IRRIGATING THE SAHARA.

Evening Star, Issue 3902, 26 August 1875, Page 3

IRRIGATING THE SAHARA.

An interesting and ambitions project is at present on the tapis, having lor its aim the conversion of a largo portion of the very extensive dfsorts known as the Great Sahara, into an inland sea, by introducing the waters of the A tlantic Ocean. The observations of adventurous travellers have made known the foot that there is in the Sahara an immense depression, known by the Arabic name of El Julf, This depression is distinguished even in that sterile region by its excessive aridity, making it an impassible barrier to caravans, which are compelled to skirt two of its sides, thus lengthening their journey more than 100 per cent. For instance, from Cape Nun toTimbuctoo, the distance is 740 miles in a straight line, whereas by the route the caravans are compelled to take, the distance is more than 1,700 miles. The consequence is that a caravan journey occupies four months, while the cost of carriage is L4O per ton. Scientific investigations show conclusively that El Juft’ is an old sea bed, and to this day it contains large deposits of salt. it contains, menover, “huge chasms, grottoes, and caves, with marine debris scattered throughout, seeming as if the ocean

had left but yesterday.” Ancient maps by Diodorous, Pluto, Arc., place an immense lake on the site now occupied by El Juff, whose drying up is easily to be accounted for. It was connected with the Atlantic by a narrow neck, which gradually became filled up by the sand deposited by the very strung current which sets in on the coast.

When once, thoough this agency, the waters of the ocean were cut off, El Juff would rapidly evaporate, till at the present day it presents the appearance of an enorous sea beach, without a drop of water or the faintest sign of animal or vegetable life. An expedition is now being organised in London to survey the sandbank which separates El duff from the ocean, with a view to ascertaining the cost of cutting and keeping open a navigable channel through it. The sandbank is roughly stated as being thirty feet high and five miles wide, the distance between the headlands which it unites being ten miles. El Juff is on an average 250 feet below the level of

the Atlantic, and as it is bordered by higher lands it can easily be kept vilhiu havmles'j bounds. Its bounlavies, ho wove:’, are also to be urveyed by flic expedition, which bus has plenty of hard work before d. It is alloyed that if 1m Jnff were made a navigable sea, prod table :oinmorcial relations could be cstabislied with twenty millions of people, it present almost eni iivly beyond the •each of European enlcrprise. The productions of the regions concerned at present consist of cotton, indigo, tobacco, codec, iudiaiubbt.T, and copper, Hid with the improvement in climatic conditions, caused by the flooding of the El Juft*, the productiveness of the country would be much increased. It will thus be seen that the project is one of no small importance, and if it succeeds in the manner s.inguinely anticipated by its promoters, the world will look upon the achievement us one of the greatest triumphs of British enterprise, going far to make up for theprestige gained by France in respect of the cuez Canal.