The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-08-31

across the Sahara desert by one OF the
protectorate residents in Baron. The
distance travelled was loo miles In
the mountains Of Gharian Mr.. vischer
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
ity 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 wall protecting
the dwelling underneath.
Beyond Gharian the expedition pro
ceeded over rising grounds 10 the bills,
where fig and olive groves lay among
Roman ruins and underground villages.
Nearing Murzurk, Mr.. Vischer came
upon stretches Of petrifed forests.
Describing part Of his journey across
the waterless desert, Mr.. Vischer said :
eve 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 800
camels. No caravan dares go through
the desert alone. Everywhere the
ground is covered with wind-poliahed
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 moth
ing but stones, stones, until the sun
disappears and the sky becomes filed
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, danny
Bey and l rode together ahead OF the
caravan until we reached the edge OF
a black gorge. "This," said the Arabs,
"is the door Of the Hammada, the
waterless stone desert"
Mr. Vischer reports that while he
was at Bilma a French force from Zin-
der formally took possession Of the
oasis. Shortly afterward two French
detachments were attacked by q band
Of Taureg, all Of whom carried mod
ern rifles, and a desperate fight en-
sued.
Mr.. vischer reports that just beyond
the waterless road and the wild Tum-
mo mountains he came into contact
with Tuareg and Arab band who had
come out to attack him or endeavor to
get into the desert ahead to wait Tor
him.
Mr.. vischer says: II at, once made
the necessary preparations by putting
all my men ON guard and patrolling
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, had been told that they in
tended to join forces against the Chris
tians this time Twice, at 2 q. m. and
3 a. M, met Tuareg messengers, who,
however, ran away when 1 fired.
I'm the morning + 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. !
sent a Tubbu to ask them to come out
and fight me. They answered back
that they would come out when 1t
would suit them to wipe me out and
take my loads
II then fired, and they answered
with a well-kept-up IRE from about
twenty modern rifles. Their shots all
went over my head or into the ground
ahead, 50 that 1 was able to approach
to within about 200 yards. I killed
one man and four Of their camels, and
then went back to my camp, six miles
away.
I'm the afternoon I attacked again,
this time with all my ten rifles, while
I left the camp In charge Of the women
and some friendly native Tubbus. l
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 bad kept
away to see the result OF the fight, and
then disappeared. I was not attacked
again on the road"