The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-04-15


There is big trade in dried fish
caught in the Niger, and, since the
lily understood how sun dried-fish
merchant" soon sells out.
Women Are Very Shy.
One finds the streets, or rather pas
sages, full of people, either going to
or returning from the market, which
lis a sort of African news exchange.
Strangers find themselves an absorb
ing topic of conversation and curios-
ity. Arab boys and girls run past like
fleet little gazelles Men, in passing
salute by raising the hand; the women
either turn and run or pass in a very
bashful manner
These women, Of course, are only the
servants of the wealthy Arabs and
MOors; the rich native woman never
leaves her house from one years end
to another, unless to travel with her
man. She is then yelled completely,
| and 1t is difficult to tell whether a
male or female is perched on the top
of camel
The Tuareg women and girls do
most Of the household work for the
richer and more educated natives The
girls are most attractive in appear
ance, but very dirty. They never
wash, as their home Is usually in the
heart of the desert where the limited
supply of water is reserved for drink
ing purposes and Is kept in the water
bags slung on the backs of camels
and oxen.
The Tuareg is of light coffee hue.
while Arabs are often far lighter in :
color than Sunburned European
Their eyes, which are very beautiful,
belle their jealous, deceitful natures
Beggars are to be found in all At
rican towns, but it is doubtful if
more pitiable collection can be found
than those in "Tombouctou' Some
are blind, some cripples, others old
and feeble; but all chant some song
or prayer in a monotone, beseeching
Allah and the passer-by to give them
aims.
AS rule, the native Is kind to beg
gars, but cruel to his animals; donkeys
and camels receive rough handling
The usual cure for sore back or girth
gall Is green leaf, with little sand
rubbed In.
Modernity Creeping In.
During the rains Timbuktu has a
large paddle-boat of some 200 tons;
six tall masts of the wireless station
can be seen from the city housetops,
and the hum of airplane engines COM
Ing up from Dakar has been heard.
The telephone and telegraph are
likewise in use. the latter being en-
ployed by the merchants.
Before the advent of the French,
money was little known, barter and
exchange serving for all transactions
Cowrie shells are even now used in
the market. for silver Is scarce and
paper money Is reluctantly accepted.
The European population Of Tim
ouktu now numbers about twenty,
chiefly government officials. with three
u four merchants. European baby
was born in Timbuktu In 192O--the
first one in the history of this old
own.
Social life Is essential in desert
,lace like this, and the French do all
hey can to make themselves happy
md comfortable. There is good hos {
'ital and fine. hard tennis court. S
iiding and shooting, with tennis. CON
titute the only forms of exercise Polo
las not found its way there yet. but
vii sooner or later. probably That a
: a game in which natives in many b
arts of the world soon become expert. &
The great annual event in Timbuktu 4
: the arrival Of the huge salt caravan Y
rom the heart Of the desert. some 800 n
lilies north Of Timbuktu. The French :,
overnment protects the salt caravan :,
y sending out 200 camel corps men :.
18th Europeans In charge. The strong
scort defends this wonderful caravan
ON the ever-threatening attacks Of
he marauding Tuaregs and desert
'ibes. D'
The coming of the caravan Is u
arvelous slght-some 500 camels
den with salt and hundreds of 9th W
= ridden by gorgeously robed chiefs ne
18th their various bodyguards, either &C
ounted or on foot. The caravan re- III
rms north with rice and grain FL
ought up by canoe from the large SIT
Zricnltural districts of Gundam FL. Iii
aieJi and Gao. ST
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