Evening star., 1907-05-24
REMARKABLE JOURNEY
ACROSS SAHARA FROM TRIPoII
THROUGH FORBIDDEN LAND.

Special Cabegram to The Star.
CAIRO, May 24.-Mr. H. Vischer, one Of
the protectorate presidents in Bornu, has
made remarkable journey across Sahara
from Tripoli through the forbidden hinter-
land of Tripoli to Lake Chad.
The distance covered by Mr.. Vischer
was nearly 1,7OO miles and the actual
marching time two and one-half months.
In the mountains OF Gharian Mr.. Vischer
found people living In subterranean dwell
ings. Through entrances ten yards long
and one yard broad he came upon a square
courtyard, which was in reality a great
hole open to the sky. All of the rooms and
the stables converged on this. The rooms
were very dark and there were no win
dows but the most absolute cleanliness
prevailed. Round the courtyard was q
wall protecting the dwelling underneath.
Beyond Gharian the expedition proceeded
over rising ground to the hills, where fig
and olive groves lay among the Roman
ruins and underground villages. Nearing
Murzuk Mr. Vischer came on stretches Of
petrified forest.
Describing part of his journey across the
waterless desert Mr.. vischer said: I'VE
have had five days march across the
desert without water. All caravans waited
for one another before starting until our
combined party numbered over 500 cam
desert alone. Everywhere the ground is
covered with wind-polished stones, which
are gradually themselves becoming sand.
Everywhere Is an endless horizon.
Glorious Sunset Skies.
"Often apparently we see lakes and palm
groves, but on all sides are nothing but
stones, until the sun disappears and the
sky becomes filled with colors which
would have given joy to Titan or
Turner. All our marching is done at
night"
Mr.. Vischer reports that clubs founded
by the Senussi sect are very numerous in
certain parts Of the country. These clubs
have school houses attached. where the
children are taught to entertain the deep
est hatred for all foreigners.
Mr. Vischer Is of the opinion that the
great number of arms carried from the
coast to the Senussi headquarters forms a
serious menace to the position in northern
Nigeria.
Just beyond the waterless road and the
wild Tummo mountains Mr.. Vischer had to
fight He came into contact with a
out to attack him. Mr.. yischer says: I'm
the morning / left the camp in the charge
of my boys and went to attack the enemy
before they could get at me- l found
them after much difficulty entrenched in
position which enabled them to see me,
while they. were absolutely hidden by some
large shrubs
II sent Tubbu to ask them to come out
and fight me-. They answered that they
would come out when it would suit them
to wipe me out and take my loads. / then
fired and they answered with a well-kept-
up fire from twenty modern rifles.
"All their shots went over my head or
into the ground head, so that was able
to approach within about 200 yards.
killed one man and four of their camels,
and they went back to camp, six miles
away.
I'm the afternoon 1 attacked again, this
time with all of my ten rifles, while left
the camp in charge of the women and
some of the friendly native Tubbus. l
killed four of their men and sixteen cam
els, which had the desired effect of driv-
ing them back to the north"