WOMEN OF FACHI AND THEIR CURIOUS HEAD-DRESS
Whereupon they set about building a completely new city, not imperfectly, but under the strict supervision of the great Arab. It is said that if any part was imperfect it was ordered to be taken down and rebuilt.
So that, in the Malam’s words:
“Fachi is built as it stands to-day, because a great Arab came from the north and taught our people sense.”
He could not name the great benefactor, nor could I find anyone who knew. But that he came from Tripoli all affirmed.
It is not impossible that he was one of the renowned Oulad Sliman tribe—Tripolitans who, in the past, migrated to settle near Mao, on the north of Lake Chad, to escape Turkish oppression.
I turned from contemplation of the town to look over the landscape. From the top of the tower it was not so barren as from below, for the green groves of date-palms were prominently in view. The oasis holds little more of value than a narrow belt of palms, the pits of salt, and a good supply of subterranean water. For the rest, nothing but sand; the whole environment so unprepossessing that one cannot escape its terrible poverty.
And inside the town a population that has barely food to keep body and soul together.
I caught myself thinking:
“What queer, ungodly places some people live in!”