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 SHÁRR; 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 ship'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, ship's difference ..... +007 millimetres.
Difference .................................. +001 millimetres.
Mar. 10. 6.30p.m. 30.12 73 69 61 - In cabin. Clouds on SHÁRR 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 SHÁRR; 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 Yáhárr.
OBSERVATIONS TAKEN DURING EXCURSION (SECOND MARCH) ON
AND AROUND THE SHÁRR 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 SHÁRR, 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 assist 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 Sabáh, probably for Sabá, the "Zephyr"—the Bád-i-Sabá of
poetry; also El-Farawi, because it blows at night. Big tent down in a moment,
as at Makná. N.B.—No windstorm on the coast. At foot of Abú Sháar Pass,
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-Wúayrah, Wady
Surr. Cloudy. Wind from south, a deflected
sea-breeze.
ASCENDING SHÁRR 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
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 Pass 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 YÁHÁRR.
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-Bayzá.
On March 17th began what our Egyptians called the Khamsin, and the Arabs El-
Dufún (Bedawin, Dafún) generically; and specifically Dufún el-Suráyyá ("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 Intikál 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 "SINNÁR," 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 "SINNÁR," DURING VOYAGE FROM SHARM
YÁHÁRR TO EL-WIJH, EL-HAURÁ, 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
madfún). 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 MARSÁ 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.
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-Haurá. Lovely day.
Steady north breeze.
4p.m. 29.97 - 77 69 -
NEAR EL-HAURÁ.
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 glass falling. Damp air. Hence (possibly) many have colds,
coughs, and hoarseness. 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.
Ship 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
Hawwá el-'Uwwah ("last storm
of March"), and blows fourteen
days. Followed by El-Ni'ám 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.
Ship's barometer, 6 a.m., 30.7 Wind north-west. Ther. (F.) 64 deg.
Ship's barometer, noon, 30.7 Wind north-west. Ther. (F.) 76 deg.
Ship's barometer, 3 p.m., 30.7 Wind north-west. Ther. (F.) 76 deg.
OBSERVATIONS TAKEN DURING THIRD MARCH, FROM EL-WIJH TO EL-BADÁ AND BACK,
BETWEEN MARCH 30 AND APRIL 11, 1878.
Compared ship's (Sinnár) mercurial barometer, 30.07 (64 deg. F.), with
anerold, 30.01; difference, aneroid,—0.06.
On return compared ship's (Sinnár) 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-Karáyát—
deep valley. Puffs of sea-
breeze from south. Strong sun.
3.15p.m. 29.50 86 - - 29 In big tent at Umm el-Karáyát-
-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-Karáyát.
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 shifting 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 Máyat el-Dasnah. Hot west
wind. Thermometer in big tent,
unwalled.
Night cool.
April 1. " 29.30 63 - - -12 At Máyat 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
refreshing: cools head; stops
perspiration.
9.30a.m. 28.96 83 - - -10 At foot of Marú Rábigh, in
shade of rock.
12.30p.m.28.92 99 - - -8 At Marú Rábigh, 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 Marú Rábigh. Hot sun. Wind
in puffs, mostly south-west.
No sand in air. Stones in
sunshine too hot to hold; yet
there are flies.
This is second day of Khamsin. Comes up about ten a.m.; wind either too much
or too little. At 2.5 p.m. nearly blew tent down.
April 2. 5.10a.m. 28.98 70 - - -6 At foot of Marú Rubayyigh in
Wady Rábigh. Morning perfectly
still. All appearance of
Khamsin. Light horizontal
striae to north.
Noon. 29.15 92 - - -18 At Abú Gezáz valley, under
tree. Much bothered by small
flies.
3.10p.m. 29.14 100 - - -25 In big tent, which was again
blown down.
Third day of Khamsin. All animals weak and worn out. Wind comes up later—
11.30 a.m. to noon. Gives feeling of faintness and awful thirst. "Devils"
(Zawábah) rose high in valley with electrical whirl. Evening lowering. Wind or
rain clouds from west and north. Night still and cool. Threatening clouds east
and west.
April 3. 5a.m. 29.20 65 - - -13 At Abú Gezáz valley. Morning
cool (sign Khamsin gone). Sun
pleasant. Red wind-clouds to
north and east. At six a.m.
pleasant, cool land-breeze
from south.
Noon. 28.80 90 - - -16 At El-Badá, under palm-tree.
Wind west. Milky sky, all
white.
3p.m. 28.75 95 - - -24 In big tent. Regular Khamsin—
very nasty. Clouds to west.
Night still. Neither warm nor cool. climate fine. Colds and coughs
disappeared.
AT EL-BADÁ.
April 4. 5.30a.m. 28.70 68 - - -7 On box outside tent. Traces of
dew. White clouds. Looked
regularly like a Khamsin day.
