110 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [fEB. 24, 



The gauges at these two points sliow an excessively high stage 

 relative to that of the watei* at Cairo. 



This morning, the water in the Mississippi at New Orleans was 

 only 0.8 of a foot below the flood-mark of 1884. 



The register at Yicksburg this morning was only 3.2 feet 

 below the flood-mark of 1884. 



The gauge at Cairo this morning registered 16.6 feet below 

 the flood-mark of 1884. On the 7th of the present month, the 

 water had declined at Cairo to a point 17.7 feet below the same 

 flood-mark; — the average being 12.5 feet at Cairo during the 24 

 days of this month. 



Had the former natural relativity obtained between Vicksburg 

 and Cairo, the stage at Vicksburg would have been 8.5 feet 

 lower than it stands to-day; and would also have indicated a 

 decline of several feet, corresponding to the large decline at 

 Cairo on February 7th. 



But the Mississippi Eiver at New Orleans and Vicksburg has 

 shown a remarkable persistence of rise, going up day by day 

 for the past 24 days. 



The fact is, that the river is gorged from Helena to New 

 Orleans, a distance of about 500 miles. 



What would happen in the lower Mississippi valley, were a 

 great rainfall to occur in the Ohio valley during the next two or 

 three weeks, adding 16|^ feet to the present stage at Cairo ? 

 Possibly a calamity of inundation that would startle the world.' 



The President commented on the important and suggestive 

 character of Mr. Elseffer's data and observations. If it be 

 true, as would seem to be indicated, that the jetties at the 

 mouth of the Mississippi are operating thus to retard its natural 

 outflow, and involve danger of serious flooding, the fact is one 

 that calls for grave consideration. 



The paper announced for the evening was then read, as fol- 

 lows : — 



SCIENTIFIC jottings ON THE NILE AND IN THE DESERT. 

 BY H. CARRINGTON BOLTON. 



Several months ago, I read to the Academy a report of my 

 researclies on Sonorous Sand in the desert of Sinai (October 

 21st, 1889), and more recently I gave a ])opular account of the 

 method of travel, scenes and incidents in the same region (Feb- 

 ruary 17th, 1890). But on these occasions I presented only a part 

 of the notes jotted down in my journal ; these impressions and 



' These observations have much interest in connection with subse- 

 quent events in that region. — Ed. 



