The Land of Midian (Revisited) Volume II Part 25

Noon. 26.70 82 - Under rock. Pleasant sea-breeze from north-east. Sun hot; day quite clear.

3p.m. 26.76 86 3 Shade of rock, summit of outlier. Strong wind from west.

Mean of two observations on summit of outlier, 26.79 = 3,200 feet above sea- level.

EN ROUTE TO THE COAST.

Mar. 17. 9a.m. 28.36 80 3 Under tree. Very hot sun that tired all.

Breeze at 8.30 a.m.

11a.m. 28.76(?)93 - Same place. At summit of Pa.s.s el-Kuwayd, aneroid 28.13; in Wady Kuwayd, 28.20. Very small descent to 28.50, say 400 feet.

3.40p.m. 28.65 90 -9 In big tent.

ON THE RETURN MARCH TO SHARM YaHaRR.

Mar. 18. 4.20am 28.63 73 -4 Complete change of climate. No Khamsin to- day. Fine sea-breeze in puffes at 9:30 a.m.; came up strong about noon.

11.45am 29.43 91 5 Under tree in Wady el-Bayza.

On March 17th began what our Egyptians called the Khamsin, and the Arabs El- Dufun (Bedawin, Dafun) generically; and specifically Dufun el-Surayya ("of the Pleiades""). Sky dark without clouds. At night, yellow clouds over moon. Gusts alternately hot and cold. Highly electrical; few could sleep at night. Tents left open. It was followed by damp and gloomy weather, which the Arabs attribute to the Intikal el-Shams ("vernal equinox"). This began on March 19th, and lasted till the 22nd. Aneroid falls lower than we have yet seen it.

OBSERVATIONS TAKEN ON BOARD SCREW-STEAMER "SINNaR," BETWEEN MARCH 18 AND MARCH 20, 1878.

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

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

Mar. 18. 3p.m. 29.91 84 - - 24 In main cabin. A few light clouds.

Mar. 19. 7a.m. 29.83 - 70 64 - Under deck awning. Morning still, calm, and muggy. Clouds everywhere. Presently cool land-breeze came up. Regular Khamsin at eight a.m.

Noon. 29.80 - 79 71 - In captain's cabin. Cloudy and cool.

3p.m. 29.76 - 79 70 - In captain's cabin. Afternoon sultry. Wind Azyab, and from south. Seems to threaten a storm. Heavy clouds from west and north-west.

Mar. 20. 7a.m. 29.82 - 75 71 - In captain's cabin. Sultry, "juicy" morning.

Noon. 29.75 - 76 70 - Dark and cloudy. Cool wind from south-west.

4p.m. 29.80 - 76 68 - In captain's cabin. Sultry air; no breeze; nasty and damp. Cloudy all over. A storm somewhere (Alexandria? Suez?).

Swell on sea, breaking on south reef; comes from north- west. Weather looks like that of Europe.

About eight p.m. a cool draught from north. No moon or stars. Expect it to end either in a gale or in heavy rain. It ended on morning of March 22nd, with a fine north wind; and at 9.10 p.m. with slight earthquake.

OBSERVATIONS TAKEN ON BOARD SCREW-STEAMER "SINNaR," DURING VOYAGE FROM SHARM YaHaRR TO EL-WIJH, EL-HAURa, ETC., BETWEEN MARCH 21 AND MARCH 29, 1878.

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

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

STEAMING SOUTH.

Mar. 21. 7a.m. 29.76 - 75 71 - In captain's cabin. Aneroid very low. Wind south-west.

Ugly, gloomy weather.

Mountains misty. Very slight roll in sea--became heavy in afternoon--mar vecchio (Bahr madfun). Bursts of half sun after nine a.m.

12.40p.m.29.84 - 77 71 - Aneroid rising. At noon sea quite calm and oily. Shortly after, sea-breeze from west set in. About one p.m. made sail; rolling began. More sun.

Sails down. At two p m.

rolling heavy, cross sea (mar vecchio).

3.30p.m. 29.85 - 76 73 - Damp increases.

After five p.m. sky clearer and weather finer, but still dark to south. Stars veiled.

IN MARSa DUMAYGHAH.

Mar. 22. 6.15a.m. 29.92 - 73 66 - In cabin. Morning cool. Wind north. Total change of weather. Sky clear, except cirri, and wind increased.

White "horses" outside. All nature gay.

Noon. 30.01 - 79 65 - In cabin. Damp disappeared.

3p.m. 30.90 - 74 64 - Fine, strong, bright sea- breeze. North wind, threatening to blow hard.

Cloudy and clear. Windy sky.

At 9.10 p.m. earthquake from north to south; lasted twenty seconds; followed by strong north wind, which lasted only a short time. So end the Equinoctials.

Mar. 23. 6a.m. 30.00 - 70 61 - At Dumayghah. In cabin.

Glorious morning; cool, calm, bright. Zephyr from north. At noon a few wind-clouds and cirri to north and west. Very heavy rolling (mar vecchio) from north-west. Long waves.

3p.m. 29.98 - 74 65 - At El-Wijh. Pleasant, cool north wind. Afternoon cloudy and cold, as if wind came through rain.

Cleared in the evening. Saw stars.

AT EL-WIJH, IN PORT.

Mar. 24. 5.45a.m. 29.94 - 71 68 - In cabin. Grey, cloudy morning. No cold.