COLOURED GLASSES FOR SUN GLARE. 377 



shows that the human frame is a bad indicator as to 

 actual temperature, because the heat of the rays of 

 the setting sun are really far less powerful than those 

 of the sun in the meridian. The closing in of night, 

 however, brings instant and complete relief from all these 

 troubles and proves a welcome blessing to the wayfarer. 



Travellers will find coloured glasses, or goggles, a 

 great relief to the eyes, from the refraction of the 

 sun's fiery glare. They actually seem to make it feel 

 less hot. Though less restful, neutral tint glasses have 

 the advantage over the deeper coloured kinds of not 

 interfering with seeing; blue has been found a better 

 tint than green as a rest to the sight. It would be 

 too long to consider here the much debated question 

 of the best means of protecting the head, spine, etc., 

 from the sun during desert marches, which is an art 

 in itself. 



We may, however, just briefly mention that the best 

 of all head-dresses for Europeans in our opiniofi is the 

 Indian pith or Sola-reed helmet which, being very light, 

 should be quite half an inch thick; while the spine 

 should be protected by a thick pad of cotton, sewn to 

 the clothes down the centre of the back. A loose 

 white Arab " burnous " (a species of short cloak), which 

 hangs from the shoulders, affords considerable protection 

 from the sun. This burnous has a hood which can be 

 drawn over the head at the will of the wearer. The 

 Bedouin dress always comprises a turban and burnous 

 fitted with a hood of this description, the head being 

 further protected by a thick rope of camel's hair wound 

 around the temples. A " cummerbund " or waist girdle 

 is also useful to protect the stomach, and to afford 

 support to the back during the fatigue of camel riding. 