Noon. 28.74 90 - - 2 In big tent. No sun. Air
muggy. White gleams. View
poor; like rain. Strong blast
from south-west. Heavy clouds
west and north. Drops of rain
fell three times between one
p.m. and three p.m.
3p.m. 28.70 90 - - -8
At four p.m. in west a dust like general or prairie fire. A few drops of rain
fell at long intervals—could not catch any for photographs. Broad parallel
veins of white, red, and black cloud rising from east to west. Puffs of cold
wind came on, soon growing to blasts; then storm came down upon us. No thunder
or lightning. Kind of "dust-bow" in west (no rain), half the arc. Wind then
turned north and felt cold and rainy. Heavy cloud-bank to west. Forms of
mountains crept out of the brown and purple mist, half dust, half rain. All
enjoyed storm. No rain for two years has fallen here. Rainbows at El-'Akabah
(double) and at Shuwák (single). Cool and pleasant night, with dew. Mean of
six aneroid observations at El-Badá, 28.78. After leaving El-Badá mornings and
evenings delightful; sun warm in day; nights cool and pleasant. Dust at times.
April 5. 4.30a.m. 28.65 - - - -8 In big tent at Badá. Dust
"devils." Great change after
rain. Very damp.
3p.m. 28.58 86 - - -3 At 'Ayn el-Kurr, under shade
of rock. Strong north wind.
Though all prophesied Azyab or "south-easter," this was perhaps the finest of
all our days. Night cool. Cold wind at one a.m., of which all complained.
April 6. 5.45a.m. 28.59 58 - - 6 At 'Ayn el-Kurr, on box
outside tent. White clouds to
south. No wind. False sea-
breeze at seven a.m.; true at
ten a.m. Cloudy forenoon.
11.45a.m.28.90 84 - - - In Wady el-Kurr.
3p.m. 28.87 87 - - -3 At Wady Laylah, in big tent.
Afternoon windy as usual.
Puffs from west (sea-breeze),
cold. Sky quite clear.
Mountains milky.
Night cool, but not cold.
April 7. 4.15a.m. 28.80 60 - - +5 In big tent at Wady Laylah.
Morning especially bright.
Lucifer like a little moon.
Breeze at eight a.m.
Noon. 29.39 54 - - +2 Wady Birkat, under rock. Going
down seawards fast. Cool west
wind. Good sea-breeze. Sky and
sun clear—sun not unpleasant.
Hot in sheltered bends.
3.10p.m. 29.46 81 - - 4 At Abál-Ajáj, under tamarisks.
Dew at night.
April 8. 5a.m. 29.55 60 - - 27 Outside tent at Abál-Ajáj.
Cool morning; warmer at eight
a.m. before breeze set in.
Noon. 29.94 83 - - 22 At the temple (El-Gasr), Wady
Hamz. Sand-dust with sea-
breeze, terrible at temple and
around it. Eyes filled,
clothes covered. Saw mirage—
well defined for first time.
3p.m. 29.90 52 - - 20 At Wady Hamz. Hygrometer damp
on account of sea-breeze.
April 9. 4a.m. 29.92 70 - - 25 Still, clear, and beautiful,
like all these mornings. Hot
sun. Blue sea, glassy near the
shore. Puffs of wind from
east.
Noon. 29.90 96 - - -8 In big tent at Wady Mismáh.
Cool breeze from north-cast.
Heat strongly reflected from
quartz. Vegetation dreadfully
dry; plants look dead. Two bad
years.
3p.m. 29.74 92 - - -18 In big tent at Abál-Marú.
Another nasty afternoon. High
west wind—sea-breeze, not
Khamsin; tent almost blown
down. Dust dreadful.
Evening charming. Night admirably cool.
April 10 4.20a.m. 29.74 - - - 0 In big tent at Abál-Marú.
Splendid morning; few striae
in east. Will be hot.
4.30p.m. 29.95 - 76 73 - On board Sinnár, captain's
cabin. Pleasant afternoon.
Cool sea-breeze.
ON BOARD "SINNÁR."
April 11.6a.m. 29.86 - 70 66 - In captain's cabin. Felt damp
strongly after the Desert.
12.30p.m.29.87 - 78 74 - All complaining of heat (white
heat); damp is the cause. No
sea-breeze to speak of.
3.15p.m. 29.83 - 79 75 - White clouds everywhere.
Curious wind-clouds, not a
little like comets.
Heavy dew. Streets of El-Wijh wet.
OBSERVATIONS TAKEN ON BOARD SCREW-STREAMER "SINNÁR," EN ROUTE FROM EL-WIJH TO
SUEZ, FROM APRIL 12 TO APRIL 17, 1878.