This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 Excerpt: ...sure enough, at last out gushed a bountiful stream of clear, sweet water that has kept flowing to this day." 45. The holy man had found the secret of the spring, and from that time, whenever water begins to fail in any of the hundreds of oases of the Sahara, men dig away the sand and release again the hidden stream. 46 ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 Excerpt: ...sure enough, at last out gushed a bountiful stream of clear, sweet water that has kept flowing to this day." 45. The holy man had found the secret of the spring, and from that time, whenever water begins to fail in any of the hundreds of oases of the Sahara, men dig away the sand and release again the hidden stream. 46. But there is yet another part of the secret of the springs that the holy man did not find out. Underneath the sands of the deserts are many rivers that begin far away on the distant mountains. The rain that falls on these mountains flows down their sides and finds its way into underground channels or tunnels. It flows on and on, often for hundreds of miles, before it comes to a crack in the hard layer of earth above it. Then up it bubbles in a spring. As soon as the cool water touches the dry, hot sand, plants and trees begin to grow. People gather about the spring, and by and by there are fruitful gardens, happy homes, and playing children where once was an empty desert. 47. Since the secret of the springs has been found out, people dig wells as they do in our country. In some places they find the hidden river only a few feet below the dry sand; and in other places they find it only after digging down a long way. But, wherever these wells are dug, there a new oasis is made. In this way, new spots of green are caused to grow on the desert where people come and build new homes. UNDER THE SPREADING PALM TREES 48. It is time for us to find our way back to our camp. To-morrow at daybreak we must bid good-bye to our desert friends and start on our return across the restless sands. But we shall not soon forget Ahmed, who lives under the spreading palm trees of the oasis. IN A CITY NEAR THE EQUATOR CHAPTER X PEDRO'S HOME AT THE EQUATOR 1. On a...
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