New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1911-06-07
SALT TREASURE
IN SAHARA OASIS
Remarkable Negro Colony Found
BY French Officer.
BARTER WITH MANY CARAVANS

Six Hundred Natives Rise Above Usual
African Conditions BY Skill In Trade
and Novel Protection For Riches
Provided Against Bands Of Robbing
esdeuins.
Many and various are tire products
of the earth which have been acclaim
ed as royal-gold, silver and gems Of
ten and often, tulips once IN Holland,
wheat in the west, peltry in the north,
the living bodies Of men and women
in many lands and many epochs.
But when the great volume of the
romance Of trade comes to be writ
ten one of it's most curious aud inter-
esting chapters will be that treating of
the majesty Of sait-just plain, COM
mon, everyday salt.
And today fresh romance Of salt
comes from the interior of Africa.
Deep in the heart of Sahara lies the
tiny oasis of Agram or Fachi, so mea-
gerly fertile that its scanty gardens
and few palms would hardly suffice,
perhaps, to- support a dozen families.
Yet it boasts thriving population of
GOO souls or more, and, though it lies
hundreds Of miles in every direction
from either railroads or navigable
streams, it has become busy mart Of
commerce.
Social Development Marked.
Moreover, it's inhabitants have de.
veloped truly remarkable degree of
social order and economic intelligence
superior to anything found in other
African negroes due to their posses
sion Of inexhaustible salt wells, fol-
in the desert salt is king, and the great
caravans of the "ships Of the desert
stop here for supplies Of salt wher
traversing the arid wastes of the Sa
hara as regularly as ocean going yes
sells stop at coaling stations.
Until 1907 no European traveller is
known to have visited this isolated
spot, which makes the more remarka
able the degree Of civilization attain
ed by the natives. The first full &C
count Of this interesting spot has JUS
been contributed by Commandan
Mowret, commander Of the Twenty
first regiment of French colonial in
fantry, recently returned from an ex
petition into the region Of LAX
Tschad. He writes: -.
1.-THE oasis of Agram or Fachi, PEG
pied by Kanowris, with a few lou
bous, is situated about 300 kilometers
east of Air and $50 kilometers west OF
Bilma. Its dimensions are approx
mately twelve kilometers from north
to south by four kilometers from east
to west.
Beyond few dates of inferior quail
ity the place produces nothing Of value
save salt, but since this is in demand
throughout the whole Of central Afri.
ca the inhabitants receive in exchange
for it all the necessaries of life, such as
maize, rice, milet, meat goods and
garments, leather, tools, etc.
Treasure Amply Defended.
but these treasures so dearly bought
must be Zealously protected from pill
lage. Within the interior Of the village
they have built a vast rectangular in
closure fanked by tower at each
corner. This rectangle is about eighty
meters long by fifty meters wide. The
walls are some twelve meters high and
four thick at the base.
These walls are built with stones
brought from the rocky mountains
mixed with natron from the salt wells
and even with blocks Of salt, the whole
cemented with clay. Loopholes run
along the walls and the facades Of the
towers. In the center of the open
court thus inclOsed is q well giving
abundance of fresh water.
"a single opening gives access to
the interior of the Enclosure. 1t is
closed by q solid gate made Of thick
planks and kept carefully locked and
bolted. The key is held by a special
guard, designated by the chief Of the
tribe This guard sleeps inside and
is responsible for the safety Of the
property. This arrangement enables
the inhabitants to have only few
days provisions and the most neces-
sary tools and clothing in their own
houses.
Compressed Food Used.
"The meat is dried as in other regions
Of central Africa, but vegetables are
conserved after method of their own
invention. Onions. beans, spinach and