The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-03-19

Nhitu btgiDs va Apiil, anG lasls my Gays
Hence the name OF camseen, VIII lcb IA Arabic
signifies 90. Ii generally blows from south
west, aud lasts hour, five, or SIX days, without
VayIng, 20 very strong, that II raises the sands
To great height, forming a general cloud, 50
Ink that II IS impossible 10 keep the eyes
open, Il not under cover II Is troublesome
even 10 the Arabs, il forces the sand INTO the
houses through every Granny, and fills every
thing with II. The caravans cannot proceed IN
The cesarIs; the boats cannot proceed on their
yoyag aud The ra,eliers are obliged TO eat
sand IN -pite Of tefAleelh The whole is
like chaos. Often a Quantity Of sand and
small stones gradually sscends 10 grealbeght,
and forms column SO or 10 feet III diameter,
and so ibicAthai were it studied on one spot,
II would appear a solid mass. This not only
reyoves within lis own circumference, but
runs IN a circular direction over great space
Ut ground, Sometimes maintaining itself IN
@o,ion tor half an hour, and where il falls it
yaccumulates small hill of sand. Gold help
the poor traveller who Is caught under II !
The next phenomenon is the mirage, often
described by Travellers, who assert having
been deceived by IT, as al distance It appears
10 them like water. This is certainly the fact,
and must confess that have been deceived
myself, even after ! was aware of il. The
perfect resemblance 10 water, and the strong
desire Tor this element, made me conclude, in
spite OF all my caution not TO be deceived, that
II was really water saw. II generally appears
alike so uDmoved by the wind that every thing
above is TO be seen most distinctly reflected
by u, which IS the principal cause OF The de-
ceplion. II The winds agltale any OF the plants
that arise above the horizon of The mirage, the
motion is seen perfectly, al great distance.
Ii The traveller stand elevated much above the
mirage, the apparent wafer seems less united
and less deep, Tor as the eyes look down upon
1t, there IS not thickness enough in the vapour
on the surface OF the ground to conceal the
earth from the sight. But II the traveller be
on with The HORIZON of the mirage, he cannot
see through 1t, 50 that it appears TO him clear
water. BY putting my head first to the ground,
and then mounting a camel, the height of
which might have been zen feet al the most,
found great difference IN the appearance Of
the mirage. On approaching IT, ii becomes
thinner and appears as il agitaed by the wind,
like telG Of npe corn. ltgrsdually vanshts
as the traveller approaches, and at last entirely
disappears when he is on the spot
Il The third phenomenon is the l0cuSts These
animals haS { seen 10 such clouds, that twice
the number 10 The same space would iotm an
opaque mass, which would wholly intercept
the rays OF the sun, and cause complete dark
ness. They alght on fields Of corn, aud other
vegetables, and 10 few minutes devour the
whole produce. The natives make great
noise TO fri2hten them away in vain aud bv
way Of retaliation, they catch and eat them
when tried, considering them as dainty repast.
\ They are something like the grasshopper in
form, about two inches IN length They are
generally Of yellow or gold colour, but they
are some red and some green.
On Sunday last, as the Minister Of ST. Giles,
near Tonlngton, was joining young couple
in Hymen', bands, two rude fellows entered
the Church just as he said, :" What God Join
eth together lei no man put asunder," and
seized The bridegroom by The collar. The
parson, not little surprIzed at their presump-
ton, was beginning 10 expostulate, when they
declared themselves COnstables, sent with
warrant to apprehend poor Cock, the intend
ed bridegroom, he being runaway appren.
lice. They took him, bathed ia tears. from
the sacred altar, and lodged him in a prison
leaving the disappointed bride TO reflect Oh
the old adage, There's many slip be-
tween the cup and lip."-Engiih paper.
1900