sahara brief
TRANSCRIPT
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MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE
ECONOMY
SAHARADESCRIPTION GEOGRAPHIC, COMMERCIAL, AND AGRICULTURAL.
FROM CABO BOJADOR TO WHITE CABO, TRIPS TO THE INTERIOR,
GENERAL INHABITANTS OF THE DESERT AND CONSIDERATIONS
MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE ECONOMY
By
P. EMILIO BONELLI
Regal commissioner in the western coast of Africa, Captain Tenientede Influencia
Official edition.
MADRID
TIPOLITOGRAFIA OF L PEANT AND CHILDREN
Cart of San Jernimo, 13 and Atocha 67.
1887
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MAIN DIRECTORATE OF AGRICULTURE, TRAINS AND
COMMERCE
AGRICULTURE
Presented/displayed this directive Center by D. Emilio Bonelli, regal
Commissioner of the western coast of Africa, a geographic, commercial
and agricultural study of the region included from the Bojador to Cabo
Blanco, which contains data and the news whose knowledge matters in
great way to our producers and can doubtlessly contribute to the
development of the commercial relations between Spain and that one
part of the African territory, this Main directorate has decided that it
becomes a distance of 500 units of the referred work and maps that
accompany, whose amount will be paid at the expense of chapter 12, artto him, 2. of the effective budget.
Quo I communicate to V.S. for its knowledge and other effects.
God keeps to and. S. many years. Madrid 25 of February of 1887. - The
Chief of a main directorate, BENIGN QUIROGA. - Mr. Ordenador of
payments by obligations of this Ministry.
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INTRODUCTION
The way to completely modify radically the political and social aspect
that today presents/displays the African continent, remote of the
progress that the civilization prints to our time, and where are numerousmemories of the events more transcendental than it registers the history
of the humanity, is not easy to anticipate nor can be locked in a picture of
fixed rules while the distrust, protected by the religious fanaticism that
dominates in the Muslim followers, opposes so formidable obstacles to
the study of the different races that populate those extensive regions.
The development, every more flourishing day, of the European industry
and the commerce, imposes the necessity to solve with pressure, and theknowledge indispensable for the best guarantee of success, the diverse
problems posed by the international diplomacy with respect to the
colonization, dominion and probable future of this vastsima region of
the globe, inhabited by a considerable number ele million souls
submissive the iron yoke of the ignorance and the barbarism. The
solution of so important questions offers, nevertheless, difficulties of
diverse nature that they justify, partly, the lack of decision of thegovernments to undertake companies that have the privilege to provoke
distrusts of other nations, to demand expensive sacrifices and that
generally have in their principles all the characters with the adventures
with the Average Age.
He is doubtless that the commerce, with its powerful means, will save, in
some regions, the barrier, apparently insurmountable, that those people
try to oppose to all idea of progress, because its exaggerated mistrustimagines it like in opposition to the religion and to its independence; in
other parts it will be precise to go to the Armed Forces, capably directed,
to contain cough wild instincts of the natives. Where traditional hatreds
of race have been origin of bloody retaliation, only one capable policy
will be able to vanish exaggerations of the past and marking new map
courses to the passions that dominate to the sectarians of the Prophet
where the Muslim religion reigns; but always it will exert major
influences and decisive superiority in the inhabitants of that vast
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continent that owns the perfect knowledge of its language and customs,
prints to its conduct the equitable energy that as much it seduces to the
races pressed by despotic tyrannies and undergoes with resignation the
indispensable sacrifices and deprivations until obtaining the affection
and the dominion of so displeased towns.
To size, then, that comes near the unextendable term in which is to
undergo complete transformation the general aspect of the African
continent, conquering to the rational life multitude of beings who are
shaken in impure chaos of abjections, and whose existence 110 is
conceived without diminution of the cultured towns; as these events
receive the failure of history with indispensable slowness to so largecompany, major is the necessity to know the conditions of that one
country, and greater to have of guarding incessantly by certain interests
that, according to inescapable laws and as a result of our geographic
situation, keep Straits connects with the future reserved to the Iberian
Peninsula.
Not is necessary to back down to times distant neither to escudriar
kindly influence that has exerted in different periods from our historyraces dominating across of Straits to justify part decisive that our mother
country must to take in complications that can arise, that indispensably
has to arise, in the northern region of Africa. In that extensive region,
that we could well limit in the opposite borders or of Algeria and the
Senegal, one is, not only the future of Spain, but also the greater danger
to the independence of our ground, according to the phrase of an
informed geographer and historian, fortunately generalized enough. All
Spanish who spends some moments to the study of the international
questions, to the foreign policy that corresponds to our mother country,
caresses these ideals like fundamental objective axiomatic truth and of
legitimate aspirations for the defense of our territory and development of
the multiple sources of wealth which they hoard our ground and the
special conditions of our race.
In this concept it would seem unnecessary to increase in price the
importance that locks up whatever happens in the deranged empire of
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considerations on the sahrica region submissive the protectorate of
Spain. Nevertheless, the privileged position that enjoys in the Ocean that
one archipelago, their influence as stopping point in long navigations
and the development of interests which they would be created if a naval
base of first order got to form, also depend on the increase of commercial
relations with the African coast, from the limits ele the jurisdiction of
sultn of Morocco to the gulf of Guinea. To the Eastern department of
these islands, in which those of Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and
Lanzarote are included/understood, it corresponds the main center of
supplying of the colonization in Africa and would have to be the barn of
that immense sahrica region, rather more colonized with. what it is
created generally, but where the cereal harvests are not enough in theyears of drought for the consumption of the population. Of the canary
archipelago, to sum up, they have to leave all class indispensable aid to
the factories that in the African coast settle down.
After these light digresiones, that during this work have to obtain ampler
development, we will resume the preliminary study of the African coast.
The region that includes/understands the coast, of the Sahara, from endador Boxwood to White end, has been theater, of horrible crimes. Figure
like one of the regions where the greater antipathy to the European race
takes shelter, where the rancor of the passions produces more terrible
consequences, where the traditional fanaticism and hatreds to the
Christians have major root, where the savagery of its inhabitants has
truly repugnant characters, and is distinguished, in short, by the series of
shipwrecks happened in that one coast and the iniquitous undergone
treatments therefore displeased since it has been needed to look for a
refuge in the beach to get rid of an inevitable death if he remained taken
root to the last rest of his boats, destroyed by invincible elements.
Some exaggeration will be able to exist in these appreciations, in its
majority, however, founded on the repeated upsettings of the sectarians
of Mahoma; but it agrees to analyze the causes origin of so many crimes
and misfortunes before judging the present conditions of that one
country.
