The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-24

Next TO the work OF Nansen. that OF
DR.. sven Hedin is the most picturesque
and important that has been accom-
plished OF late years. Dr. liedin Is a
Swede, native OF Stockholm and
still In the prime OF early manhood.
Ever since he was child his absorb
ing passion has been geography. and
he has studied under the best masters
including the greatest. Baron RIGHT
hofen. OF Berlin. AS a preparative for
scientific research he made three pre-
liminary Journeys into Asia, and In
1898 started on his trip through Asia.
an account OF which appears I'm the
October number OF Harper's Magazine
and later. probably I'm October. his book
Through Asia" will be published.
In his trip he travelled a distance Of
nearly 1900 miles, OF which nearly
1900 miles led through absolutely un-
known regions. His adventures We're
so many and varied that here we have
but space enough to mention the cross
ing OF the desert of Takla- Makan-an
experience so raclSing To every faculty
of body and mind that few men could
have lived through IL. His command
consisted OF four men, camels. two
dogs. three sheep. ten hens and a cock.
During the first thirteen days every
thing went finely. The following day
n well was dug as usual. but produced
no water. and IL was then that he
learned that his men had not taken
water enough for ten days. as he had
| ordered. but merely enough for four
days. Kasim. the desert man." said.
however that they would strike water
in four days: and as his statements
corresponded with the maps they con-
| tinued blindly on towards the waste.
Every sign OF life had now dsap-
peared, not evtn a fly buzzed I'm the air.
and an ocean OF sand stretched out on
all sides without a point upon which to
rest the eyes. They marched on. but
without finding any signs of water.
Their little supply was rapidly being
exhausted. and the men and animals
becoming weak. First a large black
camel fell sick and refused to go on.
His LOAD was distributed among the
others. but during that same day an
other camel gave M. and II was nee
essary To leave behind various things
that could be suared. Then more cam
els died. and soon IL was on'v matter
as to who would hold out. II some one
fell the others wondere merely whose
turn would be next. On and on they
pushed until only DR.. HeSin and the
desert man" We're left For ten days
they were without food. and for nine
without water. Then the desert man"
his article, set out alone through the
trees towards the east. crept through
the bushes. tore NV clothing. and after
an hour reached q level plain where the
trees ended as II they bad baen wiped
off bv fire. burrows and scattered tree
trunks BETRAYED that precisely this was
Ehotan- Deria's food-bed. but not n
drop OF water was to be seen. We had
come at exactly that time Of year when
the bed OF the river lies drv. awaiting
the summer floods from the noun
tains
I'm the esatime I went on In the
moonlight directly southeast. resting
awhile. and then continuing on. for q
distance creeping. i'm that ] felt an ire
sistible impulse forward. as " I were
led by an unseen hand. Presently
the dark tree line of the other bank
was distinguished. EVERYTHING be-
came more distinct There stood n
thick growth of bushes and reeds. and
fallen poplar lay near the Hood bed
] was not twenty nacns from the hank
when a waterfowl few up with a
whirrin beat Of the wings and n
splashing sound, and the next moment
I stood on the edge of n little pool
twenty metres long. OF fresh cold
splendid water.
What I first thought of before
drank the reader himself can but inn
agine. Then took the empty chocolst>
can. filed IL, nut IL to my lips. and
drank. How that water tasted cannot
he described. / drank. drank. drank.
ore can after another. I felt how tho
thick blood again flowed easily through
my veins: how my hands. which before
were shrivelIed up like pieces OF wood
swelled: how my skin became moist
ard perspired: how my whole BODY re-
ceived new life and new strength. There
was cracking in the bushes and the
reeds We're nushed aside. II might no
p tiger. but I did not care. since had
been given my life again"