By rail to Algiers — A difficult project — The resources of
the Sahara
AS I settled myself in the railway carriage I had ample food for
reflection over the events of my journey. Naturally the part that
had made the most impression on me in many ways was the journey
across the Sahara. It had taken me exactly seventy-five days to
cover the total distance from Gao to Biskra, nearly 1600 miles. Now
that the strain was over I began to feel really fatigued. It was
pleasant to sit quietly in the train and watch the passing landscape,
so different from what I had been looking at for many a long day.
First the train climbed laboriously up the steep sides of the
mountains, which lead up into the high plateaux of Southern
Algeria. As we stopped at stations and I noticed the number of
Europeans about and the bustle that reigned everywhere as soon as the
train stopped, it seemed hard to realize that I was not dreaming,
and that I should not shortly wake up to find myself again in the
Sahara—among those familiar scenes that I had got to know so well,
and which were all summed up in the one word desolation.
But as we got on to the plateaux above Biskra we came into a land of
peace and plenty. There were miles upon miles of waving fields of
wheat and barley. Prosperous farms were often to be seen standing
in the midst of their rich agricultural lands. That year there had
been a good rainfall on the plateaux, and in consequence the crops
had done even better than usual.
That night we arrived at the big town of Setif, where I had to change
and wait several hours for the midnight express to Algiers. I had
engaged a sleeping-berth on the train, so I had a comfortable journey
to the capital. When I awoke in the morning we were passing through
rich vineyards, down the western slopes of the Kabyle Mountains.
I had travelled 3758 miles across Africa, 1560 of which had been
through the Sahara. The whole journey had occupied six months and
two days. My stay at Algiers was short. I caught the first steamer
available to Marseilles, where I arrived on the 11th of June.
On the following night I reached London, travelling via Calais
and Dover.
I was two days late for my leave, but under the circumstances I
had travelled as rapidly as possible.
After what I saw of the Sahara I came to the conclusion that the
project of building a railway across from Algeria to the Niger is
never likely to mature. Indeed, I fancy that most Frenchmen who
have any experience of the Central Sahara long ago came to the
same opinion.
The scheme was mooted some years ago as a useful connecting link
between the Algerian railway system and the Niger. The difficulties
in the way of carrying this out are almost insuperable. To start
with, there is no coal in Algeria or, of course, in the Sahara.
Again, if the difficulty of obtaining fuel could be overcome the
constant sandstorms would make engineering works hard to construct
and harder still to maintain. The railway line would probably be
constantly buried in sand, so that some contrivance for clearing
the way in front of the engine would be necessary. Moreover, what
would be the advantages gained by the construction of such a railway?
The resources of the Sahara are practically _nil_, while the total
values of the caravans which cross this portion of it do not amount
to 1,000,000 francs per annum. Therefore as a commercial enterprise
the railway could never pay, and the advantage of having this shorter
line of communication between Western Soudan and France, if it could
be constructed, would not certainly be worth the enormous expenditure
involved. Of course, there is always the difficulty of water supply
for the engines. Even along the most practicable route, from Insalah
to Gao, wells are few and far between. The output is frequently very
slow. Artesian wells would have to be made where possible. In fact,
it appears that the resources of the Sahara are so very restricted
and incapable of further development unless great mineral wealth
be somewhere found, that its future state is not likely to be any
brighter than its present condition. The question as to what the
Sahara was originally is an interesting one.
The Arabs who wander in the desert around the Oases of Touat and
Beni Abbes declare that in ancient times these oases were islands,
and that a very big water existed between them and the sea and
between them and Taudény in the south.
It seems possible that this theory is correct, for there is a marked
depression formed by the Oued Mya, which extends south through
the oases towards Taudény, eventually terminating in a big basin,
called El Djouf, or “the belly of the desert.” Further, from the
formation of the country it seems quite possible that the salt-water
lakes, or “chotts” of Tunisia, which themselves are, or were,
connected with the sea, contributed their waters to this depression,
and thus there was at one time a practically uninterrupted waterway
from the sea to Taudény. The water from this source then surrounded
the oases, isolating them from the rest of the Sahara, which would
bear out the legend of these Arab tribes.
APPENDIX
List of principal game shot during the expedition, showing the
measurements of best heads obtained.
