412 A FOREST OF DATE PALMS. 



A forest of date trees extends from the slopes of 

 the hills for some two or three miles across a marshy 

 plain almost to the walls of the town, which is situated 

 nearly in the centre of a forest of these trees interspersed 

 Avith other fruit trees of almost every sort, while highly 

 cultivated gardens extend in every direction around 

 the walls; the landscape everywhere displaying a 

 scene of fertile beauty which is characteristic of many 

 of the oases. But in consequence of being built upon 

 a marshy subsoil, Wargla is seriously affected by fever 

 of malarial origin, especially during the months of 

 October and May, when the intermittent rains are said 

 to begin and end. * 



The climate of the desert itself, as already stated, 

 is generally healthy, but the moment we leave the dry 

 soil and vapourless air of the plains, and enter the 

 fertile oases, malaria immediately manifests itself; thus 

 furnishing a further conclusive proof, were that needful, 

 to show how entirely these diseases are dependent upon 

 the presence of water in some form. 



The plague of flies also, which constantly appears 

 concurrently with malaria, here again assails the 

 traveller. Apart, however, from their frequently un- 

 doubtedly malarious character, nothing, we are assured 

 by Count D'Escayrac de Lauture, 



" can give an idea of the freshness and tranquil beauty of 

 these oases: it is supposed that all these charms are produced 

 by the contrast with the desert; it is, however, scarcely possible 

 that anything could add to them. Beneath the shade of rows 

 of closely planted date trees grow apricots, peaches, pome- 

 granates with beautiful red flowers, orange trees covered with 

 fruit, henna with little reddish blossoms, and even the apple 



* Le Sahara Algerien, par M. le Lieut. -Col. Daumas, 1845, p. 73. 



