Drought in Egypt.— On an inspection of the Nile curve, 

 it will be seen that there have been periods when the 

 annual inundation was below the mean for a considerable 

 number of years in succession, denoting drought of more 

 or less intensity, yet modern history has very little to say 

 about them. Reference is made 1 to a drought in A.D. 1201. 

 Although only one year is mentioned, it is probable that it 

 was of greater duration, and that the year 1201 was near 

 the end of the drought, when its effects would be more 

 severely felt. This drought no doubt occurred four cycles 

 of 171 years before 1885, when it will be seen that the Nile 

 had been below the average for six years in succession 

 with the exception of 1883. 



It is stated ; that for seven years (A.H. 457-464)=A.D. 

 1064-1070, the annual inundation failed. This was four 

 cycles of 171 years before 1748-1751. The curve shows 

 that in this period the Nile was low in 1748 and 1749, and 

 again in 1751, three years out of the seven. It is possible, 

 therefore, that the Nile may be subject to a variation in 

 intensity at this period. This drought might have occurred 

 either 13 cycles of 57 years before 1805 - 1811, or 14 cycles 

 of 57 years before 1862 - 1868. It will be seen in the latter 

 period the Nile was low for five years out of the seven. 

 With the information we now possess concerning the state 

 of the Nile during one complete cycle of 171 years, it will, 

 no doubt, be interesting to turn to the Bible to ascertain 

 whether the dates given by the chronologists (Bishop 

 Cssher and others) in the margins of the authorised version 

 of the English Bible agree with those showing drought in 

 the Nile's curve on my diagram, on tho assumption of 171 

 years' periodicity. It will be seen that they do so in almost 

 every instance in a very remarkable manner It will ho 

 remembered that Mr, Russell was severely criticised 



1 "Modern Egypt/> 115. ~MW BritT. volxu. «. 706. " 



