The Land of Midian (Revisited) Volume II Part 26

3p.m. 29.98 - 74 65 - In cabin. Fine north breeze.

Warm sun. Air cool. Wind- clouds to east; the rest blue.

Sky wondrous clear.

At 4.30 p.m. left El-Wijh, and steamed nearly due south-west. Fine breeze and long waves from north-west. Wind and waves fell. Rolled horridly from seven p.m. to midnight: no ballast; very bad steering: then turned south-east, and movement somewhat improved. Very heavy dew. Zodiacal light clear.

IN CABIN AT SEA.

Mar. 25. 7.30 a.m.30.04 - 73 68 - Marvellous fine morning. Wind north. Glorious day.

12.15p.m.30.01 - 75 64 - Near El-Haura. Lovely day.

Steady north breeze.

4p.m. 29.97 - 77 69 -

NEAR EL-HAURa.

Mar. 26 6a.m. 29.94 70 - - 36 In cabin. Red morning, warm and still. Sea oily. Light mists. Venus throws shadow.

Very heavy dew--all wet.

12.15p.m.29.91 - 74 70 - Same place. Warm sun; cool breeze from north.

3.20p.m. 29.87 - 78 74 - At sea. Cirri and wind-clouds to east and nearly everywhere.

Weather fine, yet gla.s.s falling. Damp air. Hence (possibly) many have colds, coughs, and hoa.r.s.eness. Wind-clouds, but clear to north. Dew very heavy.

RETURNING NORTH TO EL-WIJH.

Mar. 27. 7a.m. 29.87 - 73 68 - In captain's cabin Dew-clouds everywhere. Air very damp.

11.45a.m.29.98 - 78 70 - Air still and pleasant.

3p.m. 29.85 - 78 72 - Day decidedly hot and damp.

Aneroid very low.

Mar. 28. 6.30a.m. 29.89 - 70-1/2 68 - In cabin. Dew wetted tents and decks like heavy shower. Sky all dew; air feels soppy.

Violent wind from north-west.

s.h.i.+p rolling.

1p.m. 29.97 - 70-1/2 67 -

Mar. 29. 7a.m. 29.97 71 - - 33 In cabin. Strong, cold north wind. Men coughing like cries of camels. Sky very clear.

This kind of storm is called Hawwa el-'Uwwah ("last storm of March"), and blows fourteen days. Followed by El-Ni'am el- Kabir ("greater"), and El- Saghir ("less"); continues forty days.

6p.m. 28.78 74 - - 30 At Fort El-Wijh, two hours'

journey up the valley.

Fine day on seaboard--not much gale. Wind north-west. Night cool, but no dew.

s.h.i.+p's barometer, 6 a.m., 30.7 Wind north-west. Ther. (F.) 64 deg.

s.h.i.+p's barometer, noon, 30.7 Wind north-west. Ther. (F.) 76 deg.

s.h.i.+p's barometer, 3 p.m., 30.7 Wind north-west. Ther. (F.) 76 deg.

OBSERVATIONS TAKEN DURING THIRD MARCH, FROM EL-WIJH TO EL-BADa AND BACK, BETWEEN MARCH 30 AND APRIL 11, 1878.

Compared s.h.i.+p's (Sinnar) mercurial barometer, 30.07 (64 deg. F.), with anerold, 30.01; difference, aneroid,--0.06.

On return compared s.h.i.+p's (Sinnar) mercurial barometer, 29.99, with aneroid, 29.86; difference, aneroid,--0.13.

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

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

Mar. 30. 5.30a.m. 29.70 64 - - 24 At Fort El-Wijh, on box before tent. Cold and cloudy morning.

Moon and stars veiled.

Noon. 29.55 90 - - 43 In camp at Umm el-Karayat-- deep valley. Puffs of sea- breeze from south. Strong sun.

3.15p.m. 29.50 86 - - 29 In big tent at Umm el-Karayat- -lat. 26 deg. 13'. Sun very hot. Fresh and strong sea- breeze from east (?).

Cool and pleasant night. No sign of dew. Climate healthy. Garrison at Fort El- Wijh in excellent condition.

Mar. 31. 5a.m. 29.44 45 - - 19 In big tent at Umm el-Karayat.

Very clear, still morning.

West pink. At sunrise wind, and hot and cold puffs (south- east and land-breeze).

11.10p.m.29.46 90 - - -3 At Wady el-Kubbah, under tree.

Very hot. Wind s.h.i.+fting from east to west (sea-breeze).

Stones in sun so hot that they cannot be held. At noon regular Khamsin; air sandy.

Top of Jebel el-Kubbah, aneroid 29.34; in valley below, aneroid 29.46 (47?); height, 120 feet.

3p.m. 29.30 94 - - -20 At Mayat el-Dasnah. Hot west wind. Thermometer in big tent, unwalled.

Night cool.

April 1. " 29.30 63 - - -12 At Mayat el-Dasnah. Morning pleasant, still, and quite clear. No sign of dew or Khamsin. Hygrometer exceedingly dry. Sun rose hot.

Slight breeze from eight a.m.

to 8.30 a.m., when the rocks and stones have become thoroughly heated. Very refres.h.i.+ng: cools head; stops perspiration.

9.30a.m. 28.96 83 - - -10 At foot of Maru Rabigh, in shade of rock.

12.30p.m.28.92 99 - - -8 At Maru Rabigh, under big tent awning. About noon a medley of winds; hot blasts of Khamsin from south-west, suddenly changed to north.

3p.m. 28.88 100 - - -25 At Maru Rabigh. Hot sun. Wind in puffs, mostly south-west.

No sand in air. Stones in suns.h.i.+ne too hot to hold; yet there are flies.