141 



quality of this wind is its extreme aridity, which 

 is such, that water sprinkled on the floor evapo- 

 rates in a few minutes. 



Dr. Clarke, in his second volume, p. 405, 

 mentions this wind ; and although he does not 

 present us with a picture so full of horror, yet 

 describes its effects as sufficiently terrifying. 

 " Upon our arrival in the camp, we found the 

 general in a large green tent, open all round, 

 and affording very little shelter from the heat, 

 as the Simoom was at that time blowing, and 

 far more insufferable than the sun. Its parching 

 influence pervades all places alike ; and coming 

 as from a furnace it seemed to threaten us all 

 with suffocation. The author was the first who 

 sustained serious injury from the fiery blast, 

 being attacked with giddiness, accompanied 

 with burning thirst. Head-ache, and frequent 

 fits of shivering ensued ; and these ended in 

 violent fever." 



t 



THE BEAVER. 



The Beaver seems to be now the only remain- 

 ing monument of brutal society. From the re- 

 sult of its labours, which are still to be seen in 



