The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-07-24
THE PERII.S OF THE DESERT.

THE PERILS OF THE DESERT.
Ry the time We were approaching the most
.I.,,rrd point Of Central Asia, terrible
,,,rI hal st in from the north, which lasted
.t,,,n IavS, and increased the rigor of the
,,Jtoa drurrr that threatened Us with treat
m;>trrunc The. sky was still clear, but the
,,,i was 50 terrible that even at midday the
Inference d, the sun was scarcely perccptahlc-
Even during the dav. and of course still more
Ii-inr the ui.ht. we were under the continu-
2, a,,rrr.hrn>ion of being frozen to death
may mention one circumstance that will
r;,,. an idea of the extremity Of the cold
Every morning before setting off the caravan
r,ri 10 take meal, and then not again tiH
,lrv cncqmpcd: hut as the T>amha was
kind Of food So little agreeable that it was
difficult to take enough of it at once to sup
ror, u- during the dav we used to soak in
tea two or three balls oft TO keep in reserve
Tor the days Journey We wrapped up this
'oiling paste in very warm linen. and placed
il on our breasts; and over this we had our
c'a''ing, namclya earmcnt of shcrpskin,then
awu-troat of lamb,kin, then a short garment
+ iox> skin and over all great WOODEN coat.
Vow durinrth> fortnight we constantly found
rh.|aIl> Of T>.mha frozen and when wedrcw
Them from our bOSoms thev were so hard that
"" almost broke our teeth in attempting 10
ca, them. The cattle suffered terribly. eS-
reclaNy the mules and horses, which are not
50 ,rronr as the oxen. We had to dress
them in trlt carpets, and tie camel's skin
around their heads: and in any other circunl
stances ,hcirappcarancc would certainly have
cxci'rd our hlaritv. hut now we were in no
humor for lauching for Notwithstanding all
PRECAUTIONS. the cattle of the caravan were
drima,cd bv death The numerous frozen
rivers that We had TO pass, occaSioned US much
trolilr. especially the camcl< which are so
awkward that we We're obliged to trace a
path for them }y Strcwng sand on the ice
and breaking tn" top Of it with our hatchcts
and even then We had To lead them very care
fully. one after the other; and if one of them
chanccd to make false step and fall, it wa:
,arrrlv possible 10 @ct it up again. Frs
W. had to relieve them OF their baggage. anC
then To- lrag them on their sides to the river
hank, or spread carpets for them. and tu4,a
purpose they would not make the slightes
effort To- rise. and they had at last to be ahan
a.a~i, r,r it was impossible. in this frightfr
country. to stay waiting on the whims Of
an!d. All these harlships threw many o
'h" travellers into deep detection. To til
mortality of the animals was now added tina
q The men, whom the cold seized. and VIII
""rr left to perish on'thc road.
Ouy day, when the exhaustion of our beast
'i burden had compelled us to slacken on
march, W. perceived traveller seated by tn
way>..r. on "a large stone His head wa
Bent town, his arms pressed against his side
and he rc,r,;ooJ no,;onlo.s % Stain. "
called him >.,or,I ,;ma. hut h. mad. no =,
>wrr. aud We ,bon,,h, bo had No, heard MS
nat mainc>>, we said, to stop on the roa
III tHS Va, IN such weather. This unt0rtl
nate man Will certainly To Of cold "
called him ,.,,;r br. =. 10 st;,, aid not .,
>n,-. u,. ;,,;,h,.5 and WON'T toward him II
.,rr L,j H.. ,r,o,r,,,... g u,.x III o,.s wo,
'a.fo,.r ,,i .,,,..,.., and ho h,1 ;.;'.,.s Gu
;rnI,l,aLi< no.,r;,s and ,bo corrors Of b
..~b H.. ;,., ,un,.ll,;. ava. .ou,.a
e.a a rrrr,I,, Vacant .xnre,>iou lint b
W., quite frozen and had been for.,lon /