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The Land of Midian, Vol. 2

R >> Richard Burton >> The Land of Midian, Vol. 2




3p.m. 30.15 767 77 76 63 7

Cold high wind at night.

LEFT 'AYNÚNAH.

Jan. 9. 7a.m. 30.04 - 63 - - 10 Outside tent. Light
clouds everywhere at
dawn. Morning warm and
close.

Noon. 29.91 759 80 - - 48 At El-'Usaylah. Sky
covered with clouds. Sun
coming out.

4p.m. 29.87 758 53 - - 23 In tent at El-'Usaylah.
No wind.

Cool pleasant night. Rain in Mount Sinai(?).

Jan. 10. 6.45a.m. 29.85 - 56 - - 15 Observations in open.
Cold north wind. Clear
and cirri.

3p.m. 29.30 745 77 - - 1 At Magháir Shúayb, under
a tree.

Night cold. High wind; shook the tents.

AT MAGHÁIR SHÚAYB.

Jan. 11. 7a.m. 29.37 747 60 - - 20 In open, on box.

Noon. 29.40 748 82 - - 8 In tent.

3p.m. 29.38 747 84 - - -4 Still. Air hot.

As a rule, at Magháir Shúayb we had land-breezes; cold from north and east.
Seabreezes during day, after noon.

Jan. 12. 7a.m. 29.35 746 59 - - 3 In tent. Cool. Cirri. At
two a.m. cool fresh wind
from north.

Noon. 29.46 747 83 - - -5 In tent. Hot sun. Light
clouds.

3p.m 29.30 746 83 81 64 -9 In tent. No sun, no
wind. Thin clouds.

Night warm; wind towards morning. Mosquitoes in tamarisks of Wady. Minimum
thermometer, 52 degrees.

Jan. 13. 7a.m. 29.38 745 65 - - -4 Outside tent, on box.
Cloudy; little wind. elt
warm. Sun came out
strong at ten a.m.

Noon. 29.27 744 87 87 67 -9 In big tent. Heat like
summer. Flies
troublesome, travel on
our backs.

3p.m. 29.20 743 85 85 65 -15 Very hot. Thin clouds.
Sea-breeze.

Very hot and sultry weather: Arabs say portends rain. Wind (generally) from
north in morning; afternoon from sea.

Jan. 14. 7a.m. 29.01 740 63 63 55 0 In tent. Land-breeze set
in. Expected heavy rain,
and pitched camp higher
up.

2.30p.m. 29.15 - 81-1/279 68 0 Taken by Mr. Clarke.

Rain began 2.30 a.m. (Jan. 15), small drops, then heavy, lull, and again
heavy; ended about 4.30 a.m. A little wind from south-west rose after rain.

The last rain was on December 7-10, 1877; violent storms accompanied it.

Jan. 15. " 29.00 - 71-1/270 66 30 By Mr. Clarke at Magháir
Shúayb. Sky all covered
; little clear to west.
Mist all over north.
Things feel damp.

Noon. 29.06 737 76 73 65 30 All cloudy. After rain,
sultry heat of noon
quite disappeared.

3p.m. 29.06 738 75 73 65 25 Still cloudy. Cool.

Cold nights and mornings.

Jan. 16. 7a.m. 29.20 - 48 45 42 18 No rain. Cold. Little
wind. Cloudy. No wind.

Noon. 29.05 - 69 65 54 3 Sun hot. Cool breeze
from north as usual. No
clouds.

3p.m. 29.25 - 69 65 52 12

Night fine and clear. Stars and moon very bright.

Jan. 17. 7a.m. 29.30 - 42 42 39 17 Clear morning. Very
cold. Land breeze.

Noon. 29.36 745 69 66 54 18 Fine stiff breeze from
north-east.

3p.m. 29.34 745 73 70 59 16 Fine breeze falling.

Fine clear night, moon nearly full. No clouds. Not cold. Cool at night and
towards morning. Wind rose about four a.m.

Jan. 18. 7.30a.m. 29.28 745 55 55 50 26 In tent. Cool, clear.
Gentle land-wind.

Noon. 29.30 - 79 79 63 16 Same weather.

