St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-02-04
A Sand Storm In the Desert.

r. Talbot Kelly writes and illustrates
an article entitled my Bedouin Friends"
tor the February Century. Mr.. Kelly
says oil the dreaded sand.storm
The air is hot and sulphurous, while
the sun becomes lurid and sickly in its
glare. At first the hot wind comes III
slight puffs; like breaths from kiln; but
each moment it increases in velocity,
carrying with it more and more fine
DRIFT sand, which, binding the eyes and
choking the lungs gradually produces
most distressing fee ling otdepression and
suffoca,ion. By degrees, as the storm
gains strength, little splinters oil rock
and small pebbles are lifted up and
hurled at one like hailstones, cutting the
skin like knives, until eyes and ears are
full oil blood, unless one has been able to
protect himself against the blast. The
native cu6a. or silk scarf, wrapped round
the head and face. and leaving only the
eyes exposed. is the most effective pro-
lection; but the heat is suffocating, and
quickly reduces one to impotence. AS
the storm continues perhaps for several
days, the sun becomes totally obscured,
while the ever-moving sand gradually
doSthNS thS oPPNuiouSN Va .,
threatening to overwhelm everything.
Nothing can be distinctly seen above or
around; and the moving sand.driits,
splashing and breaking like surf upon
rocks. are slowly but surely enveloping
everything in camp, and plling up tons
Of drift against tents and baggage.
Camp, quipage is hastily packed and
loaded upon the terror.stricken animals,
and the party starts to ride obliquely
through the storm toward the nearest
high ground or mountain spur. To re-
main still means to be covered and en-
tombed. Even should water.skins not
be cracked and dried up, in any attempts
to drink the sufferer absorbs as much
dust as water, and his plight is worse
than before. Eating is out Of the ques-
ton; smoking is equally impossible.
Forty.eight hours have ridden in such
circumstances, changing horses from time
to time as they became too much dis
tressed for further use, and until had
hardly power 10 mount. After such a
ride as this it may well be imagined how
we relished our first halt in the shelter of
friendly hill, and enjoyed the luxury Of
dish OF sour milk, and, above all,
smoke.
Fortunately, the khamsin, though sup.
posed TO last for fifty days. is intermit-
tent in its energy. three days blow being
usually followed by few fine days; and,
as rule, its violence is not sufficient to
be source of danger. AS sho wing the
velocity oil wind sometimes attained, /
remember seeing in the Delta palm.tree,
probably sixty feet in height, bent over
by the wind until its crest swept the
ground and excavated a large hole in
the course ofthe day. Besides the khan.
sin. there are other forms of sand.storm.
which. though of shorter duration. come
with suddenness and vehemence that
almost defy protection. The most curl
Gus of these is perhaps what is locally
called "a devil"-a suddt gust of wind
eddying down the mountain gorges, and
bursting on the desert like a whirl-
wind, carrying pillars of sand with it.
Another curious phase of the sand.
storm is one that l exp. rienced in the
Libyan desert. The weather was per-
fectly fine, and l was working comforta.
bly, at my picture, when suddenly l no.
ticed in the horizon what appeared to be
a cloud, black in its upper region and
orange below. Before had time to
realize what was happening, blast Of
cold wind whirled away picture and
easel and enveloped me in dust and fly
ing pebbles. A moment later dust had
turned to dropping mud, which in turn
gave place to torrential rain, drenching
me to the skin, and effectually washing
the sand out Of my system after that
were peace and genial sunshine once
more.