1890.] NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Ill 



observations recorded during a brief sojourn in the Nile Valley, 

 and a more deliberate study of the deserr, I have arranged in 

 the following pages. 



This paper is not, however, an essay on the meteorology, geol- 

 ogy, and natural history of these countries; and it should be 

 remembered that my experience is limited to a single visit and 

 to a certain season of the year. 



This period, and the distribution of my time, must be stated 

 at the outset. Arriving in Cairo February 1st, 1889, 1 spent the 

 first week of this month in Cairo, the second and third on the 

 Nile, the fourth and the first two weeks of March again in 

 Cairo and vicinity. I then entered the desert, March 13th, and 

 four weeks later returned to Cairo for still a portion of a week, 

 finnlly leaving Egypt on April 15th. 



Temperature. — In discussing one^s experience on a journey, 

 it is natural to begin with the weather. In the earlier weeks 

 named, the temperature at the hotel in Cairo ranged from 60° 

 to 65° at 8 A.M. to 75° and 78° at 3 p.m., falling to 64° and 

 67° in the evening. In April it was appreciably warmer, but 

 never oppressive in the shade. On the Nile steamer, however, 

 greater extremes were noted ; 54° at midnight (Feb. 19th) to 87° 

 at 2.30 P.M. (Feb, 9th). The latter figure was exceptional and 

 was regarded as oppressive. These figures give an impression of 

 great extremes, but the changes in any period of 24 hours are 

 not commonly very great. Luxor is attaining some reputation 

 as a health-resort, on account of the equable temperature and 

 dryness of the atmosphere. In the first three months of 1889, 

 the average temperature out of doors at the hotel is thus given : 



9 A.M. 2 P.M. 6 P.M. 



January 60° 68° 65° 



February 60° 70° 68" 



March. 71° 81° 78° 



Authorities state that, as a result of ten years' observations, 

 the mean temperature in the Delta and at Cairo is 58° in winter, 

 83° in summer, and 06° in autumn ; the lowest record in the 

 Delta is 35°, the highest about 95° in the shade. In Upper 

 Egypt, however, the temperature rises to 109°, 



The temperatures that I noted in tlie desert of Sinai were 

 taken at great differences of elevation, my route extending from 

 the sea-level to the summit of Jebel Mousa, 7,400 feet high, I 

 copy a few records from my journal. 



In Plain of Shur {perhaps 50 //. above sea-level). 



March 13th 7.30 a,m, 59° 



" 3.('0 p,M. 80° in sun 



'' 8.30 p.M, 66° 



