AN AFRICAN MYTH EXPLODED.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XXI, 21 November 1896, Page 91

AN AFRICAN MYTH EXPLODED.

Mbonnel de Mezieres, member of the Maistre and Attanoux Missions, has, says the Paris correspondent of the London Daily News, expressed his opinion on the future of the Sahara, to the effect that there is no doubt that immense sand ocean will be in time changed into a fruitful territory. He says : — ‘ The Sahara rivers which I have crossed 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 Igharghars 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 ten miles wide. When the water retreats the beds of the rivers 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 serve 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 Sheikh 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 100 miles long. And when the officers of the Timbuctoo extended their excursions they found that not only one but more than twenty lakes existed, all very large, and stretching far to the north into the very heart of the supposed arid Sahara.

It 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 ?’