The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-17
CoNoUER1No THE SAHARA.

France Is constantly giving proofs OF bel
mastery over the Sahara. She has won Il
by her new methods OF desert travel, which
were adopted only three years ago and
proved from the first successful. Her m6har-
istes travel wherever they are sent. Az
irregular but frequent intervals they raise
their flag over SOM new territory and at
q 1t to n OF their organized districts.
The meharistes are small troops OF camel
cavalry mounted on animals specially
trained for fast travel. so that they may 60
lightly laden. They depend on the GASES
TO replenish supplies. Their latest Journey
is one of the most notable Of their achieve
mente.
Starting from Timbuktu they marched
north and northwest about $50 miles to
Taudeni, arriving there May 8. Capt.
Cauvin and his men camped in the town for
eight days. The natives had neve seen
a white man before. Their fathers saw
one specimen seventy-eight years ago.
when Rene Caille CROSSED the desert. Lena
was In that neighborhood about twenty
five years ago, but passed around the place
because he did not dare to enter II. Capt.
Cauvin attached Taudeni TO the Govern
ment Of Tmbuktu and his party returned
to the Niger. They had met no opposition
but were much fatigued by the heat and
the hardships OF o desert march nearly as
long as the distance between New York and
Chicago.
Isolated and miserable as Taudeni 10,
she place has long been n Of the most
notable In the Sahara. It occupies o de-
PRECISION only about 400 feet above sea level.
The waters come near the surface here and
many wells are possible. This has made
the settlement the oonverging point for
all the caravan routes between Morocco and
Tmbuktu.
IL 10 the centre Of the largest salt indus
try in Africa. Here are apparently mex
haustible beds Of pure rook salt, which the
natives hew out in blocks about three feet
long, weighing seventy pounds. Four Of
theee make a camel load. The salt Is taken
to Timbuktu and distributed throughout
the whole Western Sudan. 1t Is sold to the
Timbuktu merchants for q pittance, but
increases in value with every days Journey
Of their camels to the south.
Taudeni Is described by the people Of
Timbuktu as one OF the most wretched
desert settlements. Tho natives are Of
mixed Arab and negro blood. They have
leu no OOVeTnInont. Every man LIB d law
unto himself. Often the miners suffer
from lack Of food, as they are dependent
on imports for supplies Of all kinds except
water and salt. They exact a camel from
every caravan replenishing It's water skins
at their wells and the animals thus acquired
are kept as a food It was because
Lenz could not spare a camel that he re-
plenished his water supply at Wady Tell, |
outside the settlement, and went on without
seeing q native. Salt mining 10 the only
industry. The heat is so intense that at
the miners are compelled to quit
work and take refuge in caves.
Lenz found abundant evidence that this
some time or other, gave support
to people Of q culture differing from that
Of the present inhabitants. He found
the ruins Of ancient walls, objects Of orna-
ment, tools and other articles such as are
no longer in use. He learned that many Of
these relics are scatterd over this part Of
The desert and specimens Of finely worked
polished stone have been carried as
curiosities to other Saharan towns. The
French expedition may throw more light
this region.