Year: 1876




Chott el Mir our progress was difficult Behind us at
mountains whose tops cut in two by the clouds
which seem ut times to add to their size Afer that
everything disappeared from Wow.


We traverscd the dried up beds of several rivers and
hreakfasted under the shade Of the palm trees in the
nrst oasis which met since left Bskra, called
0urhir The artesian well spreads abundantly
In the midst of


A CLUSTER or SUPERB PALM TREES


Two PAGES from US, in WIDE basin some young girls,
rs black ebony regarded US with curiosity they
hllsd their vessels with water washed their linen
rhey pretty and did not get frightened when we
In looked at them washing their linen the
bank of the little stream. They half naked, with
their hands gracefully posed their hips, and hold
ing their petcoats gathered in like panaloons even
above tho knees Unfortunately the goatskn took the
place OF the pitcher and It is rags that cover these
Ruths and Noemis of the Sahara l have often
marked however, with these daughters of the desert
all Imagination asdc-great purity of FORM attractions
which are very uncommon and sometimes figures OF
fine and delicate model When they laugh their teeth,
which often beautiful shine like many pearls
contrast with their black skin.


The tops OF the palm more appeared rising
up from the plain at the horizon relieving tho eye
which had been fatigued from tho sight OF so many
aesolate deceptive scenes Alter the brutaizlng
contemplation of the arid solitude the temperance
these patches the surface of the desert-verdant
spots In the middle Of the sands-charms the eye OF
The traveller all the because he feels kind OF
uneasncss caused by the monotonous OF the
surface and by the almost total absence Of noise and
motion.


From Ourhir to Touggourt the plain is dotted with
oases more or less each other, detachng them
selves from the line of the horizon marking with
dark streak the extent OF the plain.


Al times it only u simple patch composed OF
few palm trees which have been able grow thanks
10 some small wes-thin threads OF water which do
not suffce even TO relieve the thirst Of the caravans
The breeze sighs through the foliage and sunlight
plays through the palms We stretch ourselves under
The delightful shade OF the cluster of trees and listen
the chrping OF the little birds, anchortes of the
Sahara, which come to quench their thirst the mur
murng water OF the rivulet. We experience a feeling
81 comfort which makes admire the spendors of this
almost tropical nature, and forget for moment
the desert and its dry and wearying monotony.


In the afternoon traversed a very Important
oasis, called FL Mrhayer Our strange faces and our
weapons set the whole tribe in motion. Largeau told
them he wanted TO buy sheep replensh our stock
OF provisions and while waiting for the delivery OF tho
animal sent horses and cames to the bord
fhe sheik having been told of arrival sent his
servants to who arrived out OF breath insist that
we should retrace steps, their master would DO
very angry n would 20 and under his roof
We turned, therefore, TO the right about and found
ourselves in the house OF 81 Mohammed el Thebid
who recognized explorer having been his guest
ht breakfast In the month of January last along with
The Cadi OF FL Oucd SouL Tho shek pressed US
strongly to partake of the kous-kous and stay over
I'LL the day. We declined the invitation and con-
tented ourselves with drinking tho kaoua (conee),
tO 10 uap ha
greater honor. After many salutatons and passing
Of compliments with this amabc and all his ad-
hercnts and aftcr obtaining possession of the Sheep
We took departure In the direction OF the OF
sid Khehl, where arrived that night Our Arabs
were short OF provisions and orders given Ali
10 prepare them enormous plate OF kous- -kous and
Io make the feast complete, we also offered them the
kaoua


The next morning surprised Ali attempting to
tmpty my gourd OF cognac largeau perceived ut the
lame time that the rascal had emptied his, which he
sad not yet touched Forced to explain he said he
iad only drunk lew drops of it. he taught a
ieverc lesson. A shower of having prevented us
rom leaving the bordj till alter breakfast Ali tried to
ccurc pardon by making u ragout OF mutton in his
best style.


on the 18th, after having passed the night in


BoRDJ zAoUIA,


passed through the oasis OF Ourhlana during the
morning, where were received with every mark OF
respect by tho shcik and his two spahs Iargeau
brought the modest monument erected to the
memory OF the lieutenant OF spahis Lehaut director
Of tho artcsian soundngs for tho oued Rhir, who died
the 18th OF May, 1850. the hospital OF Batna of
lever contracted in the oued Rhir. Behind the
mcnt runs the water OF well dug by NJ Lohaut the
quantity brings up being $500 lItres minute.


Below tho bordj remarked the complete success
OF the last soundngs executed last year by the sub
lieutenant of spahis Lilo, to NJ Lehaut and
who is also suffering from attack OF fever at present
The quantity of yielded by this well cannot be
less than 6, 900 litrcs minute and its elevation above
the average level OF tho soil affords facilities spread
ing the water in all directions through the oasis
lageau remarked that the of eight months
and numerous gardens had been planted IN districts
where nothing grew before but siekly
and that plantations of palm trees irrigated by
OF tho vol, sprnging up from the soil The sight
of this sudden transformation made him still more
aghy appreciate the truth OF these words OF the Aga
Of Touggourt:-''If you wish to teach the Arabs how
10 make Of tho system OF sounding before years
The Oued Rhr will become richer than the Tell" which
ls tho name applied tho cultivated region between
the and the Mediterranean. To judge by what
is passing the present time the Ouod Rhir the
time FAR distant when the Algerian sahara will
covered with plantations The transformation which
Biskra aud Tougg0urt arc undergoing, as have al
ready told you and the boring of artcsan wells, which
n daily contributing to the development Of the oascs,
arc the proofs Of this assertion Thanks the
wells the cultivation Of products steadily the
crease Perhaps then shall be able get all these
tribes Of Arabs whose life and rest
lossly acuvo--who change continually their encamp-
nents. and pass every in the Tell-to settle
down permanently on the soil lively incident oc-
eurred 70 while away the during the OF the
day. Al sdi Rasched camped at four O'Clock,
ihe shek came to take coffee with NJ Louis Say
showed him globe which he had bought In order to
make present TO the caimacam of Rhadames. Tho
shelk TO the village fetch his friends and
the theleb LEARNED mem let them 'the earth "
The Arabs greatly astonished porceving that
there much water in the world, while there