CLIMATE. 45 



§ 33. Sand- Storms. — In the Colorado Desert, and in some 

 other districts in the southern part of the state, sand-storms, 

 similar to the simooms of Africa, but not so dangerous, occa- 

 sionally occur. The sand, which forms the greater portion of 

 the soil, unprotected by sod, vegetation, or moisture, is swept 

 away in dense clouds by every high wind, and carried many 

 miles, a terror to man and beast. The storm stops the trav- 

 eller, because he dare not open his eyes to the little liinty par- 

 tides; nor can he eat, for the dust covers his food and fills his 

 mouth: and even in the most tightly-built houses the sand 

 penetrates and fills the air. 



A newspaper correspondent speaks thus of a Colorado sand- 

 storm : 



"Should the traveller happen to encounter a sand-storm, 

 however, he may not get along so smoothly. A huge, black 

 cloud, rising from the western horizon, warns him of its ap- 

 proach. Rapidly it spreads over the sky, darkens the sun, 

 and the fine particles of sand are swept before the gale in a 

 dense and sufibcating cloud ; even the larger gravel and peb- 

 bles are sometimes lifted from the plain and carried like hail 

 before the force of the blast. The horses are blinded, para- 

 lyzed with fear, and no urging can induce them to go forward. 

 Were it otherwise, to go on would be folly ; the road and sun 

 are hid from view ; no landmarks by which to be guided — 

 safety bids you remain. The traces are unhitched, and the 

 horses tethered to the wagon ; the only course is to securely 

 fasten down the sides to the wagon-top, and wait with what 

 patience one can command until the storm has passed, which 

 will be, doubtless, in from six to ten hours. 



"Once the stage encountered a sand-storm while within 

 three hundred yards of a station ; the horses could not be in- 

 duced to move, and there was no remedy but to stay by them 

 till the gale had spent its force, though the station was even 

 in sight. 



" T have found such a storm sufiiciently disagreeable while 

 housed by the river-side, the fine sand penetrathig everywhere, 



