304 TRANSACTIONS OF RECTTON C. 



7. The First Meteorite Record in Egypt. 

 By W. F. Hume, D.Sc., F.R.S.E. 



The fall of the first meteorite hitherto recorded from Egypt took place 

 between 6 and 9 a.m. on June 28, 1911, in the neighbourhood of El Nakhla 

 village, seven kilometres N.N.E. of Abu Hoomos station, which is 44 kilometres 

 E.S.E. of Alexandria, on the Alexandria-Cairo Eailway line. A personal visit 

 was paid to the locality, and the numerous witnesses examined as to the nature 

 of the phenomena observed. All accounts agree that the stones fell out of a 

 clear sky from the north-west, appearing as a white cloud variously estimated 

 from one to three metres long. At Ezbet Abdalla Zeid, near Nakahla, the 

 meteorite exploded several times, breaking up into several fragments, the fall 

 being also accompanied by a thunderclap, followed by a whistling or buzzing 

 sound. 



Numerous specimens were obtained from localities lying on a north-south 

 line whose extreme points were separated about a mile and a half from one 

 another. These are all characterised by an intense black and highly polished 

 varnish of iron oxide, coating a green granular rock mainly composed of augite 

 and hypersthene, the specific gravity being 3-4. The largest specimen weighs 1*813 

 kilogram, having a total length of 16 cm., a width of 8 cm., and a height of 

 7 cm. ; its general form being a double wedge. In several examples the varnish 

 tends to be of radiate structure in the shallow pittings which cover the whol« 

 surface, and the edges are rounded, showing intense fusion. Nevertheless, as 

 is usual in such cases, the. meteorites are stated to have been cold when picked up. 



The original record of the occurrence was given in the ' El Ahali ' news- 

 paper, and referred to in the ' Egyptian Gazette,' as having occurred at 

 Denshal, south of Damanhour, some fifteen miles from Nakhla. A fall at this 

 locality ha,s not, however, been hitherto confirmed, it being stated by those 

 examined from this locality that an explosion resembling a clap of thunder was 

 heard, but no stones were observed to fall. 



8. Report on the Composition and Origin of the Crystalline Rods oj Anglesey . 



See Reports, p. 116. 



9. Report on the Excavation of Critical Sections in the Palaeozoic Rocks of 



Wales and the West of England. — See Reports, p. 111. 



10. Interim Reports on the Microscopical and Chemical Composition of 



Charnwood Rocks. 



11. Report on the Fossil Flora and Fauna of the Midland 

 Coalfields. — See Reports, p. 105. 