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The operation of the banks of fishing grounds, calls from remote canary-
African times, constitutes the main element of life of the population of
that one archipelago, where the accommodated class less of the society
makes a great consumption of salty fish and toasted maize gofio-flour. -
To this industry they dedicate thirty and so many pailebot, of twenty-
five to seventy tons, with a crew of thousand five hundred men. Even
though rarely they came near to the beach, before declaring the Spanish
protectorate in the sahrico coast, is doubtless that to these fishing sailors
corresponds great part of responsibility by the rancor arraigadsimo that
exists between canaries and natives of the desert. Instead of to try an
intelligence, that so beneficial had been for the Moors of the coast and
the crew of the fishing ships, a situation of ambushes, ambushes hasstayed violent, full and perfidias, until on both sides producing the
reconcentrado hatred and the greatest distrust: in resemblance been, only
after some time, when the memory of cruel retaliation disappears and
antagonisms are exiled that never had to exist, can obtain the Pacific
dominion and the reestablishment of sincere harmony, so indispensable
for the commercial increase in that one region.
The difficulties that are to expire until reaching this result do not keep
proportion with the magnitude and the importance from this company.
It is necessary to assure for the future of Spain, without doing without
the Canary Islands, great commercial currents and the operation of you
banks of fishing grounds; it is precise to establish bows of close union
between the wild tribes of the desert and the commercial establishments
that are constructed in the coast, fusing them in our civilization and our
customs; to attract the wealth elements that lock up that one countryvastsimo to the most favorable points of the coast for the creation of
good ports, and to take root between the commercial believers, that do
not know all principle of authority and boast of a brutal independence,
habits that become general easily in all region where the Muslim element
reigns, that is distinguished by its speculative spirit.
These intentions, caressed by whatever take care of the subjects of Africa,
and that forms in forward edge between the national ideals, they will notfind, surely, fast solution without confronting the risks and
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tenebrosidades of a company considered by some like surrounded in the
uncertainty of the adventure, y' without the sacrifices that the
colonization imposes at our time ele a country, with so different systems
to which they used our ancestors to the discovery of America. But all
these difficulties, risks and slips, will be put ont the edge easily if to
intelligence at first accompanies the energy, the perseverancia in the
sacrifices, the prestige acquired already between the natives and the
accumulation of the elements necessary to secure an aim of vastsimos
results.
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WESTERN COAST OF AFRICA
CHAPTER FIRST
Geographic description from Bojador end to Cabo Blanco.
Examining navigation charts of the western coast of Africa, and
observing the denomination of the ends, bays, embosomed the more
remarkable roads either of the coast, is a quite embarrassing confusion
between the official technicality, so to speak, and the names that the
canary fishermen have given to diverse points of the coast, like true
practitioners of her. The hydrographic letters that have major authority,
to be formed with iodines collected the national and foreign data fromthe first recognitions practiced by different scientific commissions, lack
many not known important points officially; and so that this study is
more complete, I consider advisable to add to the data already published
those that we have obtained on the march or in the inspection of the
land.
We will also try to review, in this description of the African coast that
includes the protectorate of Spain, the sites more frequented by the swift-sailing ships that cross those seas, because of his knowledge, even
though he is incomplete, could obtain benefits for the commerce, once
assayed the advantages that offers to the provisional facilities, refuge or
halting points of the boats against the weathers.
Cabo Bojador.
Form this one small projection, in the main directorate of the coast, the
northern limit of the dominions of Spain in that one region, and is to 27
50 ' 17 North latitude and 8 ' length, according to the meridian of San
Fernando.
This point, known by the canary practitioners with the name of the
Prchele, determines an extensive road, open to all the winds, and,
therefore, of very little shelter for the ships of any class and great
difficulties for the disembarkation, because in an extension of 3
kilometers that includes the cove, a small beach only exists, it does not
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exempt of terrible stumbling blocks, to berth the boats. Since all that one
coast is very fought by the great tides of the Northwest, the waves beat
with impetuous violence the steep rocks that serve as valladar to the
imposing masses of water which they threaten to destroy whatever find
in his gigantic march.
The most salient end to the North of this cove is called False confused
Bajador end for being during long time by some navigators with the true
end; she is quite low and of sandy ground in his majority, which
facilitates the disembarkation in contadsimas occasions that allow it to
the sea. The remaining part of the cove has major elevation in the coast,
because it reaches heights of 30 and 35 meters, very escarped, madebristle of formidable stumbling blocks and where it is impossible to
approach with no class of boats,
During six days we remained in an occasion cast anchor in the road of
Bojador end without being able to disembark, seeing us forced to leave
the anchorage leaving an anchor and 30 meters of chain, in order to
avoid an imminent disaster, dice the magnitude of the waves, that
threatened to break within our boat.
This brief review of the road of Bojador end will be sufficient, in my
opinion, to put of relief the difficulties whereupon it has to encounter a
commercial installation while the construction of ports, whose cost has to
be very considerable, does not modify the conditions of security and
gives guarantees of disembarkation in the majority of the days of the
year. Inconvenient, or perhaps worse analogs, offer all the coast to the
North of Bojador end until the limits of the territory where it reaches thesovereigntyof sultn of Morocco.
The Bumbalda.
Fortunately for the commerce and operation of the sahrica region, the
part of the African coast submissive the protectorate of Spain reunites
very estimable advantages. Sailing in the direction of UNDER., and
separated of the coast so. only one mile, because the bottom is great andvery clean, is, to 22 miles of end Bojador, a small cove with excellent
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shelter, that can easily replace to previous by its good beach and easy
wharf, indicated in navigation charts with the name of the well-known
Bumbalda and also by
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deaths until the point of which the crew, who formed of 37 men when
leaving the port of Las Palmas, was reduced to nine individuals, in her
majority estenuados by the fatigue and so desconsoladora situation. The
most horrible panic seized of those poor devils, and considering the
overcome one too slow until gaining some port of the islands, decided to
attack the ship in the coast to leave that one helmet that, with difficulty,
maintained to them on the waves, and where the death had made
devastating prey. In this way they tried to reach its salvation, by
laborious that was, between the muslmicas followers of the desert.
As soon as the natives who lived in Good Garden saw embarrancado in
the beach pailebot canary, they went on board, eager to take advantageof whichever that one shipwreck offered to its instincts predatory,
inficionando itself terribly of the disease that was to depopulate those
feracious fields coa relation to the others of the Sahara.
