OASIS IN

52

 
 
 
  
 
   
 

Day after day the
river creeps farther
over its banks. Wider
and wider flows the
stream. It covers the
fields, and looks like a
vast lake.

At length the river begins to grow smaller.
pass, and now it-flows again in its narrow bed.

The water has left a thin coating of soil on the
‘banks. The land is ready for seeds, and the long
valley will soon be covered with grain. There will
be food for the next dry season.
Thus the high slopes supply soil for plants, and

Weeks

it is carried down by the great river Nile, just as it.

is by tiny rills and brooks.

82. Oasis in the Desert of Sahara.

What have you read about the great desert ?
What river ay
flows across its ; Weel
eastern part ?

   
 
  
 
  
 
 

 

 

   

Low and High Nile.

THE DHSERT.

What sea lies east of the desert? What ocean is

on the west ?

In some parts of the great desert there are springs
of fresh water. After days of hot and dusty travel,
how glad the thirsty people and camels are to reach
aspring! Here they find rest.

Villages grow up near these
springs. Date trees are planted,
and soon bear clusters of sweet
fruit.

Dates are the chief food of
many people who live in hot
deserts. Some of the fruit
is pounded and pressed into
cakes. Camels and horses are
sometimes fed on dates.

A fertile spot in a desert
is called an oasis. The vast barren tract in the
north of Africa is the desert of Sahara.

83. Kongo Basin.

It is thought that the basin. of the Kongo
is about
equal in
area tothat
of the Mis-
sissippl.
The Kongo
river flows
on a pla-
teau till it
reaches the
range near the west coast. There it flows
through the mountains, and rushes into
the low plains that le along
the shore.

Vessels cannot sail very far
up the Kongo. For this
reason there is very little
trading done with the negroes
who live in the Kongo basin.
The world ridge ends near the

 

Cape Town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cape of Good Hope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find Cape Town on the map,
page 113.