Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Larsa Salt Lake

On the night of April 4th and 5th, the expedition camped at the foot of the sand dunes, where the terrain has obvious bulges, enclosing the depths of the small bay.There is no hiding place here.The team had already walked through the last trees of this desolate area, three or four kilometers away, between Nefta and the salt lake.This is the desert on the sand, beginning to show some signs of the vegetation of the completely dry Larsa Desert. The tent was erected.The wagons were loaded with supplies from Neftar, which would last many days for man and horse.In addition, the engineer went around Larsa and stopped at various oases. There are quite a lot of oases along the canal, where the fresh grass is extremely rich, and it is absolutely impossible to find it in the middle of the salt lake area.

This is what M. de Charley explained to Captain Ardigan and Lieutenant Viette under the tent before the dinner (which M. François prepared for him).The Larsa plan is on the table, allowing people to understand the terrain there.This salt lake, whose southern boundary is not far from the thirty-fourth parallel, extends in a circle to the north, across the region near Mount Olles, adjacent to the town of Chebika.Its greatest length is exactly the thirty-fourth latitude, and it is estimated to be sixty kilometers, but its flooded area is only thirteen hundred square kilometers, or, as the engineer says, the equivalent of three or four thousand parade grounds in Paris.

Lieutenant Viette reminded: Hey, it is too big for the training ground, but it is average for a sea. Of course, Lieutenant, M. de Charley replied, but if you add the six thousand square kilometers of the Mélégil, you get seven hundred and twenty thousand hectares of the Sahara.And, over time, and due to the erosive action of the water, eventually the sea will include the lagoons of Jared and Fejdi I see, my dear friend, said Captain Aldigon again, do you always rely on the possibility, will the future arrange the possibility? Who can see what lies ahead?Mr. Descharais replied.To be sure, there have been some rather unusual things that have happened to our planet, and I will not hide from you, the idea that does not bother me, sometimes fascinates me.You must have heard that a piece of land called Atlantis disappeared, what!This is not the Sahara Sea as it is now occurring, but the Atlantic Ocean itself, and in a well-determined area; such catastrophes are not uncommon, and indeed occur in proportion; see the violent eruption of Krakatoa in the nineteenth century What happened in Insurland; so why should what happened yesterday not happen tomorrow?

The future is a huge doll box for human beings, Lieutenant Viette replied with a smile. Exactly, my dear lieutenant, the engineer said decisively, and when this doll box once empty Then, the world will end, Captain Aldigon concluded.Then, he put his finger on the plan, where the first canal with a length of 227 kilometers arrives: Shouldn't a port be built here?he asked. It is there, on the shore of this small bay, M. de Charley replied, and everything shows that there will become one of the most troublesome ports in the Sahara Sea. The planning has been studied. Once Larsa is open to navigation, it will definitely be built houses and shops, warehouses and fortresses.In addition, the town of Lahama on the easternmost side of the Salt Lake was recognized and foreseen at the time of the initial planning, and it would become an important coastal trade center. Although there will be changes, its status as the frontier port of Gafsa is probably guaranteed. .

The engineer pointed out on the map that this town, whose location was at the tip of Larsa, was to become a commercial port in the center of Jared, a dream that had never been realized before.However, human ingenuity will soon make it a reality.This reality regrets only one thing, and that is that the first canal does not reach its gates.But one understands the reason why the engineers had to connect the salt lake with the depths of this little bay, which is now named Rudale Bay, and it is hoped that this will be the name of a new port, certainly the largest in the Sahara. Captain Ardigan then asked M. de Charais whether it was his intention to send the expedition longitudinally through Larsa.

No, replied the engineer, it is the shore of the salt lake that I must inspect.I hope to find here or there some valuable material of use to us, now that it's on the construction site, though it's certainly not as good as the material that needs to be procured now. Would the camel caravan prefer not to cross the salt lake?asked Lieutenant Vieter. Still across the salt lake, my dear lieutenant, although it is a not very strong road, and the soil is rather dangerous, but it is relatively short, and it is not difficult to walk along the shore full of sand dunes.However, this is the canal we will build towards the west, up to the start of the second canal.Then, going back and repairing the Maregil border, we were able to follow the northern border of Larsa, which was quicker to get back to Gabes than coming back from Maregir.

That was the plan adopted, and after the two canals had been surveyed, the engineers would make a detour around the perimeter of Xinhai. The next day, M. de Charley and two officers went at the head of the detachment.Cut hearts bounced ahead, sending flocks of starlings into flight, fluttering away in frustration.We walked along the foundations under the high sand dunes that formed the surrounding area of ​​the salt lake.The concern is not that the water might spread out over the banks of the depression.The high bank of the depression, somewhat like the outer edge of the Gabes ridge, was able to withstand the pressure of the water and was absolutely safe from south of Jared.

