Volume II Part 20 (1/2)

3p.m. 30.02 - 80 79 70 26 Hot and still.

Night glorious. No wind. Only sigh and sound of reef.

Jan. 28. 7a.m. 29.98 - 58 58 53 30 Perfectly still and clear. Light land- breeze.

12.45p.m.30.00 - 80 78 66 20 Weather breaking. Clouds forming everywhere. High horizontal cirri. North wind, whistling over country.

3p.m. 29.98 - 80 79 67 20 Packed up wet and dry bulbs.

At sunset high streaky cirri of red colour: all said wind. Same as at Maghair Shuayb (January 21-23). At eleven p.m. El-Ayli (north wind from 'Akabat- Aylah?) came down upon us with a rush. Gravel like drops of rain. Tents at once on the ground. Sky still clear--stars s.h.i.+ning.

Jan. 29. 7.15a.m.30.02 - 62 - - 19 In tent-hut. Wind violent. Cold and raw between moonrise and sunrise.

Noon. 30.04 - 81 - - 13 In tent-hut. Wind (El- Ayli) gusty and violent.

Sky quite clear.

They say this gale denotes end of Zamharir (”great cold”). Wind fell about three p.m. Mild at sunset. Wind then increased, and became very violent at night (l0-11 p.m.); seems to beat down from above. Summit of quartz-hills, 2 obs. = 29.40

Jan. 30 7a.m. 30.06 - 62 - - 19 In tent-hut. Mountains perfectly clear. Fleecy clouds to north and south, sailing from west to east.

3p.m. 30.06 - 72 - - 15 Clear and fine. Wind falling.

Wind fell during afternoon and evening, but rose again at night; was at its worst about eleven p.m.

Jan. 31. 7a.m. 30.06 - 67 - - 22 In tent-but. Wind worse; signs of blowing everywhere. Light clouds north and south. Mottled clouds (cirri, mackerel- back). Gusts violent after sunrise.

Noon. 30.08 - 73 - - 19 In cabin on board Mukhbir. Wind violent.

Sky clear. White clouds, as yet wind increasing.

Sand and dust but mountains clear.

3p.m. 30.09 - 78 - - 22 On board Mukhbir. Wind violent. Sky covered with grey clouds.

At sunset, gleams to west and round horizon; heavy to north. Hoped for rain, but none came. Fires alight all night. Very bad night; perhaps the worst yet seen. Chain dragging. At nine p.m. sky clear, but wind worse.

AT MAKNa, ON BOARD ”MUKHBIR.”

Feb. 1. 7a.m. 30.08 - 70 - - 21 Wind worse than ever.

Dark cirri to south.

Mountains clear on all sides.

Noon. 30.06 - 74 70 63 21 Wind very bad, turning to east (?). Cirri everywere: to west formed ascending rays like sun, extending to zenith; to east were crosses and lozenges.

3p.m 30.04 - - 70 65 - Wind still bad. White clouds have thickened to south, and thinned to north. Bases of mountains blurred (by dust?); summits clear.

At sunset wind lighter. Dark clouds to south, going westward from Suez. Cirri overhead, presently disappeared; also about the horizon. At night fine zodiacal light. Wind increased. Observations in main cabin throughout voyage.

Feb. 2. 7a.m. 30.00 - 69 70 65 22 Perfectly clear. Wind worse.

Noon. 30.00 - 78 - - 21 Clear sky; only cloud, thin white strata to north.

3p.m. 29.04 - 75 73 63 19 No clouds. Wind milder.

Barometer falling (sign of wind ceasing?). Wind getting warmer, and bending east.