SAND STORMS. 
In the hot sandy deserts of Arabia, Africa, and other places, the wind 
from particular quarters is rendered hot and dry in passing over the 
heated surface of the sandy waste ; and when violent, it raises the sand 
in clouds sufficient to darken the air, or forms it into columns which 
move about like water-spouts in the desert. Such a storm is called 
Simoom in Arabia, and Sirocco in Africa. The Arabs are said to per- 
ceive its approach by a sulphurous smell, and an unusual redness in the 
quarter whence it comes. The sky, usually serene and cloudless, be- 
comes overcast; the whole atmosphere appears to be on fire; the dust 
and sand are carried high into the air, which assumes a reddish, or bluish, 
or yellowish tint, according to the nature and colour of the ground from 
which the dust arises. The yellow, however, always more or less pre- 
vails. In a stormy Simoom, witnessed by Burckhardt, he says that a 
pretty correct idea of the appearance of the air may be formed, in look- 
ing through a glass of a light yellow colour. During these storms the 
heat is very oppressive. Burckhardt has seen the thermometer stand at 
121° in the shade, and such is the dryness of the air, that water sprinkled 
on the ground is dried up in a few minutes. The most disagreeable 
effect of this hot air on man is, that it stops perspiration, dries up the 
palate, and produces great restlessness. 
When a Sand-storm overtakes travellers in the open desert, they some- 
times lie flat on the ground until it passes over, as these storms always 
move at a certain height in the atmosphere. The camels and other 
animals also bow down their heads and bury their nostrils in the sand. 
The danger is said to be greatest when the wind blows in squalls, which 
raise up so much sand that it is 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 in- 
stances, however, from weariness, faintness, or sleepiness, occasioned by 
the great heat, and often from a feeling of despair, both men and ani- 
mals remain on the ground, and in twenty minutes they are buried 
under a load of sand." The Simoom usually lasts three days, but if it 
exceed that time it becomes insupportable. In its less violent degree, 
it will blow for hours with little force although with oppressive heat. 
Mr. Buckingham describes one of these Sand-storms as commencing 
with a dull red mist, not unlike the sun-rise skies of northern climates ; 
and soon afterwards forming large columns of sand and dust which were 
whirled up into the air and carried along in a body over the plain with 
a slow and stately motion. " One of these, apparently from 80 to 100 
feet in diameter, was certainly of sufficient force by its constant 
whirling motion to throw both men and animals off their legs, so that 
if crossing a crowded caravan, and broken by the interruption of its 
course, the danger of suffocation to those buried beneath its fall would 
be very great." 
Such are the dangers of the desert, which remind us of those of the 
Swiss Alps, where the wind sometimes raises up the snow, and fills the 
air with it like a mist which the eye cannot penetrate. Travellers may 
be suffocated by these tourmentes, as they are called, as effectually as by 
the Sand-storms. 
Pillars of snow are also sometimes raised by the wind. Captain Lyon, 
while wintering in the Arctic Regions, noticed one moving over the ice. 
" The circumference of the column of loose snow which was drawn into 
the vortex of the whirlwind was at first very inconsiderable, but increas- 
ing rapidly, it assumed the appearance of a small water-spout." 
PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION, APPOINTED BY THE 
SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. 
Price frf. Plain ; 2d. Coloured. 
No. 29.] 
S. JiJSMKT, AND CO. PHLNTKU3, BANGOR HOUSE. SHOK LANE. 