_Oryx leucoryx_, 37 inches.
_Addax_, 25½ inches.
Gazelle, _dorcas_, 10¾ inches.
Gazelle, _Loder’s leptoceros_, 11¼ inches.
Ditto, female, 9¼ inches.
Gazelle, _Rufifrons_, 10½ inches.
Haartebeest, _Bubalis_, 18¼ inches.
Haartebeest, _Damaliscus Corrigum_, 19¾ inches.
Duiker, Yellow-backed, 6¼ inches.
Duiker, Crowned.
Duiker, Maxwell’s, 2 inches.
Waterbuck, Sing-sing, 28 inches.
Kobus Kob, 20½ inches.
Bohor Reed-buck, 8½ inches.
Elephant. Tusks weighing 52 lbs. each.
Lion. Length along the contour, 9 feet 2 inches.
Hippopotamus. Measurements not recorded.
Bushcow. Measurements not recorded.
INDEX
Abdul Karim, 228
Abeibera, wells, 282, 284
Acheb, a desert herb, 292, 330
Addax in the Sahara, 284
Adrar country, 266, 270, 271, 273, 277, 278, 280, 284, 297,
298, 310, 316
Africa, 17
Agamhor, wells of, 257
Ahnet wells, 307, 310, 311, 312, 314
Akka, 173, 174
Algeria, 134, 287, 338, 339
Algerian rams, 180
Algiers, journey to, 17, 323, 339
Alimamy, West African chief, 57
Amool Gragim, 307
Ansongo, 134, 223
Arabs, Berabeesh, 231
Chaamba, 324
Kountah, 226, 231, 250, 253, 265
Saharan, 304, 316, 318, 320, 321, 323, 327, 329
Western Soudan, 192, 219, 231, 245, 272, 282, 289
Architecture, Western Soudan, 154
Aresou, a Saharan plant, 300
Armas, race of, 244
Arrej, or camel saddle, 296
Artesian wells, 319, 335, 340
Atlas Mountains, 193
Azalai, salt caravan, 230
Bagwé River, 36
Baiima, 22
Balandougou, 92, 103
Ballaini, a musical instrument, 54
Bamako, 70, 73, 85, 90, 103, 104, 107, 111, 113, 118, 119, 120,
133, 195, 233, 240, 241
Bamba, 239, 241
Bambara language, 18, 69
people, 122, 123, 136, 141, 192, 227, 236
Maaundée, 207, 208, 217
Bandiagara, 128, 157
Bani River, 150, 156, 157, 159, 176
Baobab tree, 68
Bara Issa, River, 173, 182, 190, 191, 195, 204, 219, 220, 222
Barges, Niger, 103, 145, 154, 176, 233, 235
Barley, 318, 338
Barter, articles of, 234
Barth, explorer, 228
Beehives in Guinea, 66
Beni-Abbes, 318, 330, 340
“Bend” of Niger, 128, 130, 131, 164, 177, 187, 193, 206,
229, 235, 239, 243
Beyla slaves, 271
Bird life, 38, 39, 40, 41
Biskra, 318, 323, 335, 336, 337, 338
Bo, Sierra Leone, 20
Bobo Djilassu, 67, 141, 144, 148
Boia tramway, 22
“Borgou” herb, 171, 177, 186, 221, 238, 239, 243
Bosos, fishermen, 151, 192, 221, 222
“Boucle,” the, 128
Boundary of Algeria-Soudan, 287
Bouramaka Yaroro, 203
Bourassa wells, 284, 285, 287
Bourem, 242, 243, 253
Braimah, my hunter, 78, 81, 82, 86, 87
Bread, cost of, 190
Breeding of Soudan horses, 140, 222
Bullock transport, 217
Bunce River, 23
“Bundu” society, 23, 31, 44
Buré, 101
Burial rites of Korankos, 43, 44
Bushcow in Konnoh country, 34
Bush fires in West Africa, 37, 38, 52
Bushfowl in French West Africa, 39, 110, 179, 218
Bustard, 40, 164, 178, 218
Butter-making at Bamako, 130
Camels on the Niger, 132, 144, 217, 231
Camels in the Sahara, 245, 250, 252, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261,
262, 268, 276, 279, 286, 287, 292, 295, 298, 300, 320, 328, 332
Camping on the Niger, 148
Cancer, tropic of, 280
Canoe-building, 193, 195
Canoes on the Niger, 185, 193, 222, 226
