Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-20

place on the African continent ever occu-
pied by Americans 1t was captured by our
which was then erected on the heights are
still to be seen. ! am told there are
other tracts along the Mediterranean coast
which might be cultivated. II properly
handled and that the ruins Of many Roman
settlements still exist there. 1t is through
that region that the khedive expects to
build his railroad from Alexandria to
Tripoii.
The Products of the Sahara.
The products CT the desert are much
larger than are generally supposed. The
caravans which are now coming here
bring quantities of ostrich feathers and also
cotton. dates, tobacco and grain, as we'll as
the ivory and gold dust of the Soudan
The output of the GASES themselves Is
greater than that Of any similar area on
earth. AS have already said, these desert
islands comprise altogether tract about
twice as big the state Of Virginia, and
grain. Outside Of them are vast tracts
which used for the grazing Of
millions of camels sheep and goats. as
we'll as horses and cattle. And OF late
years new crop has been found which is
bringing fortunes into the Sahara.
This last Is alta grass. 1t grows wild
along the edges Of the desert and upon the
plateaus where there is only slight rain
fall. few years ago this crop went to
waste. but now the Arabs are gathering
1t and 1T is brought in from everywhere
by car and caravan. / saw 1t stacked up
along the railroad in the deserts of AL
geria and Tunisia the trains were loaded
with it, and there were mountains of 1t on
the wharves Of every port 1 visited.
Here in Tripcli the alta grass Is brought
in upon camels 1t is picked by the Bed
ouins. Arabs and Berbers. every blade of 1t
being pulled from the ground. 1t Is packed
in bags about four feet wide and eight
feet in length. Two of these bags are
slung over the hump Of camel and are
thus carried for miles over the desert.
When the grass arrives at Tripoli it Is
weighed upon steelyards and paid fer at
about ten dollars ton. 1t is then haled
up like hay and shipped on the steamers
to England. where 1t is used for making
the best of book and writing papers.
Some OF the great newspaper companies
ria for the handling of alta grass: and it
is said that its value was originally discov
cred by the Lloyds Of Lloyd's Register. It
makes a much better paper than wood pulp:
possibility that it will displace the latter.
The Merchants Of the Sahara.
A large part Of the caravan business at
the ports is handled by Greeks and Ital-
ians. The alta grass is bought by Italians
who act for the English, shipping this stuff
to Liverpool and London, and bringing back
hardware and Manchester cottons. The date
exports also are In the hands Of Italians
although The bringing of the dates here is
largely through native tribes. who make
speciality of merchandising.
Have you ever heard Of the Mozabites?
They are sometimes called the Hebrews of
the Sahara. Indeed many believe that the
Mozabites are of Hebraic origin. They are
the descendants of the old Carthaginians.
who were driven down into the desert and
settled there. Carthage was founded by
Hebrews, and it was ruled by Queen Dido.
They have seven cities, far down below
Algiers in the middle of the Sahara, at just
where the caravan tracks cross. They are
engaged in commerce there. and also in
Algiers, in Tunis and in nearly every trad
ing center OF North Africa. These m IN
stay away from home only for two years
at time. Their laws require that they