By the conditions of the life of the Muslim, its little cleaning and absolute
ignorance of the hygienic rules, the believing rage, ntrelos, have always
originated imposing disasters, and in this case it makes sure that nor one
at least of the natives who resided in Good Garden canary fishermansurvived to the 30 days of the shipwreck of pailebot.
This history, heard to refer to the same natural ones, has all the
characters of probability and it is transmitted between the natives of
parents to children, without a doubt to conserve indelible and in all their
purity the aversion or fear to the cove where they are there buried
whatever they lived.
Cabo Lebn (or They weigh).
It is this road, well-known also by Restinga of the Stone, another position
where the fishing ships are lodged, but of little shelter.
The disembarkation is easy by the small cove that forms the stone, of
where has origin its second names.
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The environs present/display that so frequent vegetation in the desert,
but has not been well some in the verified excursions, nor seems to be
relying to the information of the natives.
Elbow end.
Before arriving to this end small projections exist that the practitioners
designate with the name of the Battlements, being well-known also the
Elbow end by puna of the Cotobelo or Nose of San Pedro.
This position, that offers a good shelter with winds of the first quadrant,
presents/displays however great contrariedades for the commercial
installation, because spending considerable sums in the construction of awharf the support could only be assured communications with the
colony in all time, previous and indispensable condition of the operation
in that one region.
Angra to horse.
The great bend formed by the Sud part of the end or Elbow end, and the
projections from where Monte either Roque of the Deception is
controlled, has been called cove of Angra to horse or of the Yuncas, that
does not offer great security to the ships nor owns easy wharf, except in
calm times, in spite of being brackish water in abundance very next to
the coast.
The fish appears in truly amazing amounts in this bend, that's why very
it is frequented by the canary ships, unique boats that, so to speak, cross
those waters. This point of the coast is in addition remarkable by several
happened marine wrecks in the first third to the present century,
according to affirm the inhabitants of the environs.
Peninsula of Gold River.
The advantages that the situation of this peninsula presents/displays,
outstanding of the continent to way of sentry advanced in the Ocean,
were the main cause of being designated for the first commercial
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establishment Or factory erected in all the African coast of the coast of
the Sahara, where Spain exerts the protectorate.
On the other hand, the fear that inspires the inhabitants of certain
regions of Africa imposed the necessity to choose a position for theestablishment of any class of European colony where the defense offered
more advantages, the precautions could give to major security guarantee
and the monitoring would be exerted more easily and with better results.
All these objects it seemed natural would concur in a land language of
little width, and, therefore, of easy dominion; but we do not have to
never do without the character of the natives, of its excessive pride,
incomparable pride and of the moral force that is lost indicating certaindistrusts that satisfy their foolish aspirations of power or supremacy on
another any race that does not militate in the Muslim followers. And as
the commerce is not obtained but from the harmony of relations between
both town, and of the progressive increase of communications, necessary
it is to agree upon that the average defensives put in practice in that one
region have to harmonize themselves with the indispensable conditions
to the commercial development of the colony that settles down there.
The peninsula of Gold River, together with the continent by a sandy
isthmus and of malsimo transit, affects a really singular form. Of the
main directorate of the coast a land language of 37 kilometers in length
by 2 to 5 of width follows, in its greater part, lifting only 6 meters on the
level of the sea, except in several datum points with diverse names. One
is, therefore, to a level rather lower than the remaining coast, and
embraces an extensive one laughs of 22 miles in length by 5 of width,
navigable in his two third parts, with 24 meters basic maximum and 8
minimums in the main channel.
As everything laughs of some consideration, it has the disadvantage of
the bar, to which we do not grant great importance, because only with
temporary forts of the West, fortunately very little frequent the waves
acquire frightful proportions; but this is not an obstacle for navigation,
because the channel either greater channel has in the bar six meters and
average basic in low tide, and, therefore, sufficient to boats of great
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tonnage, however, the bottom, very irregular laughs of it, will make
navigation quite difficult until perfectly buoying the channel the more
next to the peninsula of Gold River, or the one that happens licking the
coast almost of the continent.
The outer port, whose anchorage is very uncomfortable, but surely while
the alseos winds reign, can be disastrous and of difficult disembarkation
with winds of the Southwest. It laughs inside it have the ships completes
security with all the times, because solely the flow and ebb tide of the
tides, that get to reach three miles of current per hour, helped by the
constant breeze, raise some very continuous surge, but only annoying to
the small boats or boats of candle.
Incidentally we have said it laughs that it of Gold River offers two
navigable channels, and to complete their description, being also
mentioned the low ones that guards in low tide, well-known with the
names of the Careenage, Small and Great Galeoto, and indicating the
other stumbling blocks that are to find the ships for navigation, would be
necessary-to go to a study of soundings, unfortunately limited until now,
to one reduced part it laughs of it and only usable when it can connectwith the other points as it bases of his hydrographic knowledge. The
practiced drillings the direction of the channel next to the peninsula of
Gold River is known, and the low ones, some of great extension, that
laughs it has it until the Herne island, formed of mud, seaweed or sand
dragged by the current.
The bottom laughs of it presents/displays one vastsima embosomed,
that in low tide is almost in the open in a space of 10 kilometers,surrounded by infinite precipices formed by successive loosenings of the
land, but by no side signal is discovered remotely some that it indicates,
nor, the existence of a river, as it appears in all the navigation charts and
seems to come off itself the name given from old times to this part of the
coast of the Sahara.
Of which it is deduced that the origin of the name of River of Gold given
to this peninsula is completely imaginary or fantastic, to lack river some
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and not to be in its environs, nor to long distances, that precious
fundamental and constant objective metal of the insatiable human greed.
And I have to increase in price the necessity to make public these data, in
order that the squeamish characters, paying attention to theattractiveness of the name of this peninsula, do not squander sacrifices
based on erroneous calculations and that they also result in loss of
prestige than as much it matters to conserve and to develop in the
interests of our commerce.
The Herne island is at heart located of this laughs, surrounded by
marshy land and in communication with the continent, in low tide,
because the beach immediate to the isthmus is open pie in about 2kilometers. It has the mentioned island thirteen small hills of quite
irregular conical form, in ascending steps, direction UNDER. to NE, from
3 meters to the 40 next that measure of the highest height, than one is in
the first third of line NE. to UNDER, that they determine, being its width
or space that occupies of a little kilometer.
The natives call to the Herne island Trok-whose translation is equivalent
to the step or way-by being almost on the isthmus of entrance to the
peninsula, and is very well-known in all the desert because in his
environs they take shelter millares of crustaceans (amdjun), that
transport to Ualata, Timbuct and Benigram, for the sale by gold, ivory
and slaves.