Caravans in the desert, 242, 269, 286, 305, 323, 324, 339
Carriers, French Guinea, 49, 52, 81, 92, 94
Kissy, 26
Mendi, 26
Upper Senegal and Niger, 113
Castes, in French Guinea, 57, 58
Cattle, 171, 197, 238
Cave-dwellers, 215
Chaamba Arabs, 324, 330
Chad, Lake, 110
Charlotte Ville, 160, 161
Chiefs in French Guinea, 93
Chop-box, definition of, 21, 141
Chotts, 340
Clay in the Niger Valley, 195, 243
Coach to Biskra, 336
College, Arabic, at Djenné, 161
Colomb-Béchar, 318, 323
Cook, my native, on the journey, 18, 70, 236
Corn-growing, 318
Cotton-growing in Sierra Leone, 27
West Africa, 28, 150
Couscous, 234, 275, 286, 306
Cowbird, peculiarity of, 41
Cram-cram grass, 238, 265, 268, 291
Creoles, description of, 20
Crested crane, 241
Crocodiles, 146, 147
Crown-bird, 241
Dahomey, 130, 245
Dakar, 153, 228
Dances, native, 65, 66
Daru, head-quarters of Frontier Force, 25
Dates, in the Sahara, 275, 286, 318, 319, 320, 328, 330, 334
Date palms, 239, 317, 318, 319, 336
Defile of Tosaye, 241, 242
De Franco, Captain, 140
Déglet-nour, dates, 319, 334
Délou, waterbucket of the desert, 250
Diafarabé, 154, 176
Dialakoro, hunting village, 78
Digue, Commandant, 133
Dioula, trader of Western Soudan, 63
Djenné, Holy City of Western Soudan, 153, 154, 157, 159, 161,
167, 176, 192, 229
Domaggaran, 311
Donkeys in the Western Soudan, 223, 231, 284
Douentza, in the Niger “Bend,” 202, 207, 208, 210
Doulajan, 80, 82
Doves in the Sahara, 256
Driver ants, 168
Drums, use of, as signals, 76
Duck on the Niger, 70, 148, 172, 174, 175, 188, 218, 240
Duiker “crowned,” 60
Dum palms, in the Niger Valley, 190, 193, 197
Egrets on the Niger, 165
Eguerrer, Oueds, 265
El Bashir, camel driver, 285, 286, 287, 297
El Gouirat, wells of, 316
El Guettera, spring, 328, 329, 330
El Jibal, 312
El Djouf, the “Belly of the Desert,” 340
Elephant bathing at night, 211, 212
Elephant in the Niger Valley, 18, 59, 80, 82, 84, 85, 95, 96, 211
Elephant skulls at Gao, 243
Erg, the Great, 331
Erg-Iguidi, 272
Escort to Kidal, my, 245, 246, 251, 267
Es-Souk, 229, 277
Ethel, Saharan vegetation, 290, 291, 298
Explorers in North and West Africa, 227, 228
Falama, French Guinea, 76, 78, 85, 89, 111
Fama, the, of San Sanding, 151
Farakoro village, 46, 47
Faranah, French Guinea, 51, 53, 56, 84
Feliko, River, 36
Ferrière, Captain, 225
Fetish charms of hunters, 83, 86, 87
Fie River, 90, 95, 99, 101, 102
Firearms, antiquated, 197
Fishing on the Niger, 105
Fish-tanks on the Niger, 186, 238
“Flamboyant” tree, 144
Fogaras, 318
Foggaret-El-Zoua, 328
Foucauld, Vicomte de, 325
Freetown, 17
Frontier Force Battalion, 25
Frontier rock, Sierra Leone, 36
Fruit in Guinea, 66
Fruit in Upper Senegal and Niger, 123
Fuel for Niger launches, 144, 148
Fulani, 57, 64, 74, 186, 190, 192, 199, 200, 202, 207, 209,
217, 222, 238
Fulani cattle, 171, 197, 238, 240
Futa Jallon country, 63, 64, 72, 200
Gadel, Commandant, 236
Gangaber, on the edge of the Sahara, 247
Gao, 225, 226, 233, 234, 237, 243, 251, 252, 254, 257, 274,
279, 284, 295, 317, 338, 340
Garangis, caste of, 57
Garden in French West Africa, 65, 123, 149
Gauba, the ostrich farm, 179, 182, 184
