The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-08-14
Scorpions in the Nubian Desert.

As during three or four months they
always haunted our tents, SO they did our
thoughts Their bodies were as broad, and
almost as full as a finger, their fangs es
broad and plump as those Of small craw-
fishes. With these in the square position
ofa weeyips feelers, they usually measured,
with their snake Of a tail, from three TO
five inches. One brought home was pro-
nouuced to be equal to the largest ever
preserved in museums or perpetuated on
geological plates. They found out almost
every camp, and we found them usually
when starting in the morning under the
packages, saddles and tent carpets. One
was detected by colleague in a pocket.
Another stung the same man before lunch
in his tent, 1t is curious that this should
have been the same man who received the
visit from viper One was caught during
meal on the back of chair, crawling
toward the sitter's neck, while he was Just
scanning the ground to see whether there
were any about. My servant more than
once turned them out Of my bed, usually
little before ! turned in, but once AZ
\ least from under my pillow Immediately
after had risen. Often, no doubt, they
were removed without people saying much
about il, as bad cases during epidemics are
usually concealed by the officers. The
nuisance was not quite so bad, or good,
however, as 70 make US desperately face
the foe and try to have done with it, by
repeatedly allowing ourselves to be stung
on purpose, as sort Of incubation, said To
steel the frame against the pangs from any
subsequent accidents. A special short
pair Of tongs, however, was at these times
always with my ready servant, aud he
used grimly to exhibit to US with grin
while We were at table, any remarkable
specimen which he happened to catch, Sc
cured in these tongs. l did not encourag g
him to catch them as sans facon as servxnt
, in India dO--attracting the yermin's sever
al eyes by moving a sort Of straw on thl
ground, like some Pharaonic locust, an'
: then elegantly taking hold with two finger
5 Of the tail-like end Of the abdomen clos
, to the sting. The smaller aud slende
) species, with narrow fangs Of gall an
$ bile yellow, found to be more numerou
5 on the maiu stream aud in the Delta Of th
4 Nile. These crawl with tail eurled up i
: all seasons. When we asked our Nubia
4 friends about the man-slaughtering powe
g of the dark hard ones, we got the indiret
n answer that they viii kill a camel
/, When one Of the party was stung, v
Is Immediately took hold Of his arm, stoppe
is the surface circulation by bandages abo'
n and below, tried TO squeeze out the venor
:. aud then applied ammonia on the woun
IS The animal, which escaped, was "only
. shrimp" young one, and the pang d
a not extend beyond tho bandages nor Ia
'e long after the burning with ammonia, th
d, is, about twenty minutes We did d
n apply ammonia inwardly. The geneI
20 circulation Of the blood was also saficier
rf ly accelerated from the natural exciieme
st to make any stronger expnlsiyc stimula
es than safe glass Of wine unnecessary.
- Our usual matutinal brushing was 81
plemented BY our brushing with the pc
ellis of our visual rays even the interior
our sleeves, pockets and the like. G
th eamel.eolored boots, shaken after work,
IA shook again in the morning, and even
be fore, from dust aud sand usually glidi
ID in overnight Bn, in tho scorpion sea,
q. aud region We did this ceremony, due
20 uugrateful soils, with more attention,
a we Wsre richer by one more interest in Il
rs Moreover, we did not change boots
sst shoes in camp, but were rather careful
er have our neither sleeves within the sha
'er Of the boots, or in gaitcrs or Kniekerbo'
he ems Aud we had an objection, especia
H. at night, when at table, to having q
At, feet reach the ground, which we kt
Nv sweeping with the brooms Of our lool
ne A supply Of little iron saucers to putt
ial dian fashion--the bed legs in was desi
bic; scorpions do not cross water, for f
be of being killed by even one drop going
he to what we may call their lungs.