The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-14

Alps or ihs Pyrcnees IA ROADS relatively frcquentcd
where the tracks are beaten where simply saring
a brook cabin serves as landmark they could nnd
their way with equal ease But IN the Erg, over sur
face OF than 100 leagues where the color
ithe sand scarcely differs mile from another
where all the hills have much the form: where
the ridges alike the waves the ocean,
bursting out INTO Inc same crested ioam anu, nnss
and bramhe, guide Will often suiier both
hunger and thirst in order to 30 direct
form OF hill drin OF sand. The dangers TO life
which accompany this develop IN them physical and
moral quality altogether unknown AT night,
simply by looking ~ the stars they tell their
better Than the traveller who his line direct from
the compass In the darkest night these guides will
lead you the desert without hesitation or mis-
take These khebrs OF the desert are truly Inc nnest
pilots In the world
POSER sAruxALsrs.
Every day see varieties OF birds OF different
plumage Tying around us The one Is about the size
OF lark, with white wings white and curved bill The
other IS entirely gray about the size OF sparrow ana
reminds by It's mode OF tight Of the charming little
waslai Of France Once IN while we see . raven,
regular habtation. We also see daily numbers Of ga
zcies- Anteopes perfectly ntfst the hills These
quadfupeds live upon the scanty plants OF the Sahara
have previously spoken OF the ienek, little fox,
which lives on rats, lizards, insects and flowers
during their season. &c But the question Is where
do these AN mals drink The camel cigh. days
without drinking. even in the height OF summer,
thanks to tho reservoir which nature has placed In
stomach, and In that when herbs scarce he
60 almost y month without green brows-
ing. The Arab horse also is SO trained
days while IN the desert Will cite more nsonish.
lug circumstance stl-viz., that our camelicr Ell
Frcycm has not tasted drop OF liquid since he eit
Beesso period OF three days. and he quietly assures
that he ''may perhaps take a drink tonight
But where do the BIRDS, gazelles and anclopes drnkY
The oldest hunters me that they do not drink
because there IS no water Tor them Ought not
therefore, 10 be content with this declaration which
folnc has never denied and when All himself declares
he rs satisfied OF its corrcctncssl BY no means.
think mus, leave tho question open Tor discussion IN
the HERALD perhaps some light may thus octhrow
upon H.
the Arabs call Cahan or Rakhia which means a de-
preston where the gravel sinks into the assures This
dcsig nation is quite apt
We have now rounded the Capc of Surprises, but
though long way OFF from the Fo ked Ghourd We have
to Keep sharp look out Al eight O'Clock this even
Ing we learn mat our guide aud u calnelicr who had
started on hunt in the afternoon have not yet
turned Fearing that they would not ind our camp We
decided hight tire the summit OF HILL whom the
returned and stated that they had secuted
over n tract o than leagues in pursuit OF
ant-iopes, climbing ghourd alter ghourd without
iectve shot haoun quite furious because having
wounded badly tho beast nevertheless managed TO
escape under cover of the darkness.
HORRORS siMooM
DECEMBER 26.--To.dsy we crossed straight passage
named Mckscm- el-Asse, or Honey Dchic Why call
Il Honey Dciilcy simply, says the guide, because
man once took comb Vt honey IN It; an appeuation
that did the Arabs much STRAIN OF mag nation.