The camp had been dismantled since early morning.According to the usual schedule, the march began again.The daily itinerary should not be changed a little, and the distance between the two stations should be kept at an average of twelve to fifteen kilometers. What M. de Charais chiefly wanted to prove was whether the coast, which was about to resist the waters of the new sea, had no need to fear that the sea, over its edge, would encroach upon the adjoining country.Therefore, the team walked westward along the bottom of one dune after another along the salt lake.Moreover, from this perspective, it seems that people should not change the masterpieces of nature.Regardless of whether Larsa was a lake in the past, it has always been regarded as a lake, and the water led by the first canal from Gabes Bay to Larsa must be strictly contained within the prescribed boundaries.

Walking on the road, you can observe the vast depression.The surface of this dry basin in Larsa, gleaming in the sun, resembles a half-folded leaf of silver, crystal, or camphor.The eyes should not be facing the flashing place, and the eyes must be protected with sunglasses to avoid ophthalmia that often occurs under the scorching sun of the Sahara.The officers and their men were prepared for this intention.Sergeant Major Nicole even bought sturdy round glasses for his horse.However, it seems that the horse wearing glasses is not suitable.Somewhat comically, Cut Heart couldn't make out the silhouette of its companion after wearing the optic.As with scrambling, none of the horses wear the protective gear that is so essential to their owners.

Moreover, the saline zone fully presents the features of these salt lakes, which in summer dry up under the action of the tropical heat, but part of the water layer is drawn under the sand, releasing its gas load, while the soil is covered with uplifts. Bags are like a field full of vole nests.Reaching the depths of the salt lake zone, the engineer called the attention of the two officers to the formation of red quartz sand mixed with sulfates and lime carbonates.This layer is covered by a salt frost formed by sodium carbonate and sodium chloride, a real salt crust.In addition, the Pliocene lands where the salt lake belt adjoins the lagoon are themselves rich in gypsum and salt.

