New Britain herald., 1930-02-18
TOO MUCH WATER
 IN DESERT CITY
Italians Occupy NurZuk, Sur- rounded by Sahara Marshes

Washington, D. C., Feb. IS "Murzul;. which Italians recently occupied, is ,t small desert city on the main caravan route hctWccn Tri- l'oli and the Sudan' says q bulletin from the Washington, n. C. head quarters of the National G"pGraph, ,c Society,"
 'Murzuk was nearly 200 years old when Columbus discovered AmcrI- cI, but some makers Of world maps still ignore II. The city can easily be located, however. by drawing d line due east from Miami Florida. and another line due south from Naples, Italy. These lines will in- terscct within the shadow Of AIur- Zuk's wall.
 Surrounded By Marshes
 'Iravelers must choose one of two Faya to reach Murzuk by airplanc or by caravan, A railroad company has boldly thrust steel rails from Trlpoli southward toward the town, but the line halt8 after it has tra- l@rSc1 60 miles of almost barren ter rain. Ihc remaining dnO miles 10 Murluk are sand-Swopt wastes in frequently dotted by small oaScs.
 "Murzuk natives will tell you that they live in a desert city where there IS too much water. The city lies in he ao-calIcd Hofra depression Of the sahara where water is obtained from shallow wells. The excess water is found in the salt marshes in th" n"ighborhood which offer splendid breeding places for mosquitoes that IlarasS the natives. Malaria takes it- toll annually, and those who do moi SuccUmh 10 the disease are left in a weakened condition and arc easy prey 10 other diseases.
 "To inc weary desert trlyclrr Murzuk is A welcome sight, yet it. iortr"salike wall presents q some What hostile aspect. Inside the "alI inc visitor is welcome, for the natives exist on trade with travel or" Here the Caravan8 rcplcnish their supplies as well as hire and fire camel men.
 " llI' ilIF Iii'lIt7I lH q lilIlS'il illtf 10 th" natives, it furnishes nearly all the building supplies for the town. The high wall is of the marsh mud and the flat-roolcd, one story atruc- lures that line the narrow lanes within in" wall are of the same ma teral. odd as if may seem for q desert town, when il begins to rain he Inhabitants begin 10 pray, and the harder il rains the harder they pray. For ahout once in d genera 'lou MurZuk is nearly washed away rms perhaps accounts for the lack or ancient monuments on it's site.
 Main Street is tity's Meeting Place
 When Murzuk iS awake. most ol Ills Inhahllants arc 10 be found in the main Arc"t. Here employer seeks "nlployr, friend meets friend loafrrs loaf, professional letter writers ply 'h"ir professions, fakirs gather il coins of the travellers, and began. hcg' while vendors, children, shop keepers and purchasers all join in q din of chatter and laughter.
 "1n inc street crowds are natives Of monotOnous Murzuk brown. Their brown skin harmouizrs with th, brown walls brown houses and brown camcls, all. included in th, panorama of Murzuk against tn, brown dust of the towns street. I'll, facial color scheme also inchdc. sudan blacks and the liGItcr-skin, ned Bcrbcrs.
 ''The Mohammodan women lauel az much as they like. go into in, streets without stirring the wrath ol tho Moslcm priests, and do not wcat Ncils. Their bright-colorcd, loose fitting frocks. large earrings, heavy bangles and anklcts. hcnna-dycd hands, coal-black eyes and shining white teeth add the only touch oi color 10 drab Murzuk, for most ot the men are clad only in Whitc turbanS and shcctlkc desert garb."
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