our explorer recalls AN incident winch occurred dur
ing passage through this place the ye before last
when returning from Ghadames They were over
taken by terrific simoom Enveopcd by and as u
"
halt sufocated until three O'Clock IN the afternoon,
dcvourcd by thirst and unable to distinguish any OBJ
Jcct feet ahead OF them. They had 10 rise up each
moment so as not 10 covered completely by the
flying OF sand. The next day, wncn they were
able look around, five out OF the caravan OF fifteen
can,cs had disappeared. council was held. Had
Chaamba stainpcdcd thcm or had they simply lost
themselves during the tcmpestY Two drivers finally
brought tho animals back, having found thcm away
back road about halt the distance travelled tho
day before. just before break OF day they rejoined
the caravan halt dead with hunger and thirst This
forced delay frightened the travellers who AFRAID
that they would short Of water several bottles
had been accidentally burst during the storm, and
they had to travel during each night in order reach
wells OF II odid before their stock should be
plctcly exhausted thus you see the least delay in
The desert may become question OF life and death
FRIENDLY SALUTE
A little before dusk we saw, with some feelings OF
followed by two camcls. These were Souaa, OF Ell
Oucd, returning from Ghadarncs, whittier they bad
been with hanks and cloaks. They informed us that
the road perfectly quiet and that the robbers who
had been Ghadames, where they had the
audacity TO 50 Tor provisions nad 1sappearcu inc
direction oil their own country. We ptoht BY this
meeting to send news to our friends, and hope the
HERALD will have heard IRON us by tins source, Tor
seal plays wonderful role in Agiers, and " 10 re-
spectcd the utmost matter who carries tho
missve guards Indeed, whoever bears sealed letter
respected the pouchta, CARRIER Is often taken
for an important parsonage unhapply the CONSIDER
stops here, Arab ever thinks OF learning
rcaa ANYTHING hut a few verses OF the Koran. Our
seals are such tremendous fellows that there little
doubt oil their safe arrival we are now IN longitude
deg 10 min. east latitude 81 deg 81 MIN. north.
ENJOYABLE HILLS OF ETERNAL SAND.
DECEMBER 2I-Ihis has been splendid day. had
another emp de soteL Between midday and two in
the heat Is always most intense, and
we never the slightest shade, matter how high
the ghourds, we have always TO endure temperature
IS 40 deg lg6 10 l04 Fahrenhcitl. Nevertheless
II that have been favored with most agree
able and lovely WINTER.
The trade winds predominant most in winter in the
Sahara The winds solidfy the sand IN the direction
IRON which they blow, from northeast to southwest
Some gcographcrs nave made the grave error of stat
ing that hills SHIFT At very distant epoch. on
ulslntcCratlOnS volcanic
tions and atmospheric influences, the Hamada, this
immense red plateau commencing the oasis OF
Ghadames the extent of which is equal to the whole
region OF the hills rained its sands all over that part
called the Eg, and not even stopping there when not
opposed BY obstacles The bases o the hills per-
fecty mobile The and the simoom may change
the shapes to slight extent; but the hills, like the
primitive rocks and earth on which they stand, are
never moved Tue Oldest guides now living and all
predecessors have always used The same nils Tor
landmarks always travelled the same roads, II you
call these lines OF COMMUNICATION IN the desert
The Of certain hills serve TO indicate the roads to
them during the day. just as they are guided by tho
stars during the night In summer tho prevailing
wind southeast The guebli OF the Arab, which We
only know by the name of slmoom and sirocco The
shifting simply crest the hills without changing
their form, and to-day though the Hamada Is but
skeleton II Will remain IL is Tor centuries, unless
unforeseen irruptions ensuc; but change whatever
the physiognomy Of tins dcsolated country takes
place.
DECEMBER 2S--The valleys become more and moro
encountered We remark several ghourds whose
Sides from being exposed 10 the northeast wind are
pointed 10 tue lfet anu tuc
ia ming them seem TO DO merged into the peak We
passed by the loot OF ghourd called Es-Scld (the
ionl; so called because a lion once discovered
this place and trapped he was pursuing gazellcs
This what said andt true, perhaps but It Is not
necessary TO conclude IRON that that lions venture into
The sahara OF their accord. "Tho lion OF the
desert other roaring animals Is one of those good
old pleasantres which Is celebrated over and over
again in prose The president OF the animal
republic never the mountains the other side
the desert Besides, how could he live in the desert
without watcrs
We also passed near another landmark, the Ghourd
Rouba -Chaambia after tue name OF woman, who, on
her way Ghadamcs inquired What do call IL ~
on hearing that II had name, she gave her guide a
plantation OF dates condition that he would call IL
alter her Here then, another appeatIon that cost
tho Arabs but httc effort oil imagination.
DECEMBER 2o-The weather is cold and rainy. Tenn
pcraturc six above zero The ghourd pass
Ing about GOO feet high. This afternoon all
csmrers leave their animals and run TO place
brambles petty mound already covered with the