64 DESCRIPTION OF ARABIA. 



nates in convulsions and death. The carcasses of 

 the dead exhibit symptoms of immediate putrefac- 

 tion, similar to what is observed to take place on 

 bodies deprived of life by thunder, or the efifect of 

 electricity. 



When this pestilence visits towns or villages, the 

 inhabitants shut themselves up, the streets are de- 

 serted, and the silence of night everyAvhere reigns. 

 Travellers in the desert sometimes find a crevice in 

 the rocks ; but if remote from shelter, they must 

 abide the dreadful consequences. The only means 

 of escaping from these destructive blasts is to lie flat 

 on the ground until they pass over, as they always 

 move at a certain height in the atmosphere. Instmct 

 teaches even animals to bow down their heads, and 

 bury their nostrils in the sand. The danger is most 

 imminent when they blow in squalls, which raise 

 up clouds of sand in such quantities that it becomes 

 impossible to see to the distance of a few yards. In 

 these cases the traveller generally lies down on the lee 

 side of his camel ; but as the desert is soon blown up 

 to the level of its body, both are obliged frequently 

 to rise and replace themselves in a new position, in 

 order to avoid being entirely covered. In many 

 instances, however, from weariness, faintness, or 

 sleepiness, occasioned by the great heat, and often 

 from a feeling of despair, both men and animals 

 remain on the ground, and in twenty minutes they 

 are buried imder a load of sand. Caravans are some- 

 times swallowed up; and whole armies have per- 

 ished miserably in these inhospitable deserts. 



Such are the effects of these resistless whirlwinds ; 

 but the noxious qualities ascribed to them, though 

 pernicious to health, have certainly been exagger- 

 ated by credulous or ill-informed travellers. Their 

 deadly influence seems to arise solely fom heat 

 contracted in passing across burning wastes ; hence, 

 when suddenly inhaled, they occasion sickness and 

 suffocation, and even those livid appearances that 