The peninsula of Oro River, well-known by the people of the Sahara
with the name of Dajala-is-Saharia (incoming of the desert), is extremely
level and with little vegetation. The great and small Arciprs and the end
Nose, that includes/understands near 30 kilometers of the peninsula
from the Durnford end, are remarkable elevations only in] to invariable
plain of this position. Once exceeded the western and penetrated end in
the outer port, is a beautiful beach, with excessive abundance of sand
and in a level rather lower than the general ground of the peninsula;
after crossed the bar, all the inner coast is of rock and conchuela, difficult
by some sites, but always reasonable by its little elevation, that usuallydoes not exceed 5 meters.
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To about 23 kilometers of the Durnford end is a land with greater
vegetation, cultivated field of wild flowers in the spring, more colonizing
with gacelas and where a fresh water well exists, whose conditions
would be very appreciable if some cleaning were observed.
Doubtful origin must be granted to this well, truly providential to help
the first works of the colony that settles down there. Some natives
confess that she was constructed by Christians, and does not seem
ventured to give credit to this report, because the work who reveal
themselves there is not work of those natural ones. It is precise to
suppose that this well has been done by the shipwrecked wretches who
so terrible luck have experimented in those inhospitable beaches fromremote times. He confirms this hypothesis, in addition, the fact that the
circular form of the well finishes to the three meters of depth, in which
the water is acquired easily and disappeared the strong rock land to mix
itself with sandy part that the liquid element has been undermining
slowly until producing a cave of some extension, where at present
corrupted matters are accumulated, giving to the water a stinking scent
and little hygienic conditions, except for the natives of the Sahara, whose
physical organization, formed by means in which they live, allows all
class them of abuses without remarkable alteration in her health.
The amount of water that can be obtained from this well is very
considerable. Having needed to provide with water the existing colony
in Gold River, it was precise to come to the possible most scrupulous
cleaning, and that one occurred by finished to eleven in the morning,
when still they were small residues of the springs of the walls of the well.
Closely together of the one of afternoon the water extraction began and
to six they had been obtained more than 2000 liters.
To eight kilometers of the described well it finishes, the terreas not hard
or of rock to become great sand dunes, very moving and extremely it
bothers for the march, constituting this space the isthmus of the
peninsula.
As one advances towards the continent, that rises majestic on that onesandy ground, in some sites lower than the level of the sea, the width of
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the isthmus falls of a progressive way, until being reduced to a little
average meter and in high water.
Before arriving at the continent a relatively enormous stone, of 16 meters
of height and 22 of extension, together with the peninsula by narrowsand language is in the coast of the Ocean that is covered in the great
tides. This stone appears in the maps with the Mount name of the
Deception and fishermen know the canary it by Roque Cabrn, having
deserved these denominations by the aspect that presents/displays view
from the sea and that appears completely like isolated of the continent.
In their environs several marine wrecks have happened. Some of the
natives who populate the peninsula with Oro River still remember theshipwreck of a birk-boat American-according to all the indications
happened in the small cove that forms to the shelter of Monte Decepcin,
whose shipwreck they assure those believers who were saved the eight
crew who came to his I embroider and that, embarked in a fishing ship,
returned d land of Christians. But I consider useless to add that all
whatever the sea threw to the beach, or the Moors could gather on board
going and to I swim in thecalm days, was distributed and profiteer bythose sectarians of the Prophet, with great contentment and row,
according to the satisfaction whereupon they even rememberthismarine
disaster.
The established Spanish factory in Gold River is next located to 12
kilometers of the Durnford end and on the coast it laughs of it. In the
election it has presided over the idea to obtain next and safe anchorage,
harmonizing this condition with the advantages that the site reports forthe construction of the jetty wharf, as useful as indispensable to the
commerce that is developed there. Despite this study, the ships will not
be able to never approach to smaller distance of 5oo metersof the beach.
Well-known the position where a building serves already I gave birth to
indicate the dominion of Spain and to maintain with relative honor its
pavilion, is very necessary to describe the coast of opposite, whose
conditions have to take advantage when the commerce acquires truedevelopment, to demand it .as the same natives.
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Few exigencies will be more just. The great advantage offers that one
coast of which the ships can cast anchor very many next of earth and
with the same shelter. Channel is enough greater, but prisoner requires
study to recognize well steps that he has by the bar and stumbling blocks
of the navigation laugh within it, which it will not be able to be used
without these recognitions practice, in order not to jeopardize the
numerous boats in the low ones which they would find in his march. The
obstacle, at first sight considerable, of its greater elevation
presents/displays this coast of the continent, than it oscillates between
40 and 50 meters, the great inclination of his slopes, and the abundance
of stony land, because it is advisable neither possible to take advantage
of the spaces sand, where it will be the more difficult to form ways orinclines of ascent for the operations of load and unloading of the ships.
Overcome these disadvantages, that only represent major work and
wastes of some quantity, the results would soon compensate the
sacrifices of the installation of a factory or commercial center. The
distance is lessen in two days that are to cross the natives to arrive to our
market, e! land is more susceptible of culture, the grass are more
abundant and, therefore, they can maintain the camels while the natives
remain in the factory, the cattle that acquires itself will have more safe
grass during the time which they impose the communications, true
disadvantage of all project of colonization, bases of the commerce on the
Sahara and difficult solution by the expenses that originate.
In order to complete these ideas it would agree to determine the point of
the coast of the included continent to the beautiful one laughs of Gold,
where a commercial nucleus with all the buildings indispensable to the
transactions and to the necessary system of defense had to settle down
for the security of the colony; but also it would be exposed to detrimental
errors to advance judgments without the previous knowledge of the
steps that to the boats laughs offers it, because these appreciations must
harmonize with the exigencies of navigation and the advantages of the
land for commercial facilities.
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of the Northwest, that come to finish in enormous water mountains in
this inhospitable point of the sahrica coast.
Both shipwrecks happened in this bay and the bitterness that isolation
with the coast represents for the navigators, from fear of the natives andthe impossibility to put to sea with winds of the third quadrant, without
crossing the imposing waves that form to the entrance of the bay, totally
justify the name of bay of the Hardships that has deserved of the coastal
sailors.
Bay of Corey or Corveiro.
The disadvantages that concur in the cove already described of SanCiprin, serve to make the advantages estimable of the bay as Corey,
very frequented by pailebotes of the fishing, considers that it as excellent
port of refuge against the weathers of outside, because in his reduced
cove they enjoy complete security, they have an excellent anchorage and
they can be dedicated with relative calmness to the salt meat operations
and packs of the fish gathered during the day.
