The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-12
FOR THE THIRST STRICKEN.
Sample Information From an Almanac
Printed for the Sudan.


Printed for the Sudan.
An agricultural paper In this country
sends TO its readers every New Years
year book and almanac Of several hundred
pages packed with we'll selected and valu-
able information. The odd feature OF this
publication lies in the fact that It's compilers
think the farmers would like to know in
advance Just what the weather would be for
every day in the year and this supposed de-
sire is gratified by printing in the book
weather predictions for a year ahead.
Almanacs are printed in all countries to
meet the needs Of their Inhabitants. People
in other countries often desire information
that is very different from that which Is
more useful TO us and many OF the facts
given to them arc curious and interesting
This is illustrated by the Sudan almanac
for 1905, a copy OF which had just come to
this country.
This almanac is printed for the people OF
the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan a large part OF
whose inhabi'a ants. living in a northern
end drier portion OF that country, treasure
water as the most precious gift OF life. The
information about water and wells sup
piled by the almanac is naturally very
different from that found IN our works OF
reference.
They are told, for example. that they need
not be afraid of desert water. even though
IL may Ice muddy, for all water of the desert
is wholesome. If they find it brachsh'
however. they must not drink too Inuch
Of it.
Sometimes in parts OF the country they
will meet water that tastes 30 badly that
they cannot drink it even though suffering
from thirst. In such cases they will ind
considerable relief from thirst by miners
ing their arms in the water and keeping
them there for some minutes.
When they come across muddy well IL
Is good practice TO sink in II a large tin or
biscuit box perforated with small holes
and covered on the outside with COTTON
cloth, the top of the box remaining above
the surface Of the water. The cloth VIII
act as u strainer and the water IN the boA
will be comparatively free from mud.
When caravans need to know the number
OF gallons they can obtain from stream III
a minute they can ascertain 1t by multlply-
ing the area of a section Of the stream IN
feet by the velocity in feet per minute ana
this product by six and one-fourth.
Many travellers carry quantity OF water
with them, and they are informed thdt
a gallon of water weighs ten pounds and
cubic foot of water weighs lxty-two
pounds.
The minimum drinking water allow
ance for man should be one and one-haIf
gallons a day. A horse drinks six gallons
a day, one and onehalf gallons at a time
A camel drinks from twelve 10 eighteen
gallons at n time, and should, II possible,
be watered at least every other day.
1t is important for the people to know
what weight of baggage their pack animals
can safely carry. They are informed that
an average camel carries $50 pounds. a
Somali camel not more than 800 pounds,
exclusive of saddle; horse can draw In
fair country from 800 to 1000 pounds; a
pony can carry 100 TO $50 pounds a mule
from 100 to go pounds, and donkey 100
to $50 pounds.
Sheep or oxen in parts of the country
are taken along for rations. One sheep
makes thrty-fye and an OK 100 meat ra-
tons for day
Information is also given for the soldiers
who we're sent out from hhartum and
other centres now and then against re-
heilious tribes They are told that when
they make their thorn fences around the
night camps they should be careful not
to have the fence too near the camp. for
it may be fred by the enemy, to the great
| danger of the camp
A breastwork of twenty inches of loose
or thirty inches Of beaten sand will stop
a Remington bullet Many mud walls. on
/ the contrary. are merely a moral protec'
/ ton against rifle fire. In building breast
/ works in ordinary soil one man can ex
| cavate twenty-seven cubic feet of earth
| an hour for four hours. When digging
! breastworks the dRgers should De fllacec
| at five feet intervals.
The immediate inhaling of tobacco smoke
is often effective in stopping the symptoms
| OF sun stroke.
For long camel ride the waist and lower
| chest should be swathed fairly tight with
cloth bands to give support. No spirltuous
| LIQUOR should be drunk till after SHUTDOWN
and the less strong drinks taken the less
will insects worry and the quicker will
wounds heal To avert fever. mosquitoes
should be avoided. and therefore camps
should not be made near stagnant water.