The Future of the Sahara.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 8659, 23 October 1896, Page 3

The Future of the Sahara.

M. Bonnel de Mezteres, member of the Maistre and Attanoux Missions, has expressed his opinion on the future of the Sahara,to the effect that there is no doubt thatimmense sand ocean will be in time changed into a fruitful territory. “ The Sahara rivers which I have crossed,” says M. de Meziferes, “ all hide a rich subterranean stratum of water, and form the natural passages to the Soudan on which, with very little trouble, vegetation can be largely developed. In the south of Temassinin and in the Igharghares there are groves of tamarind, gum trees, etc., of two miles long, scarcely separated by grassy and clovercovered plains. The rivers, which in spring are full of water, are from three to 10 miles wide. When the water retreats the beds of the river are changed into rich meadows. The date seeds planted by Flatters at El-Biod have grown without the least care into fine trees, and the same is the fact also of the seeds planted near the cisterns of Tebalbalet, in spite of the inconsiderate manner in which the Tuaregs get in the harvest. Trees are not so rare in the Sahara as is supposed. The Tuaregs often assured our expedition that we should have to march for two or three days without finding water, but very soon we found a little out of the path some filled up or otherwise purposely hidden wells. For the Tuaregs who served as guides to caravans, always choose the most difficult and desolate routes, in order to keep the caravans in a state of dependency. Caravans will become more frequent; travellers will succeed each other, but the secret of the Sahara is well kept, and its reputation of barrenness is still preserved. For example, Oscar Lenz crossed the Sahara and reached Timbuctoo without seeing anything but desert land, and yet he mentions that behind a chain of hills which he passed there was a place called by the natives “The Head of the Waters.” Dr Borth, who was for months in Tuareg camps, and was the guest and friend of the Sheik El Bakey, was told innumerable facts about the traditions and manners of the land, but its geography was hidden from him. When Lieutenant Hourst and Lieutenant Bluyet explored the region and an arm of the Niger they found a lake nearly a hundred miles long, and when the officers of the Timbuctoo extended their excursions they found that not only one but more than 20 lakes existed, all very large, and stretching far -to the north of the very heart of the supposed arid Sahara. If there be no water, and, therefore, no vegetation, where does the charcoal come from which is sold by the Tuaregs, where do they find nourishment for the numerous camels, horses, sheep, asses, and goats they possess ? In order to fix the flying sand Paul Vuillot has proposed the Polygonum sakhalinense, which can support the greatest -heat and the severest cold, and flourishes quite as well in fat earth as in stony ground. It is probable, concludes M de Mezi6res,that we shall soon have to change our opinion about the Sahara, and perhaps meet with many surprises.