The Land of Midian (Revisited) Volume II Part 23

3p.m. 26.26 66 -2 In big tent on Hisma plateau (short descent to camping-ground). Air clear; sun hot.

Very cold when sun sets. Gusts from east at night.

ON HIMSa PLATEAU.

Feb. 25. 6.30a.m. 26.30 42 3 In big tent.

12.30p.m.27.84 74 12 At foot of Khuraytat el-Jils. Still, no wind; no clouds.

3.30p.m. 27.83 78 17 No wind; no clouds.

Night splendidly clear and still. Felt warm.

Feb. 26. 6a.m. 27.72 64 2 In big tent on Hisma plateau. Glorious orange-coloured dawn. Mild north wind.

Moon in last quarter. At eight a.m. good breeze from north; at eleven a.m. cool and pleasant breeze from east.

Noon. 28.00 70 -8 On march in Shafah Mountains. Hot sun.

Cold wind.

3p.m. 28.30 85 -4 Camp Majra el-Ruways. In small tent.

Strong west breeze in gusts.

Night glorious at foot of the two Pa.s.ses.

Feb. 27. 6a.m. 28.10 65 -4 On ground outside tent at Majra el-Ruways.

Sky overhead quite clear; a few flecks to south, low clouds to east. At 8.30 a.m.

wind south. Sun at first hot; then sky cloudy.

11.45a.m.28.48 80 3 At El-Rahabah, head of Wady Damah, under tree. Fine sea-breeze. High white strata to north-east and south. No clouds elsewhere.

5p.m. 28.56 76 -5 Under thorn-tree at Wady Damah. Fleeting cirro-c.u.muli.

Night very cold. Not a sign of dew till we returned on board Mukhbir.

Feb. 28. 6a.m. 28.50 44 -5 At Wady Damah, on box in open. Clouds and sea-breeze at 8.45 a.m.

1p.m. 28.29 70 19 Under tree at Shuwak ruin. Thermometer in sun, 82 degrees. Bits of c.u.muli from south. At two p.m. furious wind and dust (sand-devils) scouring up valley from south, also deflected to west by Pa.s.s gorge. "Sand-devils" in Wadys Surr, Sadr, Damah, Shuwak, and Salma.

3p.m. 28.19 71 16 In big tent.

A few gusts during early part of night; the rest very still. Cold and clear.

AT SHUWaK RUIN.

Mar. 1. 6.45a.m. 25.30 46 10 Very cold; hands chilled. Land-breeze at eight a.m. At barrage (dam), aneroid 28.36.

Noon. 28.37 76 17 In small tent. Noon hot. Wind gusty--not regular and strong as yesterday.

3p.m. 28.34 77 6 In small tent. Sky clear; air still and sultry.

Mar. 2. 6a.m. 28.30 58 11 In big tent at Shuwak. Air still. Clouds to east. Afterwards sky mottled, windy striae. At seven a.m. rainbow without rain; thin cloud north of sun; perpendicular streak, brilliant enough: lasted twenty minutes.

9a.m. 28.75 66 - At s.h.a.ghab ruin. Sea-breeze at eleven a.m.

Clear and cool. Day slightly cloudy; sun partly hidden.

3p.m. 28.60 86 15 In big tent at Majra el-Waghir. Mild sea- breeze. Hot sun. High clouds.

Night windless, except few occasional gusts. Stars veiled. Grand zodiacal light (now the regular thing). Cool and pleasant.

Mar. 3. 6a.m. 28.55 66 14 At Majra el-Waghir, outside tent. Sky cloudy; mist to north, "mackerel's back"

to east. Sea-breeze at 9.30 a.m. in Wady Damah.

Noon. 29.13 75 26 Under tree in Wady Damah. Cool wind from south-west. A few clouds, getting gradually darker to west and south-west.

4p.m. 29.20 78 15 At El-Kutayyifah (camp) under a tree. Cool south-west wind.

6a.m. 29.30 63 16 Cold north wind. Sea-breeze at nine a.m, In big tent at El-Kutayyifab.

Mar. 4. 11.30a.m. 29.33 68 11 In shade of rock, Umm amil.

4p.m. 29.63 80 10 In small tent at Ma el-Badi'h, Wady Salma.

Cold, stiff gale: dust-laden sea-breeze up the ugly gorge.

5.45a.m. 29.50 60 13 At Ma el-Badi'h, on box in open air. Air clear; thin threads to south.

Mar. 5. 12.30p.m. 30.06 84 -3 At Ziba, in big tent, open east and west, fronting the bay.

2.45p.m. 30.00 82 4 At Ziba, in small tent.

AT ZIBa, IN CAMP (our second halt).

Mar. 6. 6a.m. 29.92 61 15 In big tent. Rather heavy clouds to east and elsewhere. Sea-breeze began at ten a.m.

Noon. 30.04 86 10 In big tent. Air dull and heavy. "Rain- sun."

3.45p.m. 30.00 81 3 Sky quite clear.

Storm at sunset. Heavy clouds rising over arch from west to north: all said meant wind. At seven p.m. violent gusty gale; nearly blew down tents. Rushing and furious rain from north-west. Gusts lasted long. Fell about eleven p.m.

Rose again very violently at midnight; then blew itself out. Followed by cold air. Rain lasted about one hour; damped the ground, and left deep puddles in the rock-hollows.

Never had thunder and lightning in Midian.

Mar. 7. 6a.m. 31.12 58 15 At Ziba, on box. Cold and clear. A few clouds to west.

11.30a.m.29.96 74 19 At Jebel el Ghal, in shade in the open.

Fine west wind.

Night and morning cold. On summit of Jebel el-Ghal, aneroid 29.75.

Mar. 8. 6a.m. 30.04 51 11 At Mayat el-Ghal (camp), on box.