10 



PERSIAN GULF DATES. 



At Bahrein (the pearl islands), on the Arabian side of the Gulf, 

 Rev. S. M. Zwemer, who has the self -registering- thermometer of the 

 Indian weather service, describes March, April, October, November, 

 and December as "delightful,' 1 with indoor temperatures seldom above 

 85° F. or below 60° F. January and February are colder, even cold 

 enough for a fire, and in these two months the rain of the season 

 usually falls. The months from May to September form the hot 

 season, and during this period heavy night dews are common and the 

 thermometer often remains above 100° F. for many days and nights 

 together. The minimum temperature in the village of Menamah, 

 Bahrein, during the summer months of 1893 was 85° and the maximum 

 107° F. in the shade. 



In Bassorah, near the mouth of the Shat-el-Arab, the climate is 

 similar to that of Bahrein, with the exception that the winters are 

 colder — so cold, in fact, that a grate fire is necessary for comfort. 

 Such delicate plants as tropical guavas are injured by the low 

 temperature. 



Bagdad is still some distance from the northern limit of date culture, 

 and yet frosts are of frequent occurrence. Temperatures of 17° and 

 even 12° F. it is understood have been observed, though not by official 

 weather observers. The summers are cooler than at most places on 

 the gulf, and shortly after sunset the rapid radiation from the desert 

 which surrounds the town lowers the temperature appreciably. Judg- 

 ing from the glare upon the light-brown soil in the winter season and 

 from the precautions which it is necessary for travelers to take in 

 crossing the deserts, the insolation to which the date palms are sub- 

 jected in Mesopotamia must be something extraordinary. No figures 

 regarding the force of the sun's rays, however, were obtainable. 



From Mr. Willcocks's paper, cited later, the following tables are 

 taken: 



Meteorological observations at Bagdad. 







1888 







1894 



Month. 



Temperature. 



Rainfall. 



Temperature. 



Rainfall. 





Mean 

 maximum. 



Mean 

 minimum. 



Mean. 



Total. 



Mean 

 maximum. 



Mean 

 minimum. 



Mean. 



Total. 





° F. 

 62.5 

 68.1 

 74.2 

 81 



94.1 

 102.2 

 109. 3 

 106.3 

 103.4 

 100. 2 

 74.8 

 60.8 



° F. 

 41.1 

 47 



51.7 

 58.7 

 70.2 

 76.9 

 80.2 

 78.6 

 72.8 

 69.1 

 48.3 

 42.3 



Inches. 

 49.9 

 54.9 

 60.5 

 68.8 

 80.1 

 88.3 

 92.6 

 90.9 

 85.7 

 79.1 

 57.3 

 49.1 



Inches. 

 0.1 

 2.4 



.8 

 2.7 



.7 







°F. 

 55.5 

 61.5 

 69.3 

 76.2 

 91 



100.3 

 105.3 

 106.7 

 100.3 

 90 

 72.1 

 61.5 



o p 

 37.1 

 44 

 50.4 

 58.9 

 69.9 

 76.9 

 78.5 

 79.3 

 70.5 

 61.2 

 55.1 

 44.8 



Inches. 

 46.3 

 52.8 

 59.8 

 67.5 

 80.5 

 88.6 

 91.9 

 93 



85.4 

 75.6 

 63.6 

 53.2 



Inches. 

 1.5 





7.9 





4.4 





2.5 



May 



June 



July 



August 



September 







----- 



.5 



.1 





4.8 





1 









87.9 



61.4 



71.4 



8.4 



82.5 



60.5 



71.5 



22.2 







