THE SAHARAN RANGE 27 



From all accounts the Sahara is the bed of 

 a recent sea, but, possibly along its eastern 

 side, a horse range extended from the Soudan 

 to the shores of the Mediterranean. Such 

 range had not less than ten inches a year of 

 rainfall, carried by the sea breezes from sur- 

 rounding waters. There was moisture enough 

 for trees, and there are abundant traces of 

 quite recent timber. 



The winds were drying, the clouds were 

 burned out, the light was increasing to a 

 terrific strength, and the tussocks began to 

 fail. On the American range I have noticed 

 that these tall grasses, abundant only thirty 

 years ago, have become quite rare since the 

 pasture was overstocked. As the tall grasses 

 perished and streaks of naked desert crept into 

 the dying pasture, all hope of concealment for 

 horses was at an end, the brilliant striping 

 ceased to have any value, and the need for 

 speed outweighed the need for sleep. Three 

 and a half hours for sleep, standing, suffices 

 the modem horse. 



And as the cover vanished, every possible 

 military precaution became imperative against 

 surprise by lions. The gay striped painting 

 had become a danger, and whole colour was 

 the last chance of concealment for purposes 



