St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1858-10-28

A Russian nolfenlan, who has been travel.
ling in Afiica, giees Ehe following account 81
| the Samieli. Simeon. or P0ison Wind. which
as such an Dbieet III interest and terror to an
ss3asses and III Na<IeHa lie says:-The Sd
rhieli j felt III t. Desert from about the mid
die OF June to he 2lss of September. IL
is experienced wikla very violent south west
wind, and On those days when the hest cf the
sun Is the most anlsnt. It's burning; sscomes
in gusts more q f2 scoF12iing, OF more or le .
dusaticu; each II kl1eu1s ss0WeveT. even ssi.s
shortest, exeees - time that man could
HUIu ms Ureatll I1lis wind consists IN ssic-
ccssion Of burnEsg and cool gusts. In fhe
first, there is frequently double degree oi
heat and impesnosity. The difference between
the hot and cold gusts, according 10 nv obser-
Walton, Is from 10. 10 degrees. The highest
degree Of the het gusts was "a deg. of Faren-
heit; the temperature in the sun, without the
Sanlieli. having been constantly from 53 deg.
to So deg. thought | could observe that
when this wiHd blows, yellowish tinge, in
clining TO livid, is disfuscd through the at
mosphere; and that. i'm It's most violent Pc
RODS, the sun becomes of a deep red. It's odor
is infections and sulphureous; it is thick and
heavy, and when its heat increases, it almost
causes suffocafion. 1t occasions a pretty co.
pious pcrspiration, partly excited by the un-
easiness which one feels, and the difficulty
with which one breathes on account of its
fceted quality. This perspiration appears to
me more dense and viscious than the natural
perspiration: the wind itself deposite an unc-
tuous fluid. The better TO examine its quail
ties and its nature, opened nv mouth u
inhale it: the palate and throat were instant.
ly parched. It produces the same effect
when inhaled through the nostrils, but more
slowly. To preserve ones self from it, and
keep the respiration more free, it is usual "a
wrap up the face with handkerchief. Tn
passing the tissue it loses part of its action
and of IFS destructive principle and besides
the breath keeps up degree of humidity
and hinders the burning air from suddenly
penetrating into the mouth and lungs. The
Arabs, therefore, are accustomed, whatever
the heat may be, even in the shade, to wrat
the whole body, not excepting the head, in
their mesekIah, icloak,l if they desire tn sleep
This wind causes, by the rareEaction that at.
tends it, pretty strong agitation in the
blood; and this increased movement soon
brings on weakness. 1t in general produce:
on man two. effects distinctly characterized
Il strikes him mcrtally with q kind of As
plyxy, or causes him great debility. TIL,
corpse Of o person so suffocated has this ne
cuIiarity, that in few days, or even hours
as some Arabs affirm, the limbs separate a
the joints witt, the slightest effort, so power
ill is the action of the poison on the mus
cular parts. giving an astonishing activity t.
the progress of putrefaction. Such a corps
is reported contagious. know nothing s.
terrible as this wind; l felt it almost constant
ly in the Desert, batting some interruptions
one of which was for three days and thre,
nights successfully. Ny Interpreter, Mr.
Rossel, was struck by it. but escaped deatl
by discharge OF blood. That which confirm
! what have said of the separation of the limbs
is, that, having been struck by this air, I wa
affected for some weeks with an extreme weak
ness; and whenever the least warm wind blew
on ME, felt great faintness, and perceive,
in my joints a relaxation Of the muscles.
The dangers of this wind are guarded
against by inhaling the fumes of good vine
| gar, and covering the face with the handker
chief. asked the Arabs flying down on tn
ground wass preservative against it; the,
assured me It was not. | should be incline,
myself to think it prejudicial.