The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-05-17


N ert OF Sahara verges on what
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. 1t was In
1870, 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, aud 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
"A Turkish appointee known as the
kaimakhan, the head of the province.
A council called the dilemma. consist
ing Of ten members, maintains a spe-
cies of home rule for the city. These
are selected from each of the five
quarters into which the city is divided.
Justice is rendered by a cadi Educa-
ton is impaired by "tolba" (wise
mem, 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 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 citys founding In the lime of
Abraham of the old testament line. In
Pliny it 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, a
people known as the Libyan-Egyptian
renowned for their enterprise and
handiwork French savants have dis
covered corroborative evidences OF
this in has relefs found under Ria
damesian walls.
Pre-Egyptian 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
kand not accounted for In the ordinary
Histories OF peoples. Ruins attesting
skerunners OF the Egyptians are still
( IN fair preservation far beyond the
Rpresent city walls. The popular name
fer these monuments is idols" as the
legend runs that they worshiped
idols. The relics consist II columns
wrought from sandstone obelisks Of
many varieties of material and tombs
indicating excellent skill in craftsman
ship. Rhadames Is surrounded by
high walls and modern bastions erect
ed by the Turks since 140. The city
itself is the most surprising spectacle
20 the civilized eye. The streets are
more like tunnels than highways. for
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 OF
the desert sun. In other hot lands.
such as southern Italy, Sicily and the
Orient, streets are sheltered from the