Notes of the Buckingham Lectures; Embracing Sketches of the Geography, Antiquities, and Present Condition of Egypt and Palestine - Softcover

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838. Excerpt: ... pean Establishments, and general convenience.--Nilometer, or Mekias of the Nile--its antiquity and modern uses.--Mohammedans of Egypt--Arabs, Turks, Georgians, Circassians and Mamelukes.--Christian population--Greeks, Catholics, Armenians, Abyssinians, and Copts.--Occupation, Character, and Manners of the several Mohammedan races--State of Female Society, and Manners and Customs of the Women of the East. SUPPOSED CAUSES OF INUNDATION OF THE NILE. At the commencement of the third lecture Mr. Buckingham offered some suggestions relative to the supposed causes of this apparently causeless event. The generally received opinion of the present day is that advanced by the celebrated Dr. Halle, of calculating the area of the Mediterranean Sea, to determine what amount of moisture might be generated from it by evaporation. The southern coast of this Sea, from Gibraltar to Egypt, is sandy and extremely hot. By the constant recurrence of the Etesian wind, this moisture is wafted south in their clouds, which continually are to be seen flying over the whole country, much higher than the usual altitude of clouds. These continue their course until they come in contact with the lofty ridge of Mount Atlas, which, although occupying a position in the central part of Africa, still presents a snowy summit throughout the year. These high moun tains arrest the course of the clouds, and they become condensed, and flow down the ravines in streams, which lead to several lakes at the foot of the mountains; and these becoming overburdened, cause that accession of waters to the Nile which annually inundates the country. Mr. Buckingham dwelt at some length upon the wise arrangement of Providence in the undulating and diversified character of the earth's surface: hill and valley, oce...