ABSTRACT
WITHtheonsetofSpringtherainshadentirelyceasedand,apart fromoccasionaldust-stormsandgales,theweatherwasidealfor flyingpurposes.Dust-stormswerenotfrequentontheTrucial OmanCoast,butwhentheydidoccurtheygaveusconsiderable troubleandcausedfairlylongdelaysintheservices.Wewerein thecentreofavastbeltofsandydesert,extendingfromNorth AfricainthewesttotheSindintheeast,andanywherewithin thisregionsand-anddust-stormsweretobeexpectedinthespring andsummermonths.Theiroriginseemstobesimilartothatofa whirlpoolortyphoon;massesofhotairriseinspiraldirections, creatingavacuuminthecentre.Theradiusofthesespiralsmay varyfromafewfeettoseveralhundredyards,andtheysuckthe toplayersofsandhighintotheair,whereitremainssuspendedfor hours;agaleoftenfollows,andseveralmilesofdesertmaybe darkenedbycloudsofsand.
