TO THE COURT OF AYA. 471 
three to four hundred feet below the highest 
portion of the hill which I ascended; so that 
the greatest elevation of the mountain may be 
estimated at about 3600 feet above the Ira wadi. 
“ We found the air bracing and elastic. At 
night heavy dews fell. The thermometer, in 
the morning at sunrise, as I have already men¬ 
tioned, was at 56°, and at the highest 60°. I 
had it in my power to make but one observa¬ 
tion in the afternoon, when it rose to 74°. The 
medium of three observations, taken in the 
evening at eight o’clock, gave 61°. In the dry 
season these mountains are probably healthy, at 
least to those accustomed to live on them, who 
had all the appearance of good health. The in¬ 
habitants of the plains, however, consider them 
extremely insalubrious ; and it is probable, from 
the great quantity of forest, that they are so in 
the wet season, at least to those whose constitu¬ 
tions are unaccustomed to them. 
“ I brought with me abundant specimens 
of the rock, wherever it presented itself: this 
proved to be every where compact limestone, 
either of a blue or reddish brown colour. The 
only mineral was calcareous spar; but the in¬ 
habitants of the village gave us a few small 
specimens of Iron Pyrites , which they said 
was procured in the neighbourhood. 
