76 Land Magnetic Observations, 1911-13 



exceptional fortune was met with; a shallow draw passed across was found green in patches 

 with pasturage of an especially prized variety. A streak of rain had recently passed there. 

 There was sufficient new growth to furnish several hours' pasturage. The animals were 

 at once turned out to graze. At noon the march was resumed and by 4 o'clock the well 

 Tin Ghaor was reached. Here was water after 6 days' travel, but no pasturage. The next 

 morning Observer Sawyer, while attempting to make observations at this place, found such 

 heavy static charges developed on the magnetometer that one-half inch sparks were drawn 

 when any part of the instrument was touched, and the whole observing tent was so elec- 

 trified that sparks were drawn when any part of it was touched. 



At noon of March .3, after the animals had been watered, the march was resumed, it 

 being desirable to make use of the short rest and refreshing effects of the water to get the 

 caravan over the field of tremendous sand dunes across which the route lay. At 4 p.m. 

 once more a small but unexpected bit of pasturage was encountered. Here at the foot of 

 some cliffs we halted for the night without camping. On the 5th the march was continued 

 from 5 in the morning to 1 in the afternoon, when an inferior pasturage of dry mrokba was 

 reached, but the desert was found moderating. 



The march on the next day brought us out of the Tanezruft. On this march a camel 

 was abandoned. The ordinary routine of desert travel was now resumed, and on March 

 10 a small military depot of supplies was reached at Tin-Zaouaten. 



On March 20 the well was missed, after 4 days' travel from the preceding well. En- 

 campment was made without assurance of water. Soldiers and caravaneers, sent out in 

 the afternoon and night, located water. Here another camel was shot and abandoned, 

 and the march was directed to the wells at Hassi Yerlick on the following morning. The 

 program of observations was now modified. Instead of observations every day, complete 

 observations every second day of travel were substituted. This was a precaution against 

 the unhealthful areas that were to be traversed south of Timbuktu. 



On March 27 the Sudanese military post at Kidal was reached. Here it was found 

 that a marauding party of Berbers, 300 rifles strong, was reported in the vicinity. They 

 were a section, probably, of the band that had massacred, in June, 1912, Lieutenant Lor- 

 raine's strong detachment of Sudanese troops. All the available soldiers at Kidal, as 

 also the escort that had been ordered there to relieve our Saharienne escort, were out in 

 campaign against these Berbers, 14 black Senegalese troopers only being left to guard the 

 collection of thatched mud houses and block house with a stone stockade, which consti- 

 tuted the military post of Kidal. If the military efforts to block up the routes to the north 

 of the marauding party were successful, the Berbers might decide to assault Kidal. Under 

 the circumstances, no soldiers were available for our escort. 



Some time was at once spent in putting our party into a condition to take efficient 

 part in any events affecting our safety. The captain commanding at Gao on the Niger 

 was informed of our arrival by native messenger sent by the sergeant-in-charge at Kidal, 

 and he immediately dispatched a detail of 6 black troopers and a black corporal for our 

 escort out of Kidal. On April 8 the escort arrived. Allowing it to rest for a day, we resumed 

 the route on the morning of April 10, directing our march not to Timbuktu but to Gao 

 on the Niger. It seemed inadvisable under the circumstances to attempt a direct route to 

 Timbuktu. During the enforced delay at Kidal the animals had recuperated wonder- 

 fully, with the exception of one, which died. 



The Tuaregs and their camels from Fort Motylinski were sent back. Because of the 

 military situation 13 fresh camels were hired to replace them. Every step was taken to 

 insure the party against surprise by marauding bands, and, since a veteran organization 

 was available, it was determined to pursue the route to the Niger with all speed possible, 

 there to put irrevocably on record another successful crossing of Sahara. Marching at 

 night, we slept where the loads were dropped from the animals. Halting during the mid- 



