Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-02-18
THIRST IN THE DESERT. AND ITS
TENRIRLE CONSEQUENCES.


In DR.. Burder's work OH "Oriental Gus
TOMS" we find a vivid picture of the hor-
rors of the desert of Mesopotamia, and the
danger of perishing in it with thirst, or suf-
locating by the "simoon." After describ-
ing the various perIls of journey over
these burning sands, the Doctor relates the
following pregnant incident with reference
to the consequence of want of water:
A French traveller afirms that he was
witness 10 scene, occasioned by the want
of water, the most terrible that can be i'm
arioned for man Of feeling 1t was be-
tween Anah and Dryjeh. The locusts, az
ter they had devoured everything, at last
perished The immense numbers of dead
Iocusts corrupted the pools from which, for
want Of springs, they were obliged to draw
water. The traveller observed Turk who
with despair in his countenance, ran down
a hill, and came towards him. II am" cri-
ed be, 'the most unfortunate man in the
world. have purchased, at a prodigious
expense, two hundred girls, the most beau
tiiul Of Greece and Georgia. have edu-
Gated them with care * n ow, that they are
marriageabie, am taking them to Bagdad
to sell them to advantage. All, they perish
in this desert for thirst; but feel greater
tortures than they" The traveller ascend
ed Immediately the hill dreadful specta-
Gle here presented itself TO him. In the
midst of twelve eunuchs and about hun
dred camels. he saw these beautiful girls,
of the age Of twelve and fifteen, stretched
upon the ground, exposed to the torments
OF burning thirst and inevitable DEATH
Some were already buried in pit which
had Just been made ; greater number had
dropped down dead by the side oftheir lea
ders, who had no more strength to bury
them. On all sides were heard the sighs Of
the dying; and the cries Of those who, hav-
ing still me breath remaining, demanding
IN vain drop cf water The French trav-
eler fastened to open his eathcrn bottle, in
which there was still little water. lie
was going to present 1t to one CT these IN
happy victims.
|Madman!" cried his Arabian guide
'wouldst thou have Us die from thirst;"
fIe Immediately killed the girl with an
arrow, seized the bottle, and threatened to
kill ANY one who should venture TO touch
1t. He advised the slave merchant to 60 to
Cryeh where he would find water.
No replied the Turk; sat Dryjeh The
robbers would take away all my slaves"
The Arab dragged the traveller away
The moment they were retiring, these un-
happy victims, seeing the last ray Of hope
vanish, raised dreadful cry. The Arab
was moved with compassion; he took one
of them, poured drop OF wateron her bur-
ming Il S, and set her on his camel, with the
intention of making his wife present of
her. The poor girl tainted several times,
when she passed the bodies of her compan-
ions, who had fallen down dead on the
way. Our travellers small stock Of water
was nearly exhausted when they found a
wall of fresh and pure water but the rope
was so short, that the pail would not reach
the surface Of the water. They cut their
cIoaks in strips, tied them together, and
drew up but little water at time, because
they trembled at the idea of breaking their
weak rope. and leaving the pail in the we'll.
After such dangers they at last arrived at
the first station in Syria.