The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-06-21

fighting the Arabs for years and knew
exactly how to proceed knowledge
that the Italians seem not to have &C.
Quired. The faithful who tried to stop
the tide Of French aggression were
practically annihilated. The sbeik
has since been cautious in such mat.
tiers.
When Italy decreed the annexation
of Tripoli. for example. he refused for
long time to decree another holy
war. Most OF the Arabs fighting
around Tripoli from the very begin
ming were doubtless Senussis. and OF
course they would not have been
there II their chief had disapproved:
nevertheless, he refused to come out
In open opposition to Italy, despite
the pleas of his coreligionists, the
Turks, with whom indeed he has
never been on the best of terms.
Formidable Enemy.
Finally the government at Constan
tinople sent a delegation to Kufra
with a jeweled sword and other strong
arguments. including several decora-
lions. The sheik Of the Senussi was
convinced that the Turks intended to
fight to the last ditch and that the
Italians had no chance Of complete
success, so he was not unwilling to
take an energetic part In the cam.
paign. II is understood that he has
left Kufra and established field head.
quarters nearer the coast.
He is n more formidable enemy in
some ways than the Turks. Even II
the Italians should get possession of
the country. 1t will be long time be-
fore they establish a tax collector at
Kufra.
Second In importance among the
brotherhoods and perhaps even more
influential in the Algerian Sahara Is
the Tejania, which split in two some
years ago because OF a quarrel over
the succession and thereby lost a
good deal of Its power. The principal
branch now has its headquarters at
Tuggurt. the great center of caravan
roads south of Biskra. and Is on terms
of intimacy with the French govern
ment. to which 1t has been very use
full In keeping order among the tribes.
men. Sidi Hamid. the present head.
seems to think that the French have
come to stay and that he can best
serve his own ends by cooperation
with them.
This order owns 10000 palm trees.
which bring in a large revenue. most.
ly used for charity. The headquarters.
near Tuggurt, form a little town. In
GLIDING one of the most beautiful mos
ques in the Sahara. erected over the
bones Of former leader who died
three-quarters Of a century ago.
The best known monastery In AL.
geria, but now possessed of little infiu-
ence, is that at Sidi Okba, near Bisk.
IA. where is buried the warrior who
made the original Mohammedan con-
quest of North Africa In the seventh
century. His renown attracts many
pilgrims and the mosque is considered
to possess particular sanctity. but the
brotherhood is anaemic.
or all the Mohammedan societies
perhaps a quarter are friendly to the
French. who of course rule most OF
North Africa. The rest are openly or
secretly hostile. and dream Of the day
when they will be able to throw OF
the infidel yoke. The Williamsons. In
their novel. The Golden Silence"
have depicted a fanciful state OF az
fairs In which the brotherhoods are
preparing for war. 1t is impossible to
say that such a situation does not
actually exist. but the French believe
that most Of the plotting expends II.
self In mutterings.