3p.m. 29.25 - 81 79 62 8 Night cool. Hardly any
wind.

Jan. 19. 7a.m. 29.15 - 53 52 45 16 In tent. Cold wind from
north.

Noon. 29.17 - 81 79 63 9 Sun hot. Cool breeze
from north. Sky clear.

3p.m. 29.15 - 80 77 60 5

Remarkably warm pleasant night.

Jan. 20. 7a.m. 29.05 - 50 48 45 19 In tent. No wind. Air
sharp.

Noon. 29.10 - 79 75 63 12 Light wind (south-west).
Sun hot. Sky clear.

3p.m. 29.10 - 73 73 60 8 Cool and pleasant.

Curious moonrise. Thin clouds like volcanic smoke, separated into cirri like
sheep-skin: all said sign of heat. Night still and warm. Few stratified clouds
to west.

Jan. 21. 8a.m. 29.13 740 56 54 50 20 In tent. Cold raw wind
(El-Ayli) from north-
east. High clouds. Worse
near Gulf.

Noon. 29.20 743 68 66 55 16 High cold wind,
continuous. Bright sun.
Sky intensely blue and
clear.

4.15p.m. 29.22 744 66 65 53 8 Cool. High wind.

Strong wind at night; fell about midnight; gusts at times. Very cold. Bad
weather at Sharm Yahárr. Fortuna ("strong wind") began January 21st, ended
January 23rd: the next gale was on night of January 28th. As a rule, the
people say; black clouds show that the wind will increase; light clouds the
contrary.

Jan. 22. 7a.m. 29.32 745 50 49 45 15 Cold and cloudy. El-Ayli
continues.

Noon. 29.36 748 66 62 52 11 High cold north-easter
rose about 11.30. Sun
warm. Air cold.

Heavy purple clouds to north and west. Night still; occasional gusts. Eight
p.m. quite still. Mukhbir delayed by bad weather.

Jan. 23. 7.20a.m. 29.39 748 50 50 45 19 Gusts and calm. Nimbi to
west. High north wind
set in.

Noon. 29.40 747 66 64 54 14 Cold in shade, hot in
sun. High wind.

4p.m. - - 66 65 52 9 Wind still high. Dust.

Night alternately gusty and still. Warm. Mukhbir steamed back to her
anchorage, Sharm Yáhárr.

Jan 24. 7a.m. 29.29 745 55 52 47 15 Gentle breeze from
north. No clouds--sign
of no wind.

1.30p.m. - - 83 78 68 10 The normal hot,
windless, cloudless day.

3p.m. - - 78 74 62 7 Pleasant sea-breeze. Sun
hot; air coolish.

Night warm and pleasant.

MAGHáIR SHÚAYB TO MAKNÁ (March).

Jan. 25. 7a.m. 29.30 - 61 - - 15 On box. Fine, and
perfectly clear.

Noon. 29.45 - 78 - - - On road to Wady Makná,
riding mule. Sea-breeze
about noon, strong.
Shortly after noon heavy
clouds (from north and
west) hid the sun.

3p.m. 30.06 - 71 - - 23 Arrived at Makná, on
box.

Warm pleasant night. Appearance of rain. Wind from north. Moon clouded.

AT MAKNÁ.

Land and sea breezes regular. Morning and evening cool. Noon hot. Evaporation
immense. Healthy near shore; feverish up the valley. Damp air from
neighbourhood of Mount Sinai.

Jan. 26. 7a.m. 30.02 - 68 - - 21 Cloudy. Heavy white
waves on water. Wind
west; dangerous for
ships.

12.30p.m.30.07 - 80 77 62 21 Sun hot; sky clear.
Light fleecy clouds on
Sinai.

3.30p.m. 30.04 743 82 80 70 18 Air and sun hot. Clear.
Sea-breeze. No gale.

Rain probably during the day in Sinai. Muttali, or "fort," of Makná showed
aneroid 760 (29).

Jan. 27. 7a.m. 30.02 - 60 59 55 35 In tent. Fine clear;
nice land-breeze. Rush
of wind at two a.m. Wind
at four a.m. Loud noise
of reef.

