10 SOIL AND CLIMATE.

of nature might afford ; and, in a sliort time, he is

stretched upon the bed of sickness, from which no

stranger is entirely exempt ; thus, of all the Euro-

peans who have visited these regions, and sojourned

there for any time, but very few have escaped with

their lives, as far as our observations at present

reach ; for the miasmata with which the air is im-

pregnated, arising from the morasses, the unwhole-

some water, the damp south winds, penetrating to

the very nerves, all co-operate to wear out the

thread of life ; and every one hastens, if it be, in-

deed, in his power, to quit this unhealthy climate

as quickly as he possibly can. Do not imagine that

the showers clear the atmosphere, as is the case in

Europe, for they are immediately followed by in-

tense heat, which, during my residence in the coun-

try attained a degree of 30° R.=99° Fahrenheit.

December and January are the most healthy

months, but the nights are then so cold that the

thermometer frequently falls to 8", or even 4° R.,

(50° or 41° F.,) especially shortly before sunrise. This

rapid change from the extremes of heat and cold,

and the pernicious vapours, are very deleterious in

their effect on the constitution of man, especially

on the health of strangers coming from the northern

districts of Egypt or from Europe ; and, indeed, few- men can ever totally accommodate themselves to

this climate.