This bay also reunites the advantage of being able to form a wharfwithout great sacrifices, because he is completely safe from the forts
brisotes, the movement of the sea is very smooth and its anchorage
rather cleaner than the one of Curvature. Like in this one, the beach is
generally steep, but it has several points of easy disembarkation, and the
environs of the coast reveal nondespicable conditions for the vegetation,
the sand is-enough little and exist great probabilities of finding water
potable to very short distance.
In our concept, this point must be object of lengthy recognitions perhaps,
because it was necessary to take advantage of his conditions, and to even
improve them to little cost, to form the last establishment that to the Sud
of the sahrica coast represents the Spanish commerce, if of the result of
the opened diplomatic negotiations with France indisputable one is not
known our unreasonable and right to occupy the bay of the Galgo.
White Cabo.
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After the bay of Corveiro, the coast does not offer salient point nor of
shelter some until the false and true White end, located to 20 47' 55
North latitude and 10' length, according to the meridian of San
Fernando, having to consider east point like the limit of our dominions
in the western coast of the Sahara.
The situation of this most important point, under the different aspects
political, commercial and fishing, cannot be defined so that it facilitates
his understanding without describing the two denominated bays of the
West and the Galgo, by the special form that the extensive one affects
and sandy language that has received the name of White end.
Always sailing to 2 miles of the coast, a projection is discovered firstly,that the False White end has been called from remote times, and
overcome this end an extensive bay is warned, that finishes later in the
end of the earth language indicated with the name of White end.
Between these two projections is a well-known bay by the bay of the
West, and next in its center a rock of 14 meters of altitude above sea level
exists, of flat surface, measuring a linear extension of 90 meters in length
by 60 of thickness. This rock, that seems placed by the Providence for thefirst works of installation, with all the tempting defensive conditions, is
united to the continent by a narrow sand isthmus and forms a small
cove, where the movement of the waves is almost imperceptible and
whose sand bottom offers a comfortable wharf.
Pailebotes canary, dedicated to the fishing in those seas, casts anchor of
ordinary in the bay of the West, while they do not appear in the look
indications of weathers or winds of the Southwest. In this case they lookfor shelter in the beautiful and incomparable bay of the Galgo, once
exceeded the end of White end, whose bay, going into in direction
Northeastern in an extension of 20 miles, present/display diverse and
very excellent anchorages, known with the name of Tired end, port of
the Rest, the Ostrich, etc., protected of all time and with superb positions
for the easy construction of a wharf, indispensable requirement of the
commercial establishments that are based on that one African coast.
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The position of White end, by its relative proximity to the centers more
colonizing with the Sahara, offers major future to the European
commerce; but the sacrifices that impose will be also more considerable.
The great distance that separates to White end of the Canary Islands,
center, in our opinion, of general supplying of the colonies of Africa, and
3a potable water deficiency nterin not practices works in order to find
this precious one and indispensable element for the life of the man, is the
contrariedades majors that are urgent to remedy before establishing a
factory. The increase of communications seems to be unique the average
one to guarantee the existence to which they settle down there; but these
communications cannot trust to the candle ships. The crew of pailebotes
that goes to the fishing of White end calculates overcome in the twentyor twenty-five days, exception done of the extraordinary chances. As
they sail just by a compass, whose indications do not deserve whole
security by their bad conditions, when undertaking the return begin to
put the prow to the West the Northwest, in order to obtain the major
result of brisotes or tradewinds that reign generally in that one coast.
After the six days, most bold they give first embroidered to gain the
coast and to recognize the true situation in which they are. In this waythey are able to dominate to the Parchel, fighting with the wind and the
currents, always opposite, soon to go in demand of the Eastern
department of the Canary Islands.
Aside from these two contrariedades, whose importance hardly can be
exaggerated, it is necessary to also consider that all the peninsula of
White end forms an immense sandy ground, of escassima vegetation
and laborious transit.
Ever since one disembarks appears in view of the observer a great sand
seeded hill extension, in the form of cones, that the wind, anxious and
wicked what geniecillo, destroys and returns to construct there where a
small obstacle exists that stops moving sands.
Before this perspective, truly incomparable, in view of a as barren field
as detrimental for all attempt of the colonization, most optimistic one
feels dominated by a spirit of sadness or melancholy. Silos winds would
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not be so constant, would even be usable east land; but then one would
trip over the disadvantage of the temperature, that of the 22 to 25
centigrades, happens quickly to the 40, once the beneficent influence of
the breeze stops.
It is precise to go into, to look for the bottom of the bay to found the
commercial establishments next to the land of culture and to the sites
where it will be easier to find water potable. He is indispensable in
addition to resolutely confront the sacrifices that this imposes to give to
major guarantee of success to the factory that settles down in the Sud
limit of our protectorate and whose position tries to dispute our
neighbors to us of beyond the Pyrenean one.
Islands of Arguin.
They do not form these islands, nor the great banks surround that them,
in the demarcation that includes the protectorate of Spain; but having be
object of erroneous appreciations, too much disclosed unfortunately, we
considered necessary to make a slight description of its conditions and
situation to move away all reckless project in future companies.
After the bay of the Galgo are those most dangerous banks of Argun,
that measure more than 40 miles of extension and that 110 still have been
perfectly defined nor recognized by the infinite obstacles that
present/display until for the smallest boats.
The unique news that of these banks are had and whose exactitude
deserves major guarantee, are those that some provide, very counted,
practical canaries; then although several channels have been knownwhen the islands of Argun were occupied by European colonists, the sea
currents have radically modified the situation of the low ones, making so
far navigation without exposing itself to fatal consequences impossible.
A fast glance by the map that accompanies to these descriptive notes will
be enough to form exact concept of the position that occupy these
renowned islands and of the difficulties that surround to their
occupation. Aside from these disadvantages, nondespicable, it is precise
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to add that their hygienic conditions are quite unfavorablein opposition
of whatever happens in the remaining coast already described.
The fear to the natives has been the cause of which the Portuguese firstly,
and soon Dutch and the French, would settle down themselves in thepast century and principles of the present one in the famous island of
Argun, in whose environs the imposing shipwreck of the Mduse took
place, of imperishable memory in pomp the marine ones by the
terrorficas scenes to which it gave rise that one human hecatomb. But
easily it is included/understood that the establishments before
mentioned intended the operation of the riqusimos banks of fishing
grounds, without the dangers that offered the deal with the natural onesof the country, because it is evident that the formation of markets and
commercial centers is obtained isolating themselves of the producing
forces and demonstrating a distrust that cannot be harmonized with the
mercantile operations.
