Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-06-19

A scheme is on foot that if carried
into effect, will bring the great desert
of Sahara prominently before the
world. 1t is believed to have once
been q part Of the ocean or great
inland sea. 1t is from 80 to 800 feet
lower than the ocean, and the project
is to connect it with the ocean by q
canal and let it fill up again. 1t has |
been ascertained that route exists
for such canal that will not require
digging to a greater depth than thirty |
feet to let in large flow of sea-water.
This is one of the most remarkable
portions Of the earth's surface. The |
area included within its boundaries is
not much less than the United States
Of America, being something over
5000 miles long by 1000 miles wide.
Nearly the whole surface at the pres
ent time is perfect sea of burning
sand, with here an there an oasis in
which . few wells have been sunk
for supplying the caravans of wild
Arabs that are constantly traversing
this dreary waste in their nomadc
course of life. Over belt GOO miles
wide, running the entire length of the
desert, it never rains. There are no
storms known in this country except
the terrible sirrocco, q southeast wind
from Syria. These winds are terribly
destructive to human and animal life
if the utmost care is not taken to
guard against their deadly effects.
AS is well known all the travelling
that has ever yet been done through
this region has been done by means
OF the ''ships of the DESERT" as the
camels and dromedaries have been
called, and all travelling expeditions
move in large caravans. A full
grown camel is able to carry an enor-
mously large burden upon its back,
and travel through the burning sand
at an astonishingly rapid rate. The
caravans, upon setting out from a
seaport town to cross the desert,
must, Of course, take supplies of food
and water. The water is taken in
goat-skin sacks, which, with Scanty
supply Of provisions for man and
beast, are securely dashed across the
backs of the camels, and when all is
ready the caravan launches out upor
the desert, observing the most perfect
system and order. The siTrocco is
liable to burst upon the caravans at 6
moments notice; indeed, they are SC
sudden in their coming that the Arab;
depend more on the instinct of thei
camels to give them notice than upol
their own faculties for perceiving an,
signs of the coming storm. The ami
mails will start with sudden fear anc
begin to drop upon their knees ant
bury their noses in the burning sand
Men, women and children dismoun
instantly and fall upon their face!
until the death blast is ever. TIL
srrocco comes generally with hurri
cane force, the wind about as hot a
though it came direct from the moutl
of a burning furnace. Nothing o
the animal kind can breathe this al
and live. The air is filled with fin
sand as hot as a tropical sun ca
make it. These blasts are usual
short, seldom more than q minute, bu
at times bury whole caravan in thu
huge pillows of sand that sweep owe
the desert. TIE Arabs have held ur
disturbed possession of this desel
from time immemorial, always havin
. been independent of every other pee
pie on earth, No army of civilize
men could ever make military e1
petition into this desert and exist
and this the Arabs understand, an
practice free-booting as a fine ar
making victims Of all from whom the
can take spoils. But if they ca
make this desert vast inland sea II
Arabs willobe driven from the
haunts, a large portion of Africa rel
dered productive, and the interests
commerce greatly facilitated.
VIM. M. Sargent, for nearly six yea
past editor and proprietor of the HILLSIDE
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