Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/557

 THE OURARA AND TIMIMUN OASIS. 4M depression conUius altogether several million i>alm-trcc«, over eight hnikdrad thousand being comprised in the seven ksurs of Ikldut, or Deiduii, which belong to the Zwu tribe. South of the 8i>bkha the rcMul runs almoAt uninterruptedly beneath the shade of the overhanging foliage for a distance of or lO miles. The gardens of Guram are not watered by wati'rs Mowing on the surface, but by fogarats (feggaguir), that is to say, galleries tapped at intervals by wells analogous to those of Persia and Afghanistan. To the numerous sebkhas scattered over the plain round the margin of the principal depression, are probably mainly duo the much dreaded fevers which prevail in the oases during the summer months. These marsh fevers, unknown in the rest of the Twat country, are by the natives called ikhriid, or " exterminating malady." The chief oasis skirting the east side of the great sebkha is that of Timimun. Here stands, surrounded by crenellated walls, the most populous town in Gurara. and even in the whole region. It is usually regarded as the capital of Twat, and the resident sheikh is one of the most powerful persons in the country. A neigh* bouring convent Ix^longing to the Tijaniya order also enjoys considerable influence over the surrounding i)opulations. Timimun is one of the three great marts of Twat, and is more frequented than any other by caravans from Algeria. Never- theless this town does not appear destined to lie on the route of the future Trans> sahariun railway. The sandy waste which stretches to the north of the Gurara oases obliges travellers to muke a detour, either to the east through El-Golea, or to the west through Beni-Abbas, Karzas and the valley of the Wed Saura. Bent-Abbas, an imix)rtant centre of the caravan trade, is the Brst oasis of the Wed Saura below Igli and the confluence of the upper tributaries. The vilbge, which has a permanent ix)pulation of six hundred souls, is almost buried amid the surrounding dunes. Nowhere else in the whole ifussulman world can a mon* striking example be found of the power of the religious confrateniities. Five different orders are here represented, all claiming and receiving contributions from the faithful. One of these orders has its mother-house at Karza», some (JO miles farther down. Situated on the left bank of the Wed Saura, in the narrow valley formed by this watercourse between the two sandy wastes of Erg to the east and the Iguidi dunes to the west, Karzas constitutes, like Beni-Abbas, an indisi>en8able station for travellers and caravans descending from the higher valleys of the upper basin in Marocco and Algeria, or returning northwards from the lower Twat oaaett. Thus lying on the great highway of the desert, Karzas would be exposed to attacks from every quarter, had it not been created a sort of neutral town by the unanimous consent of the surrounding i>opulation8. Being incapable of defence it is never attacked by anyone. Encircled by no walls, it welcomes as guests all presenting themselves at the convent gates, few of whom, however, arrive empty- hande<l. The marabuts of Karzas not only enjoy the revenues derived from their planU- tions, which develop a vast garden along the Wtnl Saura, and which yield dates of exceUent quality, including one variety found nowhere clise, but they alao keep