Of here the importance that has been wanted to give to the island of
Argun, considered, in our concept, like the most detrimental position,
free of advantages and overwhelmed with all sort of disadvantages.
Of the three small barren islands that determine this point only the one
of means it offers guarantees for a solid construction, and, indeed, have
been being there still formidable ruins of old buildings, because they
must his foundation to the first occupants, the Portuguese, for more than
two hundred years; also are two guns in complete abandonment, many
excavations and a well of brackish water that soon used European
Colonizing Dutch and the French, or the natives who have inhabited thisisland when they counted on boats or boats, acquired in some shipwreck
of which she registers the history of that one coast.
The sterility of the done sacrifices to conserve this island from remote
times perhaps, since their abundant banks of fishing grounds were
discovered, confirms and justifies the detrimental thing that it had been
to extend our protectorate until occupying a possession that they have
left the French since the beginning of the century, and the little
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communicated by the natives, by those who one has been able to inspire
a confidence and affection superior to the hopes conceived by most
optimistic, and the propaganda realized with great advantages for the
prestige of Spain, it is come off that the region whose limits we have
indicated not only it locks up a numerous population, but also elements
and products for considerable a commercial movement.
After the territory of His and Uad-Nun, with a development whose limit
is not easy to determine and that it is clear like border region, but
feudataria of sultn of the Maghreb, are several nuclei of inhabitants,
scattered according to the conditions imposed by the fight that to each
other maintain and put under nominally to sherifff whose importancealways keeps proportion with the number of subjects placed
conditionally to its orders.
In the territory of Tekna, more the North of Bojador end, these small
groupings, whose political denomination begin it is almost impossible to
establish, given the irregularity or, better still, the deficiency of fixed
principleson which they are based, and that in last term is solved for the
natives in the precision to live in complete slavery on more hard andundergoing the most incredible humiliations.
The factory that an English retailer has settled down in Juby end, fights,
for its existence and development, with the division of forces between
the caciques of the country, the antagonistic spirit that among them
exists and the little security who enjoy the same natives, by ways and
paths, when leading its merchandize. Reason by which the commercial
operations are made very hardly, because where some to the propertydoes not exist respect it disappears, consequently logical, the interest by
the acquisition.
In the interval of end Juby or Tarfaya - as 11a- m.an to this position the
natives - Bojador end is enough, inhabit many Muslim families of
different origin, who, besides other small caciques, recognize by superior
commander to sherifff call Mohammed-the-IDA, which is tributary as
well of the Ulad-Hosein, and the Beiruk, so that their people cancommunicate, with relative security, with Uad-Nun, Tarudant and
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Morocco, without this garantit gives to pay to them, in all the transits
where population groupings exist, the tithe of whatever lead, by sale and
buys, with others gabelas that consume the merchandize and annihilate
the producing forces of the infatuados ones sectarians of the Prophet.
As one advances towards the South, the groupings of huts or jaimas
belong to other completely independent tribes. From end Bojador to end
White, and in extension of 500 kilometers to interior, finds Ulad-Delim,
Ulad-Tsederari, Ulad- Amar, Ulad-el-Lab, Ulad-Sid-Siyed, Ulad-
Arosiyin, Ulad-Erguibats, Ulad-Sid-Mobammed, Ulad-Salem, Ulad-el-
Gazal and Ulad-Vas, that dominates the important region of the Adrar
with another small kbilas, whose smaller number of inhabitants reducesto the importance of sus' conditions, even though deserve special study
by the advantageous situation which they occupy and the facilities that
can offer to the commercial currents that settle down there.
The absolute lack of rivers, precipices either streams, because these last
ones only form when rains are very abundant and serve to nourish great
lagoons, and the relative shortage of propitious lands to a flourishing
vegetation, forces to the natives to choose sites for its flowing travelingvillages where they are to proximity, fresh or brackish water wells, in
order to take care of to the needs of the life.
As also the water appears with a frightful shortage in great passages, the
populations almost impossible in squared spaces of 3o and 40 leguas,
seeing itself forced the travellers to replace the water by she-camel milk
to also extinguish to the thirst, providing it to the horses and muas that
they use in his marches.
Fortunately the great plains where the vegetation is almost null and in
which will lack water while artesian wells are not constructed, are
relatively little, given the amplitude of that one region. The great oases
abound, of steep land, with long mountain ranges, in whose valleys the
waters take shelter, forming lagoons of considerable extension, with
vegetal land of excellent conditions; and in the proximity of these points
the inhabitants of the desert for the care of great flocks of cattle re-concentrate themselves that throughout finds sufficient grass by the
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whatever does not offer strong resistance to its overwhelming race. In
that great earth language, so important for the commerce with the
interior, the nature has scrimped of such way its gifts, that agriculture
will never find seat, and only by force of great sacrifices will be able to
obtain the necessary water for the inhabitants of the mercantile
establishments and the floating population that all commercial
movement demands. And, without it obstructs of the laborious
impression that one region produces, we cannot completely consider
vacated it nor sterile for the mission reserved to the cultured towns in
the African continent.
When describing concientiously, with the terrible sensation that alwaysproduces the lacking reality of fine clothes that conceal its non-uniform
details, moves to us, in first term, the eagerness to separate all
enthusiastic and false concept, of always sensible consequences, and
mainly the necessity to provide to the difficulties and sacrifices of all sort
that impose the Colonizing companies, with any class which they are
considered, that directs their efforts to the commercial conquest, and,
therefore, pacific, with the Muslim, dominating race of most of the center
of Africa.
In this concept it is not only enough to know the conditions of the coast
nor the little population that is there, but we needed to extend our
operational range to the interior, by where they are had to form the true
commercial routes, for whose object we will review next the trips of
propaganda and exploration practiced and the obtained results that
allow to trust the complete success the more of the ideals that Spain
caresses with respect to the future of so vast continent.
Trips to the interior.
He is doubtless that the means practitioner to more assure the
commercial operation the Sahara, to root our dominion between the
inhabitants of the desert, to secure indispensable the moral influence on
all fanatical race, to form a true commercial propaganda between those
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followers of the Prophet and to obtain a detailed description of all the
geographic, climatologic and social conditions of so vast region, obtain
solely by the continuous rubbing with the natives and the meticulous
recognition of the land.
