'Military Report on South-West Persia, Including the Provinces of Khuzistan (Arabistan), Luristan, and Part of Fars' [‎38] (65/466)

38
The diurnal variation of the barometer is somewhat peculiar. There i s
only one maximum at 10 a.m ., and one minimum at 4 p.m . from which
Hme it rises gradually till 10 the next morning, the depression which should
occur at 4 a.m . being hardly perceptible. The barometer is not a safe guide
is a warnino- ao-ainst bad weather in the gulf, the worst weather S ometime 8
' n rrino- without any change in the mercury column, or the change not
occurring till the gale has set in (seeBushire,
The rise and fall at springs varies in different parts between 6
nnil 10 feet while at neaps it is only from 1 foot to 4 feet. At neaps the rise
above low-water springs is from 3 to 7 feet. The day and night tides
are very unequal. In the winter the night, and in the summer the day tide,
is the superior, while the second tide in either case is quite insignificant.
The rise and fall is effected by the winds, as is the general level of the sea,
to the extent of a foot or more, the lowering the general level of the
o-ulf and the south-easter raising it; so that in the first case the tides will
appear not to rise so high and to fall lower than usual, and the reverse in the
second case. . , .. .
The liigliest tides occur about tbe August springs, winch may be attri.
buted to the heaping up (during June, July, and August) of the water of
the Arabian sea on its northern coast, due to the south-west monsoon.
The variation of the compass is westerly, and ranges from 1° to 2° (1870).
It is decreasing slowly [see page 114).
Health. It is in the cold weather that fevers are most prevalent; the
so-called gulf fever of the remittent type is very dangerous, and convalescence
is only possible by leaving the gulf. Cholera^ is generally present in some
part or other of the gulf, and carries off great numbers of the natives; its
ravages are said to be worst at Bahrein. Small-pox is also common. A small
encampment at a short distance from the Arab town is probably a kind of
lazaretto for this disease, and should be avoided by parties landing.
Ophthalmia is common among the natives. Europeans also suffer [sat
'pages 61 to 68).
The hot weather does not seem to be absolutely unhealthy; the men
suffer, it is true, from aggravated prickly heat, boils, &c.; but, provided they are
kept out of the sun and ventilation attended to, there will be probably little
serious sickness. As little work should be done aloft by day as possible. Awn
ings are a sine qua non, and the men should sleep on deck (the dew does not
appear to haVe an injurious effect). Nothing but absolute necessity can
justify the exposure of the men to the sun, and white hats should be insisted
on.
Eor those who may consider these remarks extravagant, the case of
H.M. S. Liverpool niay be recorded. Through unacquaintance with the
danger, this ship lost three lieutenants and twenty to thirty men in one day
just as she entered the gulf on her passage up to Abu-shahr in August l&a
from the heat only. The thermometer ranged from 103° to 106°.t
* This is not correct. Cholera is rare, never endemic.— C.JE.H. > . .y
f I never felt anything so oppressive in Baghdad as this heavy damp heat, which^ is <1^
stifling. The thermometer only 95°, but it is 91° all night. Sleep is out of the question. ^
hot sulphurous blasts of a Baghdad saiim are quite refreshing compared with it. I
the prickly heat so bad before. I am one wound all over my body. It is not the heat 1
so much to complain of as the steam and closeness, which is very relaxing and irritating- v
poor Baghdadis look like ghosts, and even they are covered with prickly heat. " Sir/' saia
Aga to-day, " we can live in fire, but not in a Turkish bath. J " . ^
He said this upon my remarking that it was quite delightful to hear the Baghdadis a
©bliged to complain of heat {Rich).