20 THEORIES 



seed appeared above ground in twenty-four hours; melons 

 in three days; while marrowfat peas, fit for use, were 

 produced in five weeks. On this island, volcanic as Sar- 

 dinia, and hot as the Maremma, " fevers, whether re- 

 mittent or intermittent, were unknown." 



In the two instances cited above, the islands closely re- 

 sembled each other in climate, temperature, and fertility, 

 but were contrasted as to origination, geology, and sur- 

 face, the one being organic, the other volcanic ; the one 

 being flat, the other mountainous; yet both enjoyed a de- 

 gree of salubrity totally at variance with our preconcep- 

 tions. 



The Island of Soloo, in latitude 6 01' North, enjoys a 

 temperature seldom below 70, or above 90 ; that is, 

 about the mean of that of the pestilential western coast 

 of Africa. It is, however, healthy. 



Menouf, the capital of Menoufyez, in Lower Egypt, is 

 situated on the banks of a canal formerly navigable, but 

 so no longer. This canal bathes the walls of Menouf 

 from south to west. Within a few yards of it lies another 

 canal of stagnant water, the space between, forming a 

 'road into the town. To the right of the south gate, lie 

 basins of water to rot flax in, which gave out a disa- 

 greeable odor. Here and there is a cemetery, and be- 

 tween them are pools for the same use, some of them 

 broken, neglected, and full of stagnant water. Menouf 

 has no gardens, its streets are narrow and dirty, and its 

 houses small and badly constructed. The people drink 

 the Nile water. The yearly inundation floods the country 

 around Menouf, up to the walls, but it does not continue 

 long under water, to which fact Surgeon Carrie ascribes 

 it healthfulness : " C'est pour cela sans doute que cette 

 ville est assez saine." 



Iij addition to its other defects, the place is surrounded 



