Actually, I saw a documentary on the Discover Channel just last week that dealt with the 'whispering' sands phenomenon. Geologists discussed the properties of the sands and physical conditions that create such noises. So, apparently "The Singing Sands" is more than just a mystery novel by Josephine Tey. 

>>> [log in to unmask] 04/29/2002 10:24:40 AM >>>
Whispering sands, eh? Sounds like a legend if I ever heard one. No, it
reminds me of the "singing jars" of Malaysia. Museums even sent collectors
out to buy samples at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries. People
handed those singing jars down over centuries, yet once in the museum they
never sang again.

Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.