Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-27

that he knew where several treasure troves were
located-but that Is all could get him to tell.
While among the Tuareg camps In the Hoggar
I noticed that some OF the camps were far
away from water wells and that they had to
transport their water for many miles. Ny
questions in this direction brought forth the
answer that they never camp near water for
fear OF q raid, as raiders always make for
water points in hope Of finding . camp or
caravan.
To 60 back for q moment to the question Of
Tuareg endurance, will cite the now famous
case of the experimentation runner Of Agades
who, in 1915, rode and ran q distance of $50
miles in three days to seek relief for the sorely
besieged French garrison Of Agades. This
heroic man carried the message Of life and
death to the commander Of the troops at Finder,
falling dead at the feet Of the commandant,
but not until he had fought back death long
enough to gasp out his appeal for relief. This
episode has been handled In the novel Beau
Geste." Today his grave Is marked by the
laconic Mort Pour La France, yet his memory
should live with those Of the heroes Of old.
The Tuareg is supremacy Indifferent to the
rapid changes in temperature common to the
Central Sahara. Whenever think Of that
camp in the valley of the Giants" 1t Is to re-
call the shivering cold nights and the sturdy
Tuareg who sleep "aS they are" wearing the
same garments they wore In the day, despite
the fact that there is difference Of 70 degrees
in temperature He has excellent reasons for
retiring fully clothed, for his life is life Of
preparedness. He is ready to take the trail
the moment he ariseS-or what Is more to the
point, he is booted and spurred and armed
for the fray" In short, he Is q superb child
OF the desert, to whom the desert belongs. He
alone knows her moods, her caprices, her heart
less buffetings and he alone is her equall
The origin of the Tuareg Is q matter Of the
ory. The general opinion held Of students Is
that "the people Of the veil' are part Of the
great Berber race of North Africa.
THERE is still great study ahead on this
subject. Suffice it to be known that this
once great race is of white origin, has many
peculiarities of its own and is of great age
as the tomb of Queen Tin Hinan proved. Only
by continuing the great work of exploring the
mountains of the Hoggar, Air and Tibesti may
we hope to solve the problems of Tuareg origin.
1t was this ever present hope Of learning
something more Of these people that led me.
while at the camp in the Valley of the Giants"
to arrange for a visit to the royal encamp-
ment Of the King of the Hoggar. TuaregS do
not, as a rule, extend hearty welcome to
strangers, but could hardly ask for better
treatment than We received at the hands of
the famous Kel Reli the mobiles of the Tuareg
tribes living in the Hoggar. There, as guests
OF the King, Akhamouk, we lived under their
tents and learned many secrets of their lives.
The first thing that strikes one in a study
of these people is the high status OF the women
who called "Tamenoukhalen," which means
''the little queens" Chivalry is not dead among
the men of the tribe and the women hold q
unique position in this hidden corner of the
world This position of power and influence
is direct holdover from antiquity, for since
earliest time women have held an exalted po-
sition among the Libyan civilizations.
Survivals of the matriarchaI are numerous
among the Tuaregs. The female never wells
her face, Is entirely independent TN her actions,