Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-06-07

a L that point on the AATlCan
~ map where the immense des-
N ert Of Sahara verges on what
IA seems like habitable country.
the Italians are promised the
combat of the campaign. near the city
of Ghadames, pronounced Rhadames,
as the Arabian alphabet has no sound
exactly equivalent to gh. Some years
ago the Turks, under pretense OF re-
ligious fidelity, stopped the caravans
from the southern desert lands on the
Tunis route and forced them to pass
by the way of Rhadames. II was IN
1910, after the French beginnings OF
conquest In Algeria. that the Turkish
sultan diverted the long trains Of
slave caravans to Tripoli, making
Rhadames the point OF concentration.
AS the change benefited the British.
they gave full cooperation to the
measure, and thus the city became
part of the Tripolic province. conse-
quently 1t falls to the Italians so soon
as they have mastered the rebels"
The administrative authority Of the
oasis Of Rhadames Is In the hands OF
Turkish appointee known as the
kaimakhan. the head Of the province.
A council called the dilemma, consist
ing of ten members, maintains spe-
cies OF home rule for the city. These
are selected from each Of the i've
quarters into which the city is divided.
Justice is rendered by a cadL Educa-
ton Is impaired by "tolba" (wise
men), in eight mosques, where pray
er, the koran, is taught TO both sexes,
but boys alone are permitted to learn
reading and writing, their instruction
ending with these rudiments. Girls
are permitted to learn prayer alone.
When the Italians get a chance to
make research among the foundations
OF Rhadames, the psychologists ex-
pect wondrous stores of historical in
formation, for Rhadames Is counted
one of the most ancient Of cities. The
tale goes that long time before the
advent of the prophet (Mohammed)
Egyptian marauders, parting from the
oasis, Jupiter Ammon, stumbling on
the blooming garden In the des ,rt, be-
came so enamored of the place that
they quilted their own Nile lands and
settled there to found new city. 9th
er records less authentic fix the date
of the city's founding in the lime of
Abraham of the old testament line In
Pliny II is set down that in the coun-
try now known as the oasis Of Ria
danes there lived in the period Of the
Roman empire. or republic. rather, q
people known as the Libyan-Egyptian,
renowned for their enterprise and
handiwork. French savants have dis.
covered corroborative evidences OF
this In has reliefs found under Ria
damesian walls.
Pre-Egyptlan Ruins Well Preserved.
Evidences Of remotest antiquity are
found for miles about the oasis, testi
flying to the fact that many hundreds
of generations must have occupied the
land not accounted for in the ordinary
histories of peoples. Ruins attesting
forerunners OF the Egyp' ians are still
in fair preservation far beyond the
present city walls. The popular name
fer these monuments is idols" as the
legend runs that they worshiped
idols. The relics consist of columns
wrought from sandstone obelisks oil
many varieties Of material and tombs
indicating excellent skill in craftsman
ship. Rhadames is surrounded b.
high walls and modern bastions erect
| ed by the Turks since 140. The city
itself is the most surprising spectacle
to the civilized eye. The streets are
more Ike tunnels than highways, fol
they are almost entirely covered.
This Is necessitated by the torrid
sun, for during many months OF the
year even the desert folk are In
capable of enduring the direct rays o.
the desert sun. In other hot lands
such as southern Italy, Sicily and the
Orient. streets are sheltered from the
sun by excessively high buildings
leaning so far toward the center tha
they darken the streets. but. above all
keep the glare of the sun from thu
dwellers The louses are not built OF
any plan known to the rest OF thu
world. The first story or grounG
1oor is windowless, probably to serv'
as defenses in case of sudden attacl
from the desert nomads. The mex
floor is likewise windowless. but 1
lighted from above. About the Er,-sei
are sunken gardens, and as may b.
Imagined with the spreading foliage o
palms, give charming sense OF fairy
land to the surroundings.
Every species Of exotic growtl
thrives In these delightful spaces