Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-16
BY DONALD r. C. CAMERON.


DON after sunrise the dreary march
over this terrible stretch of desolatIon
was resumed. BY o'clock in the aft
ernoon I was beginning to feel deS-
- perate-very thirsty and exhausted
Except for a short period of not more than an
hour each day, when rode one of the baggage
.canlels had walked the whole distance, and
this combined with the fact that / had eaten
practically nothing since we had been on the
short water ration. beginning to have its
effect.
Then we discovered the skeleton of a camel
That meant that others had passed that way
Farther on was small patch of tufted grass
which we found to be growing in shallow
water course. Searching along it, we perceived
several other similar patches. Our quest for
pasture, at any rate was ended, but the most
hopeful discovery that faint track could
be discerned following the bed of the water
course
That night more cheerful and hopeful spirit
pervaded the party. Atahair, the guide, was
bubbIing over with optimism and Swore by all
he knew that we we're on the Katelet-Tighighi
track and should reach the latter place by
noon the next day. If we did not, he said,
could slay him. Little did ne realize. perhaps,
the many occasions which had felt like
doing sol
THE better outlook and Atahair's optimistic
prophecy brought forth q request from
Sakari for an extra ration Of water. but had
10 tell the men bluntly that did not share the
guides views and therefore thought it wiser to
keep to the same ration. did not wish them
to become too elated for should the next day
find us no better Off-a contingency for which
I was fully prepared knew that their dis
appointment would be correspOndingly great
They all seemed to understand and made no
further request. When was giving out the
water, however, I fancy did give them little
extra full mug instead of q nearly fun one
1t was only then that realized that it was
almost. impossible for the natives to eat any,
thing at all. Their food consisted mostly of
Hour and grain, which must be cooked in order
to be eaten-but in order to cook it you must
have water, the one thing we had not got
The small daily allowance was insufficient for
drinking purposes, let alone for cooking.
PROM now onward, therefore, they shared
my own stores but biscuits, chocolate, and
. tiny tin of bully-beef or timed salmon did
mot give them the same satisfaction as their
own stodgy food. with which they liked to NIL
themselves When one is suffering from thirst
n Is impossible to eat much, and the lack
of nourishment soon had o very weakening
effect ON the whole party
Following the line of the water course next
morning. tracks were plainly visible In places
which were not too sandy: the increasing
amount of vegetation also raised our hopes
6ut CktcTS was no Watef
measure that had resolved 70 adopt when
the situation began to look desperate was that
of sending Atahair OF on his strong riding
camel to scout ahead Of US as far as he could
until he did find something II he proved sue
cessful in his quest, he was to bring back water
in the skins he would take with him. His
camel was still quite strong, and he himself
being Tuareg, accustomed to long rides and
existing on little water for long periods, was
capable Of greater endurance than the re-
mainder of the party. ..., H.. .-..
1 decided to put this plan into operation
rather prematurely by reason of o suggestion
of the same nature that Sakari made. His idea
was that he should go with Atahair riding be-
hind him the riding camel. The natives
distrusted the guide and feared that unless
watched he might go of and never return
To q certain extent shared this distruSt
myself. ~.
Il was doubtful, however, whether Sakari,s
power of endurance would prove anything like
equal to Atahairs, and accordingly told him
that we had better risk the latter deserving us
as did not think that he (SakarD could
stand the strain of an exhausting ride on SO
little water. But he insisted that he was quite
strong enough, and showed such keenness that
I finally gave in The pair started OF by moon
light that night, taking with them some bis
cults and timed food and the equivalent of
two fun mugs of water.
We set off after them in the morning as fast
as our weary camelsi would allow. We had not
travelled very long when 1t was found that the
guide had picked up the tracks of four other
camelS they did not look more than two or