It is necessary to point out that in the years when the water in Larsa was not exhausted, the river still flowed there in winter.Sometimes the horses stopped at the edge of a lowland filled with a puddle of stagnant water as the covered dunes moved away. From a distance Captain Aldigon could see a cavalry of Arabs coming and going across the barren basin of the Salt Lakelands, but as his men approached, the procession flew away almost as if on wings. There was only a flock of red-and-blue flamingos, whose plumage reminded them of the color of their uniform, and the Redhearts pursued them swiftly, but failed to catch the best representatives of these wading-bird families. At the same time, it caused countless birds to soar from all directions, chirping across the sky, such as the deafening sparrows of the Jared area! However, following a circle around Larsa, the detachment had no trouble finding a bivouac that was not to be found in the heart of the depression.For this reason, after the water from the Mediterranean Sea is brought in, the salt lake will be completely submerged in water, while those places above the sea level of Malegir will still be exposed.So people went from oasis to oasis, more or less inhabited oases destined to become ports or coves of Marsa, the new sea.They are called Tua in the Berber language, and in these oases, the soil is extremely fertile, there are many trees of all kinds, palms and other trees, and there is no shortage of pastures, so that the first and its comrades will have no trouble. Complain about the lack of fodder.These oases, however, soon pass away, and the land suddenly assumes its barren nature again.Immediately after the lush green grass Moorland suddenly turned into a flat land of gravel and sand. However, it is also necessary to observe it, and the survey of the southern border of Larsa is not too tiring.When there was no cloud to relieve the sun's heat, the heat relentlessly tormented men and horses at the foot of the dunes.However, the Algerian officers and the North African cavalry finally adapted to the scorching sun. As for Mr. Dessaray, he was also bronzed by the sun, and the survey work just selected him as the leader of the key project in the Sahara Sea . And speaking of hazards, they can only come from the Khofra fields across the salt lake belt, which are the most prominent depressions, where the soil is loose and there is no solid foundation.However, the fact that the expeditions were on this stretch of the road and that these lots would get caught in quicksand was a bit of a concern. It is indeed dangerous, the engineer repeated, and we had many opportunities to prove it when we dug the canal through the lagoons of Tunisia. In fact, Captain Aldigan added, this was one of the troubles that Mr. Rudale had foreseen when he surveyed Larsa and Melagil. Didn't he say that he sometimes sank in the salt sand up to his knees? ? He spoke only the truth, M. de Charley affirmed.These depressions are full of holes, which the Arabs named sea eyes, and the depth sounders cannot reach the bottom of the caves.So some accidents have been terrible.During a survey conducted by Rudale, a cavalryman and his horse were engulfed in a crack, and his companions were unable to pull him out even after connecting twenty gun-cleaning rods So we have to be careful, Aldigon said, don't be too cautious, my people are forbidden to leave the dunes, unless we really notice the soil conditions. I even always worry about the devil who cut hearts. disappear suddenly.Nicole can't pull it up How sad, Lieutenant Vieter declared, should such misfortune happen to his dog! And scrambling, the captain added, it would die of agony! Plus, it's really a special friendship between two sincere animals, the engineer cautioned. Very special, said Lieutenant Vieter, at least, Oreste and Pillard, Nisu and Elijah, Damon and Pythia, Achil and Bartraukler, Alexandre and Al Fezchon, Hergul, and Piritus are all of the same kind, and a horse and a dog And a human being, you may join, Lieutenant, Captain Aldigon to this conclusion, because Nicole, Scrambling and Heart-Cutting have formed an inseparable group of friends in which the human intervenes as a third party and the animal is two! What engineers say about the dangers of loose soil in the salt lake region is not alarmist.However, the camel caravan prefers to travel through the Malegir, Larsa and Fejdi regions. This road shortened their journey, and the travelers found easier paths in the flat land there.But the camel caravan did not need to rely on a guide who knew the lakeside areas like Jared like the back of the hand, and the camel caravan could avoid the dangerous swamp. Since the detachment started from Gabes, it has not encountered a single Kafirah carrying goods, local products, and manufactured products from Biskra to Xiaoshazhou Bay, passing through here to Nefta, Gafsa, Tozeur and La Hama et al.People in these lower Tunisian cities and towns wait impatiently to pass here.But under what circumstances did Aldigon come into contact with a camel caravan on the afternoon of April 9th? It was about three o'clock.After walking the first part of the day, Aldigon and his men set out again in the scorching sun.They walked toward the terminal bend outlined by Larsa, a few kilometers from the westernmost point of Larsa.So the ground rose again.The three-dimensionality of the dunes is accentuated, and there is no way the incoming water could destroy the edge of the salt lake zone from this side. Going up, you can see a wider area in the northwest direction.The hollow glistened in the sun.Every gravel in this salt flat becomes a shining point.The newly dug second canal on the left connects Larsa with Malegir. The engineer and the two officers descended to the ground.The escort followed them leading the horses. After a while, everyone stopped on the platform of the dune. Lieutenant Viet stretched out his hand and said: I seem to see a team operating deep in the salt lake area A procession or a herd of beasts, replied Captain Aldigon. It was so far away that it was difficult to tell, Mr. Deschalay added. What is certain is that just three or four kilometers away, a dense cloud of dust is rolling over the ground in Larsa.There was probably a herd of ruminants traveling north of Jared. Again, the dog was giving vague signals, which should at least be heeded, if not disturbing, to which the sergeant-major called: go!Cut a red heart and smell it with your nose, and listen with your ears to hear what's there? The dog barked ferociously, with its paws straight and its tail erect, ready to rush across the salt lake belt at any time. Slowly, slowly!Nicole kept the dog close to her as she spoke.As the smoke and dust vortex approached, the turmoil generated from the vortex became more and more intense.But it's hard to pinpoint why.In spite of all the bright lights, neither M. de Charley, nor the officers, nor anyone in the detachment could tell whether the commotion came from a caravan on its way, or from a herd of animals crossing this part of the Salt Lake to escape some danger. . After two or three minutes, not sure about that.Flashes shot out from the smoke, and there was a sudden explosion, the smoke mingling with the billowing dust. At the same time, the dog, which the