Gazelle of the Sahara, 179, 196
“Red-Fronted,” 178, 240, 255
Gazelle, “Loder’s,” 265, 284, 297, 298, 330
Geese on the Niger, 70, 172, 174, 175, 188, 218
Giraffe in the Niger basin, 18, 241, 246, 247
Giraffe skins for manufacture, 246
Goats on the Niger, 156, 238
in the Sahara, 256, 273, 289
Gold in French Guinea, 91, 101
“Gold mohur” tree, 144
Goose, the “bio-lou” species, 175
Great Erg, 230
Grhess, a variety of date, 319
Ground nuts, 62, 63, 130
Guerba, a leather vessel, 249, 250, 308, 309, 315
Guides in the desert, 248, 250, 261, 263, 264, 269
Guinea-fowl, 39, 110, 179, 270
Guinée, a trade cloth, 234, 256, 270
Gundam, near Timbuctu, 228
Haarta, Saharan plant, 300
Haartebeest, 83, 178, 204, 206
Habbés, cave-dwellers, 215, 216
Halley’s Comet, in the desert, 287
Harmatan, a north-east wind, 24, 42, 43
Hassy, Arabic term for well, 331
Hausas in the Western Soudan, 192, 203, 236, 311
Head-dress of West Africans, 123
Highwaymen in the desert, 312
Hippopotamus, 79
Hoare, a Mendi charm, 29
Hoggar Tuaregs, 287, 300, 310, 311, 312, 313, 325
Holy City of the Western Soudan, 153
Hombori Mountains, 215
Hornbill, habitat of, 38
Horos, castle of, 57
Horses, native, 71, 125, 131, 139, 140, 201, 209, 222, 231
Hotels in Western Soudan, 132, 134
Hourst Expedition, 138
Hrabis, caste of, 57
Human Leopard Society, 30
Hump of the camel, peculiarity, 280, 295
Hunters, types of, 78, 195, 207, 208, 210
Hunting, native methods of, 60
in French West Africa, 78
Huts, native, 190, 202
Hyenas, 83
Iforas in the Sahara, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 276, 277, 278,
283, 287, 310, 324, 326
Ihagareen, Tuareg chiefs, 271
Illimane, Mount, 311
Imbelram, wells of, 315
Imrads among Tuaregs, 271
Inifel, the wells of, 331, 332
In Ouzel, well at, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 294, 297
Insalah, 249, 251, 269, 274, 275, 279, 315, 330, 331, 340
Insects in the “bush,” 116
Inundations of the Niger, 158, 190, 201, 220
Inzize, 305
Issa-Ber, River, 173, 176, 182, 184, 186, 190, 222
Ivory Coast, 130
Jilingé village, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102
Joliba River, 36, 156
meaning of the word, 36
Jomongonas, 98, 99, 101
“Juju” in West Africa, 29, 83, 87, 88
Kaballa, in Sierra Leone, 47
Kabara, port of Timbuctu, 173, 177, 220, 221, 223, 237
Kadi, a native judge, 153
Kamaraia, 54
Kangaba, 90, 110, 111
Kanioumé, 207
Kankan, French Guinea, 70, 73, 74, 75, 103, 115, 131
Kano, 192
Kari-Déna, Tuareg chief, 272
Kati Plateau, 118, 120, 124, 125
Kayes, Senegal Colony, 129, 130, 150, 151
Kerchouel, 254
Kidal, 245, 246, 250, 251, 252, 254, 256, 266, 267, 268, 270,
274, 275, 276, 277, 281, 298, 326
Kiénéfala, rapids on the Niger, 136, 137, 241
Kissidougou, 52, 55
Kissy carriers, 26
mode of carrying, 27
country, 32
wars, 32
Koh, in West Africa, 44, 45, 80, 106, 110, 184, 221, 240
Kofung secret society, 44
Kola nuts, 86, 87, 203
Konakry, 63, 228
Kondundu, Sierra Leone, 35
Konnoh country and people, 32, 33
bushcow in, 34
Koran, use of in charms, 29
Korankos, rites of, 43, 44, 45
Korioumé, 223
Koulikoro, on the Niger, 122, 127, 129, 133, 148, 150, 151,
