Alaska sentinel., 1907-10-03

l found people living In subterranean dwellings. Through entrances ten yards long and one yard broad he came upon a square court yard, which was in real | lty a great hole open to the sky. Upon this all the rooms and stables con- verged. The rooms were very dark and there were no windows, but the most absolute cleanliness prevailed. Round the court yard was a wall protecting the dwelling underneath.
 Beyond Gharlan the expedition pro ceeded over rising grounds to the hills, where fig and olive groves lay among Roman ruins and underground villages. Nearing MurZurk, MT. Yischer came upon stretches of petrihed forests.
 Describing part of his journey across the waterless desert, MT. Vischer said :: I've have had a five days march across the desert without water. At the commencement of the desert all caravans waited for one another, until our combined party numbered over 500 camels. No caravan dares go through the desert alone. Everywhere the ground is covered with wind-polished stones, which are gradually themselves becoming sand.
 Everywhere Is an endless horizon. Often apparently we see lakes and palm groves, but on all sides are noth- ing but stones, stones, until the sun disappears and the sky becomes filled with colors which would have given joy to a Titan or a Turner. All our march ing Is done at night. When we came to the end of the Hammada, Djamy Bey and I rode together ahead of the caravan until we reached the edge of black gorge. This" said the Arabs, lis the door of the Hamnada, the waterless stone desert"
 MT. Yischer reports that while he was at Bilma French force from Zin- der formally took possession of the oasis. Shortly afterward two French detachments were attacked by a band of Taureg, all of whom carried mod ern rifles, and 6 desperate fight en- sued.
 MT. yIscher reports that just beyond the waterless road and the wild Yum mo mountains he came into contact with a Tuareg and Arab band who had come out to attack him or endeavor to get into the desert ahead to wait for him.
 Mir. yischer says: "I at once made the necessary preparations by putting all my men on guard and patrolllng myself on horseback round the camp and town to prevent the Tuareg from Joining the Tubbus against me, for though they were usually fighting each other, I had been told that they in- tended to join forces against the Chris tlans this time. Twice, at 2 a. m. and 8 a. m., met Tuareg messengers, who, however, ran away when I fired.
 "In the morning I left the camp in the charge of my boys and went to attack the Tuareg before they could get at me. I found them after much difficulty intrenched In position which enabled them to see me while they were absolutely hidden by some shrubs. I StHl uUDu to ush lo NOAhC oul ard fight me. They answered back that they would come out when 1t would suit them to wipe me out and take my loads.
 q then fired, and they answered with a well-kept-up fire from about twenty modern rifles. Their shots all went over my head or Into the ground ahead, 50 that I was able to approach to within about POO yards. I killed one man and four of their camels, and then went back to my camp, six miles away.
 "In the afternoon I attacked again, this time with all my ten rifles, while left the camp In charge of the women and some friendly native Tubbus. killed four of their men and sixteen camels, which had the desired effect of driving them back north and keeping away the Tubbus, who are all towards. The great following of Arabs which had come with the Tuareg had kept away to see the result of the fight, and then disappeared. I was not attacked again on the road"