CLIMATE. 45 
§ 33. Sand-Storms.—In the Colorado Desert, and in some 
other districts in the southern part of the state, sand-storms, 
similar to the simooms of Africa, but not so dangerous, occa- 
sionally occur. The sand, which forms the greater portion of 
the soil, unprotected by sod, vegetation, or moisture, is swept 
away in dense clouds by every high wind, and carried many 
miles, a terror to man and beast. The storm stops the trav- 
eller, because he dare not open his eyes to the little flinty par- 
ticles; nor can he eat, for the dust covers his food and fills his 
mouth: and even in the most tightly-bufft houses the sand 
penetrates and fills the air. 
A newspaper correspondent speaks thus of a Colorado sand- 
storm: 
“Should the traveller happen to encounter a sand-storm, 
however, he may not get along so smoothly. <A huge, black 
cloud, rising from the western horizon, warns him of its ap- 
proach. Rapidly it spreads over the sky, darkens the sun, 
and the fine particles of sand are swept before the gale in a 
dense and suffocating cloud; even the larger gravel and peb- 
bles are sometimes lifted from the plain and carried like hail 
before the force of the blast. The horses are blinded, para- 
lyzed with fear, and uo urging can induce them to go forward. 
Were it otherwise, to go on would be folly; the road and sun 
are hid from view ; no landmarks by which to be guided— 
safety bids you remain. The traces are unhitched, and the 
horses tethered to the wagon; the only course is to securely 
fasten down the sides’ to the wagon-top, and wait with what 
patience one can command until the storm has passed, which 
will be, doubtless, in from six to ten hours. 
“Once the stage encountered a sand-storm while within 
three hundred yards of a station; the horses could not be in- 
duced to move, and there was no remedy but to stay by them 
till the gale had spent its force, though the station was even 
in sight. 
“T have found such a storm sufficiently disagreeable while 
housed by the river-side, the fine sand penetrating everywhere, 
