The Land of Midian (Revisited) Volume II Part 16

The winter presents a marvellous contrast to that of England, which can often show one hour and five minutes' sunlight in the twenty-four, or 2.8 per cent. of its possible duration.

THE TIDES

In El-'Akabah are like Suez: first of month, flood, 6--12 a.m. and p.m.; ebb, the rest. But at Suez the tides rise one metre, and at times two metres; at El-'Akabah (February 7), one foot.

For the instruments NOT used in this Expedition, see Chap. I. p. 11.

The barometre aneroid sold by M. Ebner was partially repaired by M. Lacaze, and served for Mr. David Duguid's observations.

My pocket set by Casella (maker to the Admiralty and Ordnance) consisted of--

One watch aneroid (compensated, 1182).

Two sets wet and dry bulb thermometers (one broken).

One set maxima and minima thermometers, Nos. 12,877 and 12,906.

Two pocket hygrometers not numbered.

OBSERVATIONS TAKEN DURING FIRST MARCH BETWEEN DECEMBER 19, 1877, AND FEBRUARY 18, 1878

December 19, 1877, compared ship's (Mukhbir) mercurial barometer, 758 millimetres, with my aneroid by Casella (29.85) = 765 millimetres; difference in ship's, + 007 millimetre.

January 31, 1878, returned on board Mukhbir at Makna. Ship's mercurial barometer, 773 millimetres; my aneroid by Casella, 764 millimetres; difference in ship's, + 009 millimetre.

Date. Time. Aneroid Aneroid Ther. Dry Wet Hygr. Remarks.

Inches. Milli. (deg.)Bulb. Bulb.(deg.)

Dec. 19. 7a.m. 29.85 765 76 - - 58 On deck of gunboat Mukhbir, at Sharm Yaharr, steaming to El- Muwaylah. Morning ugly.

Strong land-breeze, turned to Azyab ("south- easter"). Waves rising.

Dark-blue clouds to windward.

Noon. 29.80 757 77 - - 54 In big tent on sh.o.r.e, open east and west. Wind high. Everything feels damp; looks gloomy; mountains almost hidden by clouds. Landscape that of Europe. No sun nor sunshine all day.

3p.m. 29.09 - 86 - - 51 In my small tent.

Clearing to windward (north). Wind veering to north. Moon nearly full.

High fleecy clouds. Sea high. No sun all day.

Azyab (the wet wind) generally lasts two or three days; veers round by west to north. Much rain has already fallen (Arab lies). Land green (all brown); gra.s.s plentiful (not a blade to be seen). Rains here December 15th to February 15th; downfall one hour to four hours, then clears. On December 8th, violent rain for one hour; filled all the torrents (Sayl).

Dec. 20. 7a.m. 29.80 758 63 - - 40 In small tent open to east. Morning clear. Few fleecy clouds: cool and bright. "Misri" from north-west; cold and rain.

3p.m. 29.92 759 78 - - 32 Hot in tents, cool in breeze. "Misri" high and strong sea. At 1.10 p.m.

heavy clouds; expected rain--few heavy drops.

AT EL-MUWAYLAH AND RAS WADY TIRYAM.

Dec. 21. 6.35a.m. 30.02 763 71 - - 35 Inside tent. Full moon and clear. Dawn, 6 a.m.; night, 6.30. Speckled clouds.

Noon. 30.48 764 76 - - 48 Under umbrella. Air clear. Mottled clouds on mountains. Sea horizon.

Low white bank of clouds.

3p.m. 30.05 763 77 - - 39 "Misri." High cirri from west. Big black cloud over sea. Suspected rain: Arabs said no.

Cloud dispersed.

AT RAS WADY TIRYAM.

Dec. 22. 7a.m. 30.01 760 57 - - 32 Cold night. Clear morning. Cold sunrise.

Dry north-wester.

Instruments on paper, resting on the sand.

Very dry.

Noon. 30.14 - 82 - - 22 Very dry. Straight streaks of cirri everywhere.

4p.m. 30.00 763 72 - - 17 At Wady Sharma, on sand protected from west wind. Bright moon, showed halo.

Kayhak 14 begins the Coptic winter, properly speaking evening of 13th; after sunset 1 hour 51 minutes. Sea-breeze and land-winds regular to-day and throughout the month.

AT WADY SHARMa.

Dec. 23. 7a.m. 29.90 760 58 - - 19 Instruments on box standing on sand. Moon with halo at night. Red sunrise, grey clouds.

Mountains blue-grey, brightly defined. Before dawn moon two halos, large and small. Fleecy clouds. Nine a.m. clear, sun hot.

2.30p.m. 29.15 740 78 - - 25 Under rock in upper Wady Sharma. Streaky cirri.

Sun hot; air cool.

Little sea-breeze, kept off by hills.

Arrived at the "White Mountain," and stayed there a week.

4p.m. 29.12 740 75 - - 28 At Jebel el-Abyaz, on box behind tent sheltered from wind. Air quite still; streaky cirri. Camp Jebel el- Abyaz, say, 800 feet above sea. Felt very dry.

AT JEBEL EL-ABYAZ.

Dec. 24 7a.m. 29.10 738 61 - - 29 In mess tent on mess table. Cold. Mottled clouds east and zenith.

Grey bank to sea reddened by sunrise, like storm clouds. Rain here from Azyab ("south- east"). Sunrise at Cairo, 6.55 a.m.

Noon. 29.00 737 64 63 55 33 Suspended instruments.

Grey day: cold breeze from east. Cold comes only from wind; when no breeze, very mild.

Getting greyer and colder. Very like rain-- heavey clouds.

3.10p.m. 29.00 737 64 64 52 28 Wind west, cold and raw.

Air grey and cold.

Evening cold; clouds dispersed, sun came out.

Wind to west, inclining to north.

Small thermometer shows higher than Casellas because in bra.s.s case; not so well exposed to air.