Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-08-09
Asrip Through n Desert.

We extract from work entitled Travels in
Central Asia, 10y Arminins Vanbefry, the fol-
lowing thrilling sketch of trip through the
sandy desert OF Central Asia:
After leaving this hosptabe soourn, the cara
van penetrated further aud further the untrodien
wilds OF Central Asia. until they reached the
sandy desert on the rorte to Bokhara Here
they were doomed To encounter the most dismal
terrors 1t was IN the month of July. Tho
first station brought them to u sea OF sand ex.
tending as far as the eye could reach On one
side il formed into high hills like waves
dashed into that position by the storm On the
other side il was like the smooth waters OF a still
lake. serenely rippled by the western wind rhe
camel. and asses sunk 10 their knees at e.ery
step Mo- bird was visible in the air: not a
worm or beetle upon the earth
The bones Of those who had persisted on the
way, whitening in the sun. Is they lay collected
! in heaps TO guard the march of future travellers.
formed a som0er memorial of departei life The
strength of the camels had been exhausted be
fore they entered the desert, and two OF them
died at the first day s station. The terrible heat
already left the travellers without strength; two
OF the poorer members of the company who bad
tramped on foot by the side OF their feeble
! beasts, became so sick that they we're unable to
sit or ride, and had to be bound At foil eng b
upon the csmels As long they were able
to articulate, they kept exclaiming Water !
water" the only words that escaped their lips
On the fourth day one OF them relieved by
death from the torments OF thirst. Before he
drew his last breath his tongue was quite black,
the roof OF his mouth OF q greysh white his
lips shriveed and teeth exposed Before leav-
Ing the desert the author had only about six
glasses OF water left in his leathern bottle These
be drank drop by drop. TO appease the burning
heat. Presently his tongue began to turn black
and, alarmed at the danger. he drank OF half the
remsining store at draught. thinking thus TO
save BIS me- but IL only increased the lever IN
his veins. His strength was gradually leaving
him, when the caravan was struck by she tebbsd.
q poisonous wind OF the desert which had hur-
ried rapidly toA ID them with death in It's APP
pearance.
The camels. rom which they lost no time 10
dismounting. uttered loud cry, fell on their
knees, stretched their long necks on the ground,
and siroye to bury leir heads In the sand. The
wind rushed by with a dull, Gathering sound,
leaving the party covered with q thick crust OF
sand two fingers thick The FIRST particles that
touched the body seemed to burn like = rain of
fakes OF lire. had they met the slnd SIX miles
deeper in the desert, the whole caravan would
doubtless have perished The author Was left
bali dead. lie could not dismount from bis
camel without assistance AS be was laid full
length upon the ground. fearful IRE seemed to
almost consume bis interior; he was driven
almost TO madness by the pain in bis head: be
was apparently suffering the sgonies OF terrible
death Starting toward midnight on the psrilous
march, be fell asleep. and. on awakening in the
morning, be found himself in mud nut, sur
rounded BY people with very long boards. He
had no strength 10 speak 10 them, but they kindly
treated him, gave him something warm TO drink.
and AfterwaId some sour milk mixed With water
and salt, which soon Get him once more upon
his feet.