BOTANICAL FEATURES OF THE ALGERIAN SAHARA. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The present paper is designed to give the results of some field-work in 

 southern Algeria in the autumn of 1 910 and the spring of 191 1. The chief 

 purpose of the tour was to examine the more obvious features of the physio- 

 logical conditions prevalent in the region in question and, in connection 

 with these observations, to make some detailed studies of the root-habits 

 of the most striking species of the native flora. The route lay through the 

 Atlas Mountains, over the High Plateau, and for some distance into the 

 Sahara itself, returning by a somewhat similar way farther to the east. 

 The country traversed was extremely varied in topography and in plant 

 life, and probably the most southern regions seen may be taken as typical 

 of much of the western Sahara. The distance covered in the more arid 

 portions of the colony was about 1,000 miles. 



An English-speaking tourist, or any tourist for that matter, is some- 

 thing of a curiosity in southern Algeria. We were said to be the second 

 party of "Englishmen " who had passed over the Ghardaia-Ouargla country 

 in twenty-five years. 



Leaving Algiers in October, diligence was taken to Ghardaia, the most 

 important town in southern Algeria and the end of the diligence service. 

 Beyond Ghardaia travel is by camel only. The diligence journey, if made 

 without stop, requires six days, running night and day, except the first 

 day's run, which is by day only. Pauses in the journey to Ghardaia were 

 made at the leading towns or stage stations (bordj), thus affording oppor- 

 tunity to observe several localities in the High Plateau as well as the por- 

 tion of the desert just south of the Saharan Atlas. Stop-overs were made 

 thus at Medea, Boghari, Djelfa, Laghouat, and Tilrempt. A fortnight was 

 passed at Ghardaia, where the environs of the city were quite thoroughly 

 explored. As there are no roads between Ghardaia and Ouargla, or between 

 Ouargla and Touggourt, it was necessary to organize a small camel-train, 

 engage a cameleer (sokhrar) and servants, and make special arrangements 

 for the trip. Nine days were required for the portion of the journey to 

 Touggourt via Ouargla. At Touggourt diligence was again taken for 

 Biskra, two days' journey. The return journey to Algiers from Biskra was 

 broken at Batna for the purpose of visiting the fine forest of cedar (Cedrus 

 atlantica) in the mountains not far from the town. When Biskra was re- 

 visited, in the spring of 19 n, the northern portion of Algeria was crossed 

 on the way from Tunis, this affording an opportunity to observe some- 

 thing of the picturesqueness of the mountainous regions as well as the 

 spring flora. 



