On one side, as far as the eye could see, stretched barren wastes studded here and there with pools of water; and in front of him flowed the greenish waters of the wide river.

In the spring, a putrid odour arose from the damp sod.

Then fierce gales lifted clouds of dust that blew everywhere, even settling in the water and in one's mouth.

A little later swarms of mosquitoes appeared, whose buzzing and stinging continued night and day.
After that, came frightful frosts which communicated a stone-like rigidity to everything and inspired one with an insane desire for meat.

Months passed when Julian never saw a human being.