Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-07-12

"a seems like habitable country
the Italians are promised the
combat OF the campaign, near the city
OF Ghadumes, 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
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 It 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
u Turkish appointee known as the
kaimakhan, the head OF the province.
\ council called the djemma. consist
ing OF ten members, maintains q 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 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 chance to
make research among the foundations
OF Rhadames, the archaeologists 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-
they quilted their own Nile lands end
settled there to found a new city. 9th
or records less authentic fix the date
Of the city's founding in the line OF
Abraham OF the old testament line. In
pliuy 1t 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 sarants have dis.
covered corroborative evidences OF
this in bas reliefs found under Ria.
damesian walls.
Pre-Esyptian Ruins Well Preserved.
Evidences OF remotest antiquity are
found for miles about the oasis. testi.
fving 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 Egyptians are still
in fair preservation far beyond the
nresent city walls. The popular name
fcr these monuments Is "idols," as the
legend runs that they worshlped
idols. The relics consist of 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 40. The city
itself is the most surprising spectacle
to tho civilized eye. The streets are
more like tunnels than highways, for
they are almost entirely covered.
This Is uecessitated BY the torrid
sun. for during many months Of the
rear. even the desert folk are In
,arablc Of enduring the direct rays Of
lie teser, suE II other hot lands
,nch as s0J'Icra ira:r. Sicily anu ~,
D-!ea,. streets a:9 --aiteraL Hrcm :.