Volume II Part 26 (1/2)

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.