The Coolidge examiner., 1932-12-23

down to the waters edge, but be-
tween are fertile areas on which
palms, olives, figs, oranges and other
fruits flourish. Farther inland among
the highlands occur some rather
large patches on which olives and
fruits and grain are grown. Then
come the vast desert stretches.
The city of Tripoli has been called
the gateway to the Sahara" Three
desert caravan routes have con-
verged there for ages the trail from
Tfmbuktu, that from Lake Chad,
and southeastern route from the
region of the Egyptian Sudan. These
routes were Of great Importance for
the bringing from central Africa of
ivory, ostrich feathers, gold dust,
and perhaps most valuable of all in
primitive environment, "black
gold"-negro slaves. This traffic was
ostensibly abolished by Turkey only
in recent years.
Cirenaica Has Promise.
Cirenaica, situated on a bold pro-
montory protruding into the crystal
clear waters of the Mediterranean.
is dry, parched land with scarcely
a stream or creek. A shelf of lime
stone hills, resembling a gigantic
backbone. but hardly justifying the
Arab epithet "Green Mountains"
stretches across the base of the
foreland. Between this ridge and
the blue sea fringe of fertile fields.
60 to 20 miles wide, lying dormant
for centuries, now teens with Ital-
ian colonists and migrating Arabs.
With the help of modern irrigation
methods 1t is hoped this region will
merit its historic nickname "bread
basket of Rome"
Visitors to Cirenaica usually sail
from Brindisi on steamers laden to-
capacity with Italian officers and
their families bound for Bengasi,
the principal seaport and capital.
Because of a rocky bottom which
| prevents dredging in the mole-in-
closed harbor, passengers disem-
bark into small boats which bob
precariously on the swell character
istic of these coastal waters.
First impression of Bengasi is of
q bit of Europe transplanted. Since
1911 when Cirenaica was occupied
| by the Italians a new town on mod
ern lines has been built alongside
the old Arab section. Wide ave-
nues shaded by date palms and
lined with neat houses patterned
| after Moorish architecture border a
public park planted with import
ed tropical plants and shrubs. Don
keys carrying nondescript loads.
from hooded Arabs to bundles Of
firewood larger than themselves
and camels pad padding" along, vie
with motor cycles and automobiles
for right of way. Lovely, dark-hued
| debutantes fresh from Rome and
Paris and proud army officers re-
splendent in the white tropical uni
forms of Italy stroll along wide
! sidewalks in striking contrast to
slow-moving burnoosed Arabs, sour
rying red-fezzed boys and yelled
Moslem women.
Fine Sponges Found There.
From time immemorial sponge
and funny fishing have been the
chief industries along the coast of
| Cirenaica. Greek divers swim down
holding rock, pluck a sponge from
the bottom and then upon releasing
the weight, float to the surface. The
Circassian variety being especially
fine, it is sometimes transplanted
to other parts of the Mediterranean.
In ancient days, it is said, sponges
were put in Greek helmets as "shock
absorbers" for the warriors.
The principal agricultural and
food crop is barley. quantities Of
which are exported to the mother
land and Scotland. Henna, olives,
vegetables, fruit and grapes are
raised in the more fertile regions,
while dates, figs and skins brought
in by caravans from the South are
shipped to Italy, the last to be made
into gloves and shoes.
A man-minded person might de-
scribe Libian desert as ''the largest
blank area on the map of North Af-
rica with a photographers smallest
marks indicating a few cases." 1t
is shut off from the Mediterranean
by a narrow populated strip which
itself sizzles in the hot African sun.
On the east the fertile Nile valley
lends the Libian owners moral sup
port by showing what might be
done with their sand-swept land.