11^ 
DESCRIPTIONS OF EGYPT. 
winds, so variable in our climate, are in Egypt 
regularly periodical. In point both of duratioit 
and strength, the northerly wind predominates. 
As it blows about nine months in the year, the 
branches of the trees, and the trunks themselves, 
when unsheltered, assume its direction. It con- 
tinues with little intermission from the end of 
May till the end of September. About the end 
of September, when the sun repasses the line, the 
wind returns to the east, where it fluctuates tilt 
November, when the northerly winds again pre- 
vail. About the end of February, the winds as- 
sume a southerly direction, and fluctuate exceed- 
ingly till the close of April, when the east wind 
begins to predominate. The southerly winds are 
the most inconstant, as well as pernicious ; tra- 
versing the arid sands of Africa, uninterrupted 
by rivulets, lakes, or forests, they arrive in Egypt 
fraught with all the noxious exhalations of the 
desert. At their approach, the serene sky be- 
comes dark and heavy ; the sun loses its splen- 
dour, and appears of a dim violet hue ; a light 
warm breeze is perceived, which gradually in- 
creases in heat, till it almost equals that of an 
oven. Though no vapour darkens the air, it be- 
comes so grey and thick with the floating clouds 
of impalpable sand, that it is sometimes neces- 
sary to light candles at noon-day.* Every green 
* Ante's Observations on Egypt, p. 94. 
