Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-04-13
sAHAaA's SANDS.
Summer Days In the Terrible ast
Ouriru the Great Heat.

During the Great t9eat.
May is the beginning Of the dead
season, when oil traffic Is stopped
through the desert of Sahara and
very little labor can be done. The
deadly heat which prevails during the
40 canicular days causes travellers
and traders to shun the GASES for fear
OF the epidemic fever about tho end
of September, when the Nomads re-
enter the Sahara, with abundance OF
cattle and grain. and the Mozabites
renew their bartering traffic between
the roses and the North. The sam
nah, of 40 canicular days, is q deadly
period to traverse. What n despond-
ent situation when the thermometer
fiuctuates for five hours between 115
and 125 degrees of Fahrenheit In the
shade. The fiery breaths Of the pes
tilential simeon and Of the Internal
shihile (sou,hern winds) sweeping the
face ike blast of q furnace pro-
duce sensations OF burning. These
winds, like the cquinoctical sirOccO.
being destitute of all moisture, per-
wade the atmosphere with intense
dryness. torturing the throat and
lungs OF the painting and dispirited
traveller. His parched lips stiffen
and almost lose the sensibility Of
contact. the blood within the mu-
cous membranes evaporating under
the blighted effect Of the hot mir.
Gasping for breath he remains In u
state OF prostration until the terrible
god Of day has accomplished his daily
course. The blaze Of tho noontide
sun Is literally torture, especially
for the white races; during IL no
human being is to be seen out OF
doors, the eyes would not stand the
reflection Of the sun or the licking
heat Of the air; the cities are buried
in the silence of u cemetery: people
seek the comfort Of sleep, but often
oil in vain.
The natives who feel most affected
by this extraordinary heat dig q
gravelike hole in their novels or gar.
dens us u refreshing couch. This kind
OF living grave Is watered every
morning TO preserve It's freshness and
then covered with u close fitting mat
OF. fresh palm leaves. Toward IL
o'clock its temporary occupant sinks
into It, entirely naked, and shuts
himself up from the outside world to
pass the hottest hours In the indo.
lence OF a perfect quiet, reclining In
that tomb as We do in our ham,
mocks.
Beside the heat the flies and ants
are more than one can bear during
the day, while during the night one
is tormented to rage by thousands OF
mosquitoes or sleeps with the night
mare from fear of the scorpions. The
flies swarm In the daytime and the
fan Is constantly needed to drive
them away. When writing had
to cover my hands with gauze. When
eating they enter the ears, mouth
and nose: one eats, drinks and
breathes them; all food left un.
covered is spoiled by them. The sting
Of the scorpion Is especially danger.
Gus and often fatal during the canic.
ular days. These pedipalpi are found
in swarms among the ruins and In
the houses, which fact requires an
everyday search by the inmate DO.
fore going to sleep. This insoct
grows there to an extraordinary size
and Is sometimes seen three inches.
long. A long. glowing day, q warm
morning. IRE the general atmosphere.
cal feature In the summer, and the
tantalizing mirage can be seen daily
during that season.