195, 222
Koulouba, 126, 127
Kouroussa, 56, 60, 63, 64, 67, 68, 70, 73, 103
Kruto, Sierra Leone, 43
Ksour, Arabic village, 317, 320
Kundema, Sierra Leone, 35
Kurorua, lake of, 215, 216
Kwarra, name for the Niger, 156
Ladies, European, in West Africa, 55, 73, 120, 134, 222
Laing, Major, 227
Lake District of Middle Niger, 206, 207
Langel, Lieutenant, 134
Laperine, Colonel, 316, 317
Launch, journey on, 141, 144
Lenz, explorer, 228
Leopard in Niger Valley, 83, 181
raid by, 181
Level, Mr., 150
Limba natives, 44
Lion in Niger Valley, 18, 83, 179, 187, 197, 198, 199
cubs as pets, 165, 166
Litham of Tuaregs, 270, 271, 312
Macina Province, 131, 157, 159, 161, 243
Madambougou, graves at, 138
Mafindo, village of, 27
Mafou River, game on, 56, 59, 60
Mahomed, my guide, 269, 277, 282, 284, 286, 288, 289, 297, 298,
299, 304, 307, 308, 312, 313, 316, 326
Maize in West Africa, 62, 111
Maje, explorer, 139
Malbranque, Mr., 176
Malinké language and people, 18, 57, 64, 71
Mamadu, my servant, 69, 70, 81, 89, 92, 93, 94, 96, 100, 102,
110, 112, 118, 185, 188, 189, 236
Mandingoes, distribution of, 33, 67
Mannagézé, 116
Marabout, a Niger bird, 241
Markets of French West Africa, 74, 112, 122, 130, 131, 192
Marriage customs, Sierra Leone, 31
Mauretania, 107, 144, 274
Méhari, riding camel, 270, 324
Méhariste, 322, 329, 331, 333
Meli River, passage of, 32
Mendi carriers, 26
mode of carrying, 27
paganism of, 29
secret societies, 29
Mendis, charms of, 29
Meshoui, an Arab dish, 334
Mesoued, for desert travel, 248, 313
Millet-growing, 111, 158, 192, 202
Milo River, 73, 76
Mimosa trees, 163, 178, 204, 206, 246, 254, 266, 289, 290
Moa River, Sierra Leone, 25
Mohammedanism, progress of, 33, 109, 200
Mopti, on the Niger, 123, 156, 157, 158 to 170, 171, 173,
175, 176
Mopti, King of, 159, 160
Monoroues, stern-wheelers, 142
Moorish occupation, 224, 229, 230, 239
Moors in Western Soudan, 74, 107, 108, 109, 131, 239, 244
Morocco, 225, 227, 228, 325, 331
Mosques, 230, 244
at Djenné, 153
Mosquitoes, 96
Mossis, 192
Mouyidir in the Sahara, 314, 315
Musa, my Hausa cook, 236, 285, 287, 288, 289, 297, 304, 313,
316, 327, 328
Musa-Benaïsch, 330
Music of natives, 54
Nafadié, 103
Niafounké, 110, 141, 173, 177, 178, 179, 182, 185, 191, 222
Niandan, River, 70, 71
Niangaye, Lake, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 210, 215, 216, 218, 219
Niansumana, 76
Niéger, Captain, 322, 323
Niger, Middle, 17, 67, 134, 157, 159, 171, 172, 179, 200, 219,
222, 229, 240, 244, 251, 276, 318, 328, 339
Niger, navigation of, 70, 73, 122, 134, 135, 136
Niger, sources of, 36, 46
Upper, 17, 51, 56, 63, 70, 77, 89, 90, 92, 99, 100, 101, 103,
104, 105, 107, 109, 110, 111, 115, 118, 132, 135, 172, 244
Niger Valley, 18, 327
Nightjar, standard-winged, 41
Night marching in the Sahara, 264, 300
Nioro, Western Soudan, 140
Oases of the Sahara, 268, 315, 316, 317, 328, 333, 334, 335,
336, 337, 340
Obb, Commandant, 223
Odienné, Ivory Coast, 82, 85
Ophthalmia in the desert, 308
Oribis, 60, 110
Oriole, the golden, 39
Ornaments, native, 77, 123
Oryx, white (leucoryx), 265, 284
Ostriches, 132, 182, 183, 218