But the Muslim, in his deal with the European, always demonstrates to a
distrust or only justifiable distrust by his love to the independence that
enjoys and the attachment to its traditions, accepted like faith dogma,
and that considers in imminent danger from the moment at which a
civilized nation develops its legitimate influence by regions whose
inhabitants only know the rules Mahoma, remarkably corrected,
weakened of the character that imprimiera its founder and increased tothem by its sectarians.
The believers of the desert do not form an exception of this general rule,
and perhaps they are victims of majors preoccupations by its greater
distance of the cultured towns and because the defense of its home is
protected solely by its most special conditions for the war of small
games, because perhaps race does not exist some that can surpass to
them in sobriety, energy, self-denial and loosening of the life when thereligious laws protest because they are governed.
The constant fight between different tribes and the great distance
separates that them of the mercantile or producing centers impose to
them, however, the necessity to seek and to protect the creation of a
commercial port that responds to all exigencies and avoids the infinite
damages that at present them irroga the lack of relatively guaranteed
communications.
To this cause the satisfaction must be attributed whereupon our
exploratory assignment was received, the declaration of the protectorate
Spanish in that one coast and the origin of the promises of observance
and decided support to the authority of Spain done by diverse chejes and
characterized people more between the natives, but letting glimpse
certain exigencies that patentizan the arrogance and indomitable
character of that race that so shining pages registers in the history of the
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humanity and whose state of degradation, or physical and intellectual
misery, is not comparable with the one of any town.
In the impossibility to obtain the exact and complete news of the interior
of the Sahara, by references or conversations with the natives, the firstauthority of Shingueti tried to convince to me, in a conference that with
him maintained in Gold River, of the facility whereupon all the
difficulties could be put ont the edge that needed to win until securing
the creation of a good port, insurance of the success of our company,
because it would soon get to persuade to me of the advantages that these
works would report by an apparently very simple procedure. With
reasonings, that if they did not reveal an illustration superior, they letglimpse with clarity a practical sense unfortunately little generalized
enough, sherifff Brahim-el-Marrakshi, demonstrated to
include/understand the just doubts and hesitations that were to slow
down the construction of a small town in the peninsula of Gold River,
with their corresponding branch station or in the coast of opposite and
with all the elements necessary to absorb the commerce of that one
region, whose limits very difficult and would be ventured to determine
in these first moments. And in order to avoid all sort of difficulties, it
proposed to accompany with numerous friendly, being taken the escort
and cavalries to me that could need to cross many hundreds of
kilometers, to know the centers where the commerce can find more
incentives, the regions where the cattle is more abundant, the susceptible
territories of good culture, populations as important as To tie, Shingueti,
Uadan, Ualatay until Timbuct and Benigran, if it showed interest in it,
consequently it would form a very approximate calculation of theinhabitants whereupon each tribe and of the probable consumption
counts that they would represent the diverse population centers that
visited for the commerce and the Spanish industry. With similar
procedure it could deduce of a indubitable way if the sacrifices that
impose the construction of a commercial port and the propaganda
necessary to implant and to root the transactions would be in proportion
of the advantages that in nondistant term had backs water to obtain.
According to them they assured, the payments very soon would be
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compensated by the products that the commercial movement that was
developed there, under a direction intelligent and vigorous would reach,
from whose supposed they left to demand, once secured this interesting
accumulation of knowledge that ensured the success of all the later
works, the fast creation of our establishments, without omitting no class
of expenses until equipping them with all the means and elements
indispensable for the commerce, in order to obtain major prestige and
confidence in the indigenous element, main base of the mercantile
colonization.
Surely nobody will be able to not know the great results that these works
had reported to the dominion of Spain in that one vastsima Africanregion. But this excursion, that so many studies had to include, would
produce disastrous consequences by for want of resources to realize it; to
appear to the natives in the middle of its homes, being revealed a
poverty almost greater than hers, extremely had to be detrimental to the
prestige of Spain, causes of great disrepute and reason so that, raised
those fanatizadas imaginations by the feeling of the superiority of its race
on all the others that populate our planet, they committed upsettings of
all sort, doing more difficult the civilizadora company that Spain has
taken to its position.
It was precise to look for by other average analogous results. although in
smaller scale, to circumscribe our operational range to the elements
whereupon we could arrange, v with this object comision to the Moor
rifeo that was to my orders, Mohammed-el-Madani, soldier of the
section of gunners of the Rif, so that, accompanied by the Jameida
sheriff, of great it influences in the country, pertaining to the tribe of
Ulad-Vas, and in who I have the most complete confidence with respect
to its interest and enthusiasm by Spain, they would cross a considerable
part of the desert, would give the greater possible development to the
commercial domination that it is tried there to establish and picked up
all the data indispensable for the study and knowledge of that one
region, like preliminary works that would be to complement themselves
in nondistant day.
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First trip.
The 13 of September of 1885, finished the preparations of the march,
undertook their trip the Jameida sheriff and the Madani, taking only two
camels, food for about ten days and gifts of escassima importance.
The Jameida sheriff was tenaciously against to take to major amount of
provisions, because in the way they would find in abundance in jaimas
or huts of his friendly and their family. In this way it tried to
demonstrate the great interest that deserved the propaganda to him that
realized with this trip in favor of the progresses for a true and beneficial
commercial colonization.
Once passed the isthmus of the peninsula of Gold River, whose
description already we know, they walked only about 10 kilometers by
land of very little vegetation, choosing bushes where to spend the night,
without shelter of no species nor defense against the wild animal of
different class that teem by those environs.
To following day, before the sun appeared in the horizon, they left so
little hospitable shelter to reach famous well Tishekten distant about 43kilometers, where they could be provided with excellent fresh water,
rather more good of the one than it uses the reduced colony of River of
Gold, and in whose environs1]inhabits 27 families of the tribe of, with greatflocks of wool cattle and joist, good number of camels and regular grass,
In this day they followed a direction almost constant of THAT., finding
little sandy land and some passages cultivable.
Bu-Love received with noticeable samples of displeasure the presence ofthe Madani, to that they supposed commissioner by the Christians to
meet the authors the murders whereupon it was stained of Spanish
blood the Dajala-ET-Saharia ground, peninsula of Gold River. It was
precise that the Jameida sheriff prevailed in so serious situation to
desires of those treasonous at the same time as timorous sectarians of
Mahoma, and would threaten terrible retaliation if they did not leave the
1 To this tribe belongs the natives who in the morning of the 9 of March of 1885 undertook to the Spaniards
who were in Gold River, assassinating to you see and robbing whatever to them they owned.