1.30p.m. 30.04 - 80 76 68 28 In big tent, opening to
south. Quite clear and
bright. No clouds.
Slight sea-breeze.

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 Magháir
Shúayb (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 shining.

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 MAKNÁ, 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.

Wind less in evening, and warmer; ceased about midnight; lasted from eleven
p.m., January 28, to midnight, February 2 = five days and five nights.
Zodiacal light.

Feb. 3. 7a.m. 29.93 - 56 65 56 20 On deck (wet and dry
bulbs in main cabin).
Fresh breeze from east.
Fleecy clouds south and
east.

Noon. 29.96 - 74 - - 25 On deck. Fine breeze
from north.

In evening cirri to west and east. Black dots in regular lines. Night at Minat
Jinái. Very fine and clear; young moon and Venus. Deadly still. Zodiacal light
seen every night in the 'Akabah Gulf: not outside it.

Feb. 4. 7a.m. 29.92 - 74 70 67 24 En route to Nuwaybi',
along Sinai shore.
Morning grey; light
clouds everywhere. Dull
brassy sunrise. Water
dark. Wind south, felt
very damp. Sinai hills
clouded over: cirri
strata high up; nimbi in
fragments below.

Noon. 29.86 - 74 73 68 28 Under awning on board;
going north. Sickly sun.
Cirri to east.

3p.m. 29.80 - 75 73 66 26 Main cabin South wind
strong, increased after
noon. Clear horizon
then. Sea foaming: wind
became very strong, and
raised water about
sunset, then fell.

A regular day of south wind, blasts, mists, and gusts; calmed down in evening.
Quiet night. All day cirri and strata high up from west. Wásit sand forming
cloud.

Feb. 5. 7a.m. 30.00 - 72 68 60 9 En route to Kaláh
(Jezirat Faráun of
maps), in main cabin.
Wind north. Clouds on
hill-tops and to north--
effects of yesterday.
East mountains misty;
west clear. Mottle of
clouds.

Noon. 29.94 - 73 70 61 7 On deck, steaming north.
Dry and wet bulbs in
main cabin. Clouds--
light cumuli to north,
east, and west; south
clear. Wind north,
light.

3p.m. 29.97 - 75 70 59 19 In main cabin off island
El-Kaláh. Violent gusts
from west, down valleys-
-deflection of south
wind, lasted only few
minutes. Cloudy and
clear.

Night clear. Violent gusts from south, lasting a few minutes, then still.

ON BOARD "MUKHBIR," OFF ISLAND EL-KALÁH.

Feb. 6. 7a.m. 30.12 - 70 66 59 15 In main cabin. A regular
raw and gloomy English
morning. Clouds
everywhere--drops of
rain. Wind south,
deflected west. Gusts at
times. All felt damp and
uncomfortable.

Noon. 30.10 - 70 65 59 26 In main cabin. Sky all
covered with clouds.
Wind from north, gusty.
Barometer rising.

3p.m. 30.12 - 66 68 60 21 In main cabin. Sky
covered; gleams of sun.
Clear to south. Wind
north, mild.

A few drops of rain morning and evening. Pleasant quiet night.

Feb. 7. 6a.m. 30.13 - - 62 57 19 In main cabin. Still;
fresh air; no wind.
Heavy clouds from west,
covering east-west
mountains. West mottled;
north and south clear.

3p.m. 30.10 - 71 66 62 25 In main cabin. Cool
breeze. Hot sun. Cloudy
and clear.

Drops of rain at sunset. Wind west. Heavy rain twice at night; after midnight
wetted deck. Rain at 'Akabah from west, with clouds and winds.

FROM EL-'AKABAIT, GOING SOUTH.

Rise of tide off El-'Akabah town, one foot.

Feb. 8. 7a.m. 30.20 - 56 63 61 3 On deck. Dry and wet
bulbs in main cabin. At
sunrise heavy purple
clouds drifting over
plain, covering hills on
both sides. Cold, raw,
wet wind. Rain on Sinai
to north-west and south-
west. Saw rainbow. Wind
gradually turning to
east (favourable). Play
of light and shade over
plains and hills.

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