Ostrich farm, Middle Niger, 182, 183
Othman, a guide, 297, 298, 312, 313, 316
Ouargla oasis, 323, 332, 333, 334, 335
Oued Mya, 332, 333, 340
Oueds in the Sahara, 242, 265, 268, 274, 290, 328, 330
Ouillimiden Tuaregs, 253, 272
Oysters in Lake Dhebo, 173
Palm-wine drinking, 50
Pasturage in the Sahara, 253, 257, 260, 291, 320, 328, 330, 332
Pelicans on Lake Niangaye, 218
Pendembu railway terminus, 19, 22
a night at, 26
Pigeon, varieties of, 40, 148
Plantain-eater, violet, 38
Poro secret society, 29, 30, 31, 44
Potters at work in the “Bend” of the Niger, 185
Presents to natives, 97, 98
Rahla, a riding saddle, 296
Railway, Algerian, 311, 336, 337, 338, 339
French Guinea, 63, 64, 130
Oran, 323
Senegal and Niger, 120, 129, 130, 133, 161
Sierra Leone, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Trans-Saharan, 339
Rapids on the Niger, 136, 137, 241
Reed-buck, Bohor, 221
Réné Caillé, 141, 228
Reservoir of Lake Dhebo, 172, 173
Rice-growing, 111, 157, 192, 202, 243
mill at Mopti, 161, 162
Rio del Oro, 325
Roads in French Guinea, 53, 54, 75, 107, 111
in Sierra Leone, 35, 36
in Western Soudan, 122, 161
Rubber vine, 62, 74
trade, 74, 75, 115
Saddle of native horses, 188, 189
Saddles, camel, 248, 275, 295, 296
Sahara, edge of the, 178, 193, 242, 252, 256, 272, 290, 325
Central, 266, 280, 310, 316, 317, 321, 325, 339
journey across, 17, 248, 249, 307
languages of the, 19
vegetation of the, 290, 291, 292, 300, 331
Salt caravans, 202, 230
mines of the Sahara, 74, 307
Salutations, native, 145
Samory, King, 67, 68, 69, 91
Sand-banks, 70, 145, 237
-dunes, 239, 319, 331, 334
-flies, 96, 149
-grouse, 178, 218
-storms in the desert, 288, 289, 302, 303, 306, 321
Sankaran, plains of, 46, 48, 51
Sankarani River, 78, 85, 90, 91, 95, 99, 101
Sansanding, on the Niger, 151, 152, 153
Saraféré, 173, 187, 191, 192, 193, 195, 197, 201, 203, 207
Sarafinian, Customs post, 48
Scorpion, incident at Bo with, 24
Sébi, the haunt of lion, 187, 201
Ségou, on the Niger, 149, 150, 151, 152
Senafou, a native of, 90
Senegal River, 74, 107, 110, 129, 132, 150, 233, 234
navigation of, 129
haartebeest, 204, 205, 206, 208
Seriamou, 220
Sétif, Algeria, 339
Shea-butter tree, 116, 117
Sheep of the Niger, 156, 180, 238
of the Sahara, 256, 273, 289, 290
Shi, tree of, 116
Sibo, Niger Valley, 184
Sierra Leone, Colony of, 17, 245
railway of, 19
Siguiri district, 75, 97, 101, 104, 111
Sikasso, Upper Senegal and Niger Colony, 144, 159
Sirocco, 230
Slavery in French Guinea, 58
among the Arabs, 327, 328
Smuggling on Sierra Leone border, 48
Sofas of King Samory, 67, 68, 92
Sohré, caste of, 57
Sokolo, Western Soudan, 140
Sokrar, camel driver, 333
Sonrhais of the Niger, 154, 186, 192, 221, 222, 227, 229, 236,
237, 238, 244, 272, 277
Sotuba, rapids of, 137
Spears as a native arm, 209, 271
St. Louis, Senegal Colony, 129, 161
Stone Age in the Sahara, 277
Suk, a charm of the Mendis, 29
Sun spectacles, use of, 267, 270, 271
Susu native as my cook, 18
people, 64
Tademayt, plateau of, 330
Tamanrasset, 325
Tanezrouft of the Sahara, 245, 279, 287, 294, 297, 298, 299,
300, 301, 306, 310, 311, 315, 326, 327
