CARAVANS IN SAND STORMS. 363 



my girdle, and though not daring to dismiss from my mind 

 the fear of being buried beneath the deluge of sand, still 

 finally I dropped off to sleep, and my men imitated my 

 example. 



" When I awoke at daybreak, the great calm had re- 

 turned, the heaven had regained its clearness, and casting 

 my eyes around me I saw the camels covered up to their 

 necks in sand ; one of my camel drivers, who still slept, had 

 three inches of sand upon his chest, and I could no longer 

 find my sword which I had placed beside me, and which it 

 took me some time to find again." * 



The difficulties of caravans are often increased on 

 these occasions by stampedes among their camels, 

 which becoming frightened by the fury of the gusts, 

 and rendered frantic by the ceaseless hail of sand and 

 gravel beating upon them, are apt to break away, and 

 get lost in the darkness and confusion. These animals 

 have of course to be hunted up if possible the moment 

 the storm has abated, and the light returns. But as 

 the possibilities as to delays are limited according to 

 the quantity of water in possession of the party, and 

 their distance from the next watering place, consider- 

 able losses are not uncommon; for this reason among 

 others, according to Count D'Escayrac de Lauture, it 

 is always desirable to push on and continue the march 

 as long as it is possible to guide the caravan in the 

 right direction, the party keeping together as closely 

 as possible, so as not to become separated from each 

 other, because all traces of the trail, are, of course, 

 instantly obliterated by the drifting sand, f The camels, 

 however, are always very unwilling to face the wind 



* Le Desert et Le Soudan, par M. Le Comte D'Escayrac de Lauture, 

 Paris, 1853, pp. 3940. 

 f Ibid., pp. 48 9. 