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although in the evening they twisted completely to the Sud, in a two
passage of leguas. Land crossed in this day is very level, of floor resistant
sometimes, but more generally of sand moving, heat did of all point
unbearable, because rays of sun dismissed so intense fire that until the
natural ones of that one burning ground they tried to take to place
setting all the body, even face, with linen cloth blue used in his dresses,
because only thus they avoided the continuous and progressive irritation
that produces the excessive heat on the skin, despite being accustomed to
the rigors of the climate.
The Jaud is located between two hills, whose peak altitude can calculate
in 50 meters. Valley forms enough pleasant, because it breaks themonotony of the land surrounds that it in a great extension, has potable
water in sufficient amount to maintain a number respectable of people,
but in spite of this advantage and of its vegetation, although something
little, it was completely uninhabited when they arrived there, to spend
the night and to provide themselves with water, our expeditionary ones.
To 35 kilometers, next, of the Jaud, is Ifernan, in an almost constant
direction of the Southeast; and in their environs the trees abound, in theirmajority without thorns., of little elevation and resistance. The aspect of a
forest low and clear, in land of little undulations and very stony has that
one site.
In the following day they twisted something to the Sud more to go in
search of a brackish water well, to give to drink to the camels and to
prepare themselves to the most laborious march of two days by land
very level, free of vegetation and water of no class.
He would be tedious to especially enumerate the sufferings that these
marches caused, to the Madani, that crossed that one region for the first
time; but all the obstacles expired with great animosity and
perseverancia, arriving our expeditionary ones to Tenuaka, where they
rested a day to acquire new forces, of which so needed were.
In Tenuaka a great valley formed by two hills exists that follow the
direction almost constant of E. to Or.; in their slopes the trees abound
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with the same class already mentioned, and at heart is a white layer and
crystalline of rock salt, very consistent, whose thickness assures is quite
deep. It seems unnecessary to add that in Tenuaka nor in its environs is
potable water, that's why Jameida and the Madani broke the march to
the dawn of the following day, in the same Southeastern direction, to
spend the night in Teris, that only is about 40 kilometers of Tenuaka, and
to rest of the difficulties undergone in the three last days and of the
suffocating heat that reigns at this time of the year in all that one region.
Teris can be considered like a relatively considerable and productive
oasis. A leafy valley, very abundant in grass forms this position among
others, distinguishing itself brackish plants a grass that the natives callskaf and that is very appreciated of the cattle. In huts of thistles, weeds
and trunks of trees, or of fabric of esparto and palm-although the
number of these huts are enough minor-inhabit fifty families of the tribes
of Ulad-Delim and Ulad-Azuz, who own great flocks of wool cattle and
joist, and a considerable number of camels.
Our travellers rested a day in Teris, referring to those inhabitants the
advantageous projects that Spain when implanting sheltered its flag inthe coast of so vast region, and once vanished all the distrusts that the
presence of a Christian in Muslim territory always instills between the
sectarians of the Prophet, moved away of the contact with the cultured
towns, went in search of a well with excellent fresh water that, following
the direction Southeastern, is to 3o kilometers. There they found 5o
indigenous with more than 1,000 camels, to give them to drink and to
make storing of water.
This considerable number of camels does not have to surprise to which
they do not know the sort of life that becomes in the Sahara, and, as a
rule, in all the Africa, that conserves, by rare exception, the customs of
his first settlers. The desert of Sahara would be uninhabitable, and also
unapproachable during many lustrums or centuries, without the
powerful assistance that the camel renders in order to cross enormous
distances and to put in communication . great separated tribes by
completely sterile considerable spaces, with escassima water and put
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under of ordinary to high temperatures. The camel is not used
exclusively for the transport of trading travellers with its merchandize,
but their females maintain with milk to great number of believers who
dominate that one region; of his woolly hair they make special weaves
whereupon they cover the head; its meat serves as food and is very
coveted by the natives, and of the skin they form pampanillas-
taparrabos-of the people who take undresses theremaining part of their
body, or use this skin in other multiple services imposed by the
necessity. For these reasons the young of as useful as resistant animal
constitutes one of 'the more lucrative traffics of the natives of the desert,
despite being hisappraised quite reasonable in relation to the importance
of its services.
From the well already mentioned the expeditionary ones followed their
march, inclining more to the Sud, and in a day they crossed the Djuad
mount, whose greater height is of 150 meters, which very several
prolonged branches are come off, and in its elevated part more it has an
enormous stone, to cap way, whose cause is known him with the name
of Guetaia or Bu-Guetaia, extending this denomination to all that one
region in an extensive radius.
To the following day, after brief march, they were to spend the night
next in a meeting of huts known with the name of the tribe of Guetaia
and inhabited by 3o families.
From Guetaia to Bulariaj-point excessively windy-they used two little
days, which makes suppose a distance at least of 70 kilometers. The land
crossed in this passage has grass in abundance and is quite resistantfinding several tracks of horses, and descrying, although at a distance,
many gacelas, antelopes, gamos and corzos, that are persecuted with
extreme cruelty by the vixens, jackals and wolves.
The majority of the inhabitants of Bulariaj, whose number 110 will
exceed 15o, belongs to the tribe of the Ulad-Demisats, mixed with some
of the one of Ulad-Delim, and owns great flocks of black wool cattle and
cattle joist in quite greater amount and of excellent class.
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ships in the ports of the Senegal. Also several well-off retailers have their
residence in Daya Lanquiya who cross great distances to take the traffic
to Timbuct, Morocco and French possessions, offering all the greater
support to the Spanish domination in that one coast if the sacrifices for
the establishment of the port were not scrimped that meets all the
conditions indispensable as guarantee for the commerce.
The environs of Daya Lanquiya are quite fertile and leafy. The
abundance of grass favors the support of great flocks of sheep, goats,
some horses, asses and camels, these last ones in excessive number.
Short-distance, in the direction of the Sud, another lagoon, the whose
environs exists they populate the Ulad- el-Lab, Arosiyin, Ulad-Guilan,Eznail, that owns much cattle; Ahel-el-Mami, also proprietors of cattle
and wool target, and the Trarza. To about 4 kilometers to the North they
inhabit the Ulad-the-Gazal-children of the gacelas-dedicated ones
exclusively to the promotion of the cattle, being able to next calculate the
population of this region in 14,000 souls, that live, in its majority, in huts
of weeds and thistles, or of linen cloth of palm with mud plinth.
Three days remained the travellers in this region, finding outmeticulously to everybody the commercial projects that Spain shelters,
advantages of our dominion and facilities that would find in the
transactions, being welcomed these new ones with demonstrations of
sincere enthusiasm, and indicating great confidence in our behavior.