sunsets can be
viewed to perfection, and splendid
view from the terrace eastward, over
the bed of the river, the Oued- Biskra,
to the Sahara and the picturesque
range of hills, the Djebel-Metlili, on
the horizon. The DarDaif Hotel at
tached to the Casino, has All excellent
restaurant and cafe, the prices at all
these hotels ranging from IL to 16
francs a day. At Biskra it rarely
rains, though heavy tropical showers
are not unknown; bright sun and blue
skys are the rule; there is no damp,
and the pure. dry air Of the Sahara
is of incalculable benefit to seekers af-
ter health; yet it has by no means the
appearance of a resort of invalids
only; the little town wears a gay
French air, has excellent shops and ba-
zaars. public gardens, in which roses,
heliotrope, hibiscus and bougainvillea
vie in profusion and coloring; a high
ly Oriental looking marie, French
fort, garrison and military club, all
picturesquely contrasting with the
Arab life which to unaccustomed
northern eyes is the great and salient
novelty of the place. Very quaint and
interesting are the native straits, the
market square with its huddleo groups
of white-robed Arabs, the languid
professions of laden and weary cam
els, the tunnel-shaped avenues of mi
mosa, and the villages scattered about
the oasis, screened and overriding by
countless waving date palms, not less
countless to the enchanted traveler be-
cause his guide, with frigid accuracy,
informs him that the oasis contains
not less than 100 900 Of these sels-same
palm trees. In this indolent land there
Is yet plenty for the energetic 70 do;
the mornings can be pleasantly occu-
pied by bathing at the Hamn
Salahtn, six kilometers out in the des-
ert, whore there is a miniature bath
Ing establishment, built over the
springs, which have a natural heat Of
liz degrees Fahrenheit AS THU heat
is, however, extremely enervating to
the bather, it is advisable to ordsr tho
bath beforehand and to allow ii time
to cool to reasonable temperature.
The tramway which runs to the paths
passes first under palms and mirnosa,
through the exquisite oasis of BENZ
Mora, out into the desert, taking about
three-quarters Of an hour. In the az