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as salubrious, and Avell adapted for a winter's residence 

 for a large class of invalids, who are unable, or unwilling 

 to avail themselves of the superior climate of the Thebaid 

 and Nubia. Towards the end of April, sometimes sooner, 

 and during May and early in June, the Khamseen, (or fifty 

 days wind), a south or south-east wind, with its parching 

 breath and clouds of impalpable dust prevails, and all dews 

 cease. Before this wind, so prejudicial to all animated na- 

 ture, sets in, invalids, Europeans especially, should leave the 

 country, either forSyria (the strong by the desert), or for the 

 warmer parts of Europe, such as Malaga, or Southern Italy. 



In the following remarks on climate reference is made 

 principally to that part of the Nile Valley which extends 

 from the ancient Hermopolis Magna, in lat. 28°N., to Syene 

 (Asouan), known as Upper Egypt Proper ; or the Thebaid, 

 and to Nubia, but they will likewise hold good with some 

 modifications for Middle Egypt, or that part of the Valley 

 which is above the Delta and below Hermopolis, and 

 consequently including Cairo and its neighbourhood. The 

 climate of the Delta differs essentially from the former as 

 it doe s also in its flora and fauna. Eain falls abundantly 

 at certain seasons in the Delta, and its meteorological 

 features are akin to those of the neighboiiring coastlands of 

 Africa and the Mediterranean, partaking of all their defects 

 as a place of residence for the invalid, whilst in Upper 

 Egypt and Nubia, as will be shewn afterwards, rain is 

 very rarely seen, and the difference of its flora and fauna 

 are manifested in the dhoum palm, the river plants, the 

 crocodile, the hyena, the jackal, &c. 



Probably no known climate can boast to the same 

 extent as that of the Thebaid and Nubia of the union of 

 a cloudless bright sky, a pure warm atmosphere, combined 

 with unequalled freedom from moisture, and great steadi- 

 ness of temperatm-e, as from day to day. Sir James 

 Clarke writes thus — " I believe there is to be found in no 