Tango-Maré, 219
Taoundert, 285, 287
Taudény, salt mines, 230, 240
Tea, Arabic, 283
Teal, 218, 240
grey, 175, 190, 204
Telegraph, electric, 239, 246
Telegraphy, native, 76
Telemsi, “Oued” or “Wad,” 242, 265
Tell, the country of, 326
Tellak, a camel dagger, 271
Tellis, a camel bag, 319
Temacheq, Tuareg language, 272, 313, 326
Tembiko River, 36
Tembikunda Mountains, 34, 42, 156, 172, 240, 241
Tennis at Koulikoro, 135
Tide on Lake Niangaye, 205
Tidikelt, 315, 317
Timbuctu, 17, 69, 110, 121, 125, 135, 141, 151, 164, 167, 176,
177, 179, 191, 195, 202, 217, 220, 222, 223, 243, 272
Timissao, 297, 298, 299, 300
Tindéran, wells of, 263, 264, 265
Tinsida, in the “Bend” of the Niger, 216
Tirailleurs, Senegalese, 251
Tirik, Jibal el, 297
Tit, Touat oasis, 322, 323
Tobacco-growing in Western Soudan, 149
Tobacco, its value to travellers, 28, 283
Tombola, 104, 106, 109
Tondibi, 243
Tosaye, defile of, 241, 242, 243
Touat oasis, 282, 322, 330, 340
Touggourt, 323, 335, 336
Trade in French West Africa 73, 74, 75, 108, 130, 161
Trapping game in Guinea, 62
Tribal marks, 90
Tripoli, 228, 318, 331
Trypansomiasis, 33, 140
Tsetse fly, where met, 32, 140
Tuaregs of the Sahara, 19, 192, 202, 219, 224, 229, 238, 240,
253, 263, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 283, 287, 289, 310, 316,
325, 326
Tunisia, 230, 340
Tusks of elephants, 214
Twins, custom of killing, 45
Upper Senegal and Niger Colony, 110, 120
Lieut. Governor of, 126, 127
Vedette, a Niger launch, 142
Villages, Fulani, 190, 191
Wagadugu, town of, 192
Wart-hog in French Soudan, 162, 163, 164, 167, 179, 184
Wasulu country for sport, 56, 60, 75, 80, 82, 83, 84, 89, 90,
95, 96
Waterbuck in the Niger Basin, 59, 81, 184
Waterfowl on the Niger, 70, 148, 172, 174, 175, 184
Water, means of transporting, 249, 250
Water-skins in the desert, 249, 267, 273, 275, 294, 295, 308,
309, 316
Wells in the Sahara, 225, 249, 250, 253, 254, 257, 263, 264,
267, 273, 274, 282, 284, 285, 297, 298, 299, 307, 315, 316, 331,
332, 333, 335, 340
Wheat, African, 228, 234, 338
White ants in Africa, 167, 168
Widow weaver, a bird of West Africa, 41
Winds of the Niger, 176
Winds in the desert, 192
Winds on Lake Niangaye, 205
Wool-making on the Niger, 181
Yakubu, a character at Timbuctu, 226, 227
Yellimamis, caste of, 57
Yonni tramway, 22
Zaberma, 236
Zariba for lion, 179
Zinder, on the Niger, 253
Zmeila, wells of, 333
[Illustration: MAP SHOWING THE ROUTE OF CAPTAIN HAYWOOD’S JOURNEY]
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: Major Laing’s grave has quite
recently been discovered, according to French reports, at a place
called Saeb, thirty miles north of Timbuctu, but his valuable papers
have not been found.]
Transcriber's note:
pg 40 Changed: alway to: always
pg 62 Changed: themeslves to: themselves
pg 104 Changed: on he sandy bank to: the
pg 194 Added period after: on the river
pg 207 Added period after: but so it is
pg 228 Added period after: explorer of Africa
pg 241 Added period after: higher up the Niger
pg 343 Changed reference to pg. 267 to: 207
Added [Map] at the end of the List of illustrations