TwootherEnglishgentlemencrossedandrecrossedtheDesertaboutthesametime，andnearlyinthesamedirectionOnreturning，oneofthem，CaptainShelley，whileridingforwardonhorseback，losthimself，andwasobligedtofindhiswayalonetoKuruman，somehundredsofmilesdistantReachingthatstationshirtless，andasbrownasaGriqua，hewastakenforonebyMrsMoffat，andwasreceivedbyherwithasalutationinDutch，thatbeingthelanguagespokenbythispeopleHissufferingsmusthavebeenfarmoreseverethananyweenduredTheresultoftheexertionsofbothShelleyandMacabeistoprovethatthegeneralviewoftheDesertalwaysgivenbythenativeshasbeensubstantiallycorrect。
Occasionally，duringtheverydryseasonswhichsucceedourwinterandprecedeourrains，ahotwindblowsovertheDesertfromnorthtosouth。
Itfeelssomewhatasifitcamefromanoven，andseldomblowslongeratatimethanthreedaysItresemblesinitseffectstheharmattanofthenorthofAfrica，andatthetimethemissionariesfirstsettledinthecountry，thirty-fiveyearsago，itcameloadedwithfinereddish-coloredsandThoughnolongeraccompaniedbysand，itissodevoidofmoistureastocausethewoodofthebestseasonedEnglishboxesandfurnituretoshrink，sothateverywoodenarticlenotmadeinthecountryiswarped。
TheverlsoframrodsmadeinEnglandareloosened，andonreturningtoEuropefastenagainThiswindisinsuchanelectricstatethatabunchofostrichfeathersheldafewsecondsagainstitbecomesasstronglychargedasifattachedtoapowerfulelectricalmachine，andclaspstheadvancinghandwithasharpcracklingsound。
Whenthishotwindisblowing，andevenatothertimes，thepeculiarlystrongelectricalstateoftheatmospherecausesthemovementofanativeinhiskarosstoproducethereinastreamofsmallsparks。