THE EGYPTIAN SUDAN glorious, every one was thankful when the hills resumed their wonted clear-cut outlines, and it became again a pleasure to breathe the wonderful Sudan air. On the whole, the climate of the Sudan in January and February is good, and the air is dry and invigorating, but care must be taken to guard against chills, which are very easily contracted in the early morning, and against the heat of the sun between nopn and three o'clock. In February the alternate spells of heat and cold are trying, but they need cause no inconvenience to the traveller, especially if he takes care to keep warm at night, or can sleep in a thick-walled mud hut. Many of the native huts are very comfortable, especially those possessing an inner room which is inaccessible to the north wind. It would be unfair to judge the Sudan climate in the early spring from the weather which we experienced on the hill of the pyramids, for there we were exposed for several weeks to the full heat of the sun by dayj and to the whole force of the wind by night. There was on the hill no soil into which to drive the tent-pegs, and our tents were only kept in position by tying the ends of the ropes to large stones. Thus by night the north wind blew under the tents and made them very cold inside, and by da}' they were filled with hot air which came in in the same way ; and when a storm was raging outside, every object inside was soon covered with a thick layer of sand, and the air was charged with dust. The Sudan Government has, very wisely, spared neither pains nor money in providing for the housing of the officials, and in building rest-houses for the use of inspectors when journeying through their districts, but it seems a pity that sun-dried bricks are not more frequently used in the construction of the houses built for the officials at Khartum. Walls made of burnt bricks absorb much heat by day, and radiate it by night to the great discomfort of those who live within them.

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