Evening star., 1930-06-15
BY COUNT BYRON KHUN
DE PROROK.

y HATEVER the mission and OBJ
jectives of an exploration into the
I'M Sahara, and however successful or
TT fruitless may be the result. the
explorer, upon his return, faces
from the layman the ever present question:
What is the desert like?" rs 1T as fearsome
and dangerous pictured?"
Are the Arabs wild and treacherouS|
Some of the fairer questioners will invariably
lead up to the question of sheiks, their man
ners and customs, and the possibility OF LADY
being carried away into the desert on the back
of spirited Arab stallion. The first three
questions are natural and deserve extended
replYp especially since we are all world
travellers at heart even though much OF the
journeying must be done on the wings of
book while we sit at ease in some sheltered
fireside niche AS to the last question, OBJ
servation prompts the reply that those pro-
pounding it have, rule, no great reason
for alarm. The sheik, after all, is quite
clever fellow, and never blind.
sandstorm is thing which no desert
traveller may hope long to escape, and while 1t
provides one with experience quite out OF
the ordinary few indeed are they who ask
for an encore. The sandstorm most vivid in
my memory struck us upon the desolate, bone
streWn plateau that follows the left bank or
he Oed Mia Our caravan of motors had
been halted to make some repairs on one OF
the cars.
TT was a perfect day, with not a hint of
breeze and the sun was beating down
merciessly. There was not a sign to warn us
that sandStorm, in all its fury, was to close
that peaceful day-at least it had become
peaceful following the completion of repairs
We were lunching quietly in the dunes near
Bir Berkane, when suddenly from nowhere
came a gust of wind. One look was sufficient.
Quick" 1 shouted. 1--WE must get away at
and trv To
To,~ny mind the sandstorm is the most
horrible experience of all Sahara travel, save,
of course that dreaded horror, thirst. As
rule the storms begin with little or no warning,
and there is never enough time for preparation
of any kind. Swirling, gray-yelow masses OF
sand rise from the desert floor, obscuring the
horizon like an advancing blanket The air
becomes chokingly oppressive, so hot In fact,
as to resemble the draft that bites into your
face when the doors of oven are suddenly
opened.
We soon had the recalcitrant car headed for
the trail at top speed, with the wind rising
faster and faster and hotter and hotter behind
US. Particles of sand-the advance scouts
were already upon We at once put on our
sand glasses and wrapped around our faces as
many wells as possible.
We raced until the car came to a stop; the
trail which had been quite indefinite now
entirely obliterated and we lost sight of the
occasional small pillars of stone that mark the
Lfau LnrOugn the OuneS. we must not lose
the trail at this time. One of my companions,
Chapuis. the sand dog, and myself stepped from
the car in an effort to locate the trail We
advanced cautiously into the inferno of swirl
ing desert, making small signal cairns so to
find our way back. At one moment lost sight
Of the and unable to find my recently
erected markers, but luck was with me and 1
got back safely. In the meantime, however,
Chapuis had wandered off and disappeared into
the swirling sand among the dunes
was extremely anxious. Our water supply
nearly exhausted, as well as our food and
during the last few miles we had been re-
plenishing leaky radiator with drinking
water. 1t is strange how, in such a moment,
the thoughts go back to cool drinks that have
been enjoyed in the past. I have been caught
in many Skin-Searing sandstorms, and invari-
ably my thoughts turned to a cold bath and to
divers bars and restaurants where are to be
found many favorite drinks.
Upon the temperance of Chapuis at our
car, We decided 10 run no further risk in
searching for the trail but to make ourselves
as comfortable (dreadfully inappropriate
word) possible, hoping that we would not
be entirely buried under the advancing seas
of sand.
AS is often the case in t~a Sahara. the storm