The Land of Midian (Revisited) Volume II Part 24

March 8th is the 30th (last day of) Ims.h.i.+r (February), 1094.

March 9th is the 1st of Barmahat (March). See Chap. I. p. 22.

In the early days of Barmahat they expect the Husum or violent wind which destroyed the tribe of Ad.

After seven nights and eight days begins the Bard el-Aguz, or "old man's cold."

On Barmahat 12 (March 20) is the Intikal el-Shams, or "vernal equinox;" after which the weather becomes warmer.

OBSERVATIONS TAKEN ON BOARD "MUKHBIR" IN SHARM YaHaRR, BETWEEN MARCH 8 AND MARCH 12, 1878.

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

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

Mar. 8. 12.40p.m.30.08 74 - - 18 Main cabin, Mukhbir.

Mar. 9. 7a.m. 30.10 20 69 62 - In cabin.

12.30p.m.30.13 73 72 64 - Quite clear. Fresh sea-breeze.

3p.m. 30.11 75 74 64 - Clouds white and streaky everywhere.

In the evening clouds on hills and mountains, especially the SHaRR; elsewhere clear. Red sunset, grand. At night dew heavy on board Mukhbir; gunwales wet in morning. Moon with kind of half halo round her. Night very hot--sign of coming storm.

At noon compared s.h.i.+p's (Mukhbir) mercurial barometer ......................... 773 millimetres.

With my aneroid by Casella .................. 765 millimetres.

And (Mr. Duguid's) aneroide ................. 765 millimetres.

Difference .................................. -008 millimetres.

On December 19, 1877, s.h.i.+p's difference ..... +007 millimetres.

Difference .................................. +001 millimetres.

Mar. 10. 6.30p.m. 30.12 73 69 61 - In cabin. Clouds on SHaRR like flights of birds, low-lying banks to south. Morning slightly muggy: no breeze.

Noon. 30.12 76 75 60 - In cabin. Gentle sea-breeze.

Sky quite clear.

3p.m. 30.11 76 76 66 - Cool, pleasant sea-breeze.

Fine night, pleasant and cool.

Mar. 11. 6a.m. 30.10 73 68 65 - In cabin. Splendid morning.

Noon. 30.10 - 80 64 - In cabin. Glorious day; sea- breeze cool and fresh.

3.30p.m. 30.05 78 77 65 - In cabin. Sea-breeze lively and strong.

Mar. 12. 7a.m. 30.04 - 67 61 - In cabin. Warmish. Splendid sunrise on SHaRR; cold to north, warmer tints in centre, and glowing red-yellow flush to south.

3p.m. 30.03 78 77 70 - In cabin. Fine cool sea- breeze.

Tides high and low (March) pier shows difference of three feet in rise, about the midlength of Sharm Yaharr.

OBSERVATIONS TAKEN DURING EXCURSION (SECOND MARCH) ON AND AROUND THE SHaRR MOUNTAIN, BETWEEN WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, AND MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1878.

The distance traversed comprised 59 miles.

On return compared aneroids:-- French (left on board Mukhbir) .... 758 millimetres.

My Casella ........................ 756 "

Difference ........................ 002 "

Date. Time. Aneroid Ther. Hygr. Remarks.

Inches. (deg.)(deg.)

Mar. 13. 6.20a.m. 29.96 66 23 On deck of Mukhbir. Cool land-breeze; hot at nine a.m. Sea-breeze at 10.45. At Wady Sanawiyyah aneroid 29.60.

3p.m. 29.26 82 13 Under tree (acacia, but shady). Grand sea- breeze from one to three p.m.

Warm night under the SHaRR, stones retaining heat. Moon misty. Very heavy dew, like rain; wetted boxes; saw for the first time inland. Will last for some three months, and must greatly a.s.sist vegetation.

Mar. 14. 6a.m. 29.30 68 28 In big tent. All the sky clouded over as if rain coming. Sea-breeze 10.30.

Noon. 29.60 88 28 Camp at Safh Wady Kusayb. Cloudy and sultry all day. Little sun, except from nine till eleven a.m. Rain-heat; seems to threaten rain.

3p.m. 29.56 86 23 In big tent. Sultry-feels like storm.

At night, violent storm of wind from north-east, with nasty warm gusts. The people call it Sabah, probably for Saba, the "Zephyr"--the Bad-i-Saba of poetry; also El-Farawi, because it blows at night. Big tent down in a moment, as at Makna. N.B.--No windstorm on the coast. At foot of Abu Shaar Pa.s.s, aneroid 28.80; at foot of quartz-vein (wall), 28.50.

Mar. 15. 6a.m. 29.50 76 1 In big tent at Safh Wady Kusayb, north- east wind still blowing. No dew in morning.

11.45a.m.29.22 93 -5 In Wady Surr. Curious windy cirri to west.

Wind blew itself out in Wady Surr.

Pleasant sea-breeze from south.

3p.m. 28.93 100 14 In big tent at Safhat el-Wuayrah, Wady Surr. Cloudy. Wind from south, a deflected sea-breeze.

ASCENDING SHaRR MOUNTAIN.

Mar. 16. 6a.m. 29.86 70 2 On box outside tent. Morning grand; still, clear, warm, and dry. At seven a.m., going uphill, aneroid 28.20; at 7.35, half-way up, 27.70.

9a.m. 26.83 63 3