owner couldn't hold down, broke free from the owner and barked wildly. There are gunshots!Lieutenant Viet shouted. Some camel caravan must have defended itself against the beast's attack, said the engineer. Rather, he was resisting the looters, the lieutenant went on, because the explosion seemed to have an echo Get on the horse!Captain Altigon gave the order. After a while, the North African cavalry arrived at the shore of Larsa and headed towards the place where the battle took place. It may have been imprudent, at least reckless, to involve a few members of the escort in this unexplained incident.Jared's gang of robbers may have been numerous.However, Captain Altigon and his detachment defied the danger.If, as must be imagined, the Tuaregs or nomads of the region attacked the Kafira, it would be honorable for a soldier to come to his rescue.So all galloped past the dog, and Nicole no longer managed to hold him, and they left the edge of the dunes and galloped across the salt lake region. Some people have said that a road of more than three kilometers does not show the distance, and two third parties can cross it within ten minutes.Gunfire continued to emanate from the left and right sides of the smoke vortex.However, a gust of wind blew from the southeast, and the vortex began to disappear. Captain Aldigon was thus able to understand the nature of the fierce fighting. As we soon learned, it was indeed a camel caravan whose journey was blocked in the Salt Lake area five days ago. to Gabes.A camel team composed of about 20 Arabs led a hundred strong camels. In this way, they seized the time and hurried on their way.The camels went ahead with sacks of dates, and they, the camel-leaders, followed, one of them urging the animals hoarsely. Until then, the camel team was still traveling in a good environment, and had just arrived at the westernmost point of Larsa, ready to go deep through Larsa under the leadership of an experienced guide.Unfortunately, after the camel caravan entered the initial slopes of the Debris Desert, sixty or so riders suddenly appeared behind the dunes. It was a robbery gang, and they must have had some minimal justification connected with the Kafila personally.They let the camel-men flee, slaughtered them if necessary, seized the animals and their loads, and drove them to several distant oases in Jared, no doubt that this attack, like many others, was a Brutal, yet impossible to expose the perpetrators of the attack. The men of the camel caravan intended to make an unsuccessful resistance.They carried long guns and pistols, so they used these weapons.There were more attackers than camel caravans, and after ten minutes of fighting the Kafilas finally dispersed, and the frightened animals fled in all directions. Not long ago, Captain Aldigan heard an explosion.But his detachment was spotted, and the marauders stopped when they saw the cavalry coming to the rescue of the Kaphila. At this moment, Captain Aldigon roared: go ahead! The carbines in normal condition were taken from the backs of the North African cavalry to their hands and shoulders, and everyone rushed towards the gang like a tornado. As for the caravan, it was put in the back and guarded by the drivers. After everyone rescued the camel caravan, they came back to meet it. The robbers did not expect resistance.Didn't they feel strength, indeed courage, against the famous detachment which charged so bravely upon them?Do they obey an impulse other than a force of fear?They always fled to the northwest before Captain Aldigon and his men could get within reach. However, the order to shoot was given, and nearly a hundred guns rang out, hitting many fleeing bandits, and they could be caught without too much danger. Still, the sergeant major had to proudly testify that Che Heart had been baptized by gunfire, as he saw the dog's head bobbing from side to side and concluded that a bullet whizzed past its ear. Aldigon thought it was an inopportune time to pursue the assailant, who was fleeing at full speed on his fierce horse.Besides, they disappeared in a moment behind a lush mountain rising from the horizon.In this well-known area of ​​the gangsters, it was easy for them to escape to cover, and once there, it was very difficult to track them down.They will certainly not return, and the camel caravan heading east of Larsa will no longer worry about running into them.However, the rescuers arrived on time, and a few minutes later, the camel fell into the hands of these desert robbers. The engineer then asked the leader of the Kaphila people to find out what happened and under what circumstances the camel caravan was attacked. So, do you know which tribe these bandits belong to?asked Captain Altegan. Our guide decided it was a Tuareg, replied the chief. It was asserted that the Tuaregs had gradually abandoned the western oases, continued the eastern engineer who had come to Jared. oh!As long as there are camel caravans crossing the salt lake area, the robbers who attack the camel caravan will be indispensable, Lieutenant Viet reminded. After the flood flooded the Salt Lake area, perhaps there was nothing to fear.Mr Descharais claimed. So Aldigan asked the chief if the locals had heard of Adyar's escape. Yes Captain, the word has been circulating for a few days Has no one denounced him near Larsa or Malgil? No, Captain. Was it not he who commanded the gang of robbers? I can't be sure of that, argued the guide, because I know him and can recognize him. These marauders used to be under his command. It's certainly possible. If you don't come, Captain, we may have been robbed and killed by them. up! Now, you can continue on your way without any danger, said the engineer. I think so too, replied the Chief.These rascals are going back to some town in the west, and in three or four days we'll be in Tozeur. So the leader gathered his men together.The camels that had run away had returned to the caravan, and the caravan was reorganized. No one was lost, but a few people were injured, but the injuries were not serious, and they could continue on their way.Then, after expressing his final thanks to Captain Aldigon and his comrades, the chief gave the signal to go.All the Kafilans are on the road again. After a few minutes, both people and animals disappeared at the turn of a tarf, that is, a sand spit lying along the salt lake. The shouts of the leader of Kafira urging the drivers gradually disappeared into the distance. When the engineer and the two officers got together after this devastating attack, and they exchanged impressions, or else were apprehensive about what had just happened, it was M. de Charley who spoke first: With that said, Adiyar is in the area again!said the engineer. We probably expected this, the captain replied, we should expect us to complete the task of flooding the salt lake as soon as possible!This is the only way to eliminate these criminals in Jared! Unfortunately, years will pass before the water in Gabes fills Larsa and Melgil, Lieutenant Vietre reminded. Does anyone know?Mr. Descharais said. During the second night the camp was not disturbed by the Tuaregs, who were no longer in the vicinity. In the afternoon of the next day, April 10, the detachment stopped at the source of the second canal connecting the two salt lakes.