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Show DESERT HEAT NOT ENERVATING Sahara, Bmng Perfectly Dry, Temperature Tempera-ture Seems Hardly Oppressivs. The Sahara is not at all as popular belief picture? It, a vast plain of moving mov-ing sand, dotted here and thero with fertile oases, somewhat like a leopard's leop-ard's skin. From Tunis westward It Is a vast depression of sand and clay not much above sea level, In somo parts perfectly level, In others hilly, with low depressions containing water saltier than tho sea, which cenerally evaporates, leaving a coating of brilliant bril-liant crystals which appear llko snow In the distance. The river from the Aures mountains on tho north servo to Irrigate the oases of tho Zlban; sometimes they flow abovo tho surface, but often below be-low It. Thero is a fascination about the desert that Is Indescribable and which none can understand unless they have spent several weeks with a caravan. At times the heat Is great, but being perfectly dry It does not enervato as a humid atmosphere does at a temperature forty degrees lower. Near n''Jday the desert appears to be a molten sea of dazzling, vibrating light. Now and then the mirage ap pears and tho tired eyes of the Strang er aro refreshed with visions of beautiful beau-tiful iiiites near the horizon, even sometimes of trees and moving caravans. cara-vans. Alas! this Is a case where seeing see-ing Is not nelleving. After many disappointments dis-appointments of this kind the camels suddenly raise their heads and snuff tho air through their curiously formed nostrils and move at a quicker pace. Instinct telling them that water is near. o |
