The Washington herald., 1909-06-13

the rheumatic health-seeker q suitable
kneading and doubtless form a good part
Of the beneficial effect 70 other persons.
Egypt is not subject 10 wide and violent
variations Of temperature. There Is an
occasional saudstorm OF a mild variety
called the '.khamsin.' which brings i'm
palpable dust into the most tightly closed
room; but the ''khamsin" comes but three
or four times IN a season. blUring the
landscape so that Carlo seems wrapped
Ia a yellow London fog. Il gives the
visitor an opportunity 70 see a sand
storm without imposing upon him the dis
comforts OF a real sirocco. Nearly every
one enjoys a ~khamsin" as an experience.
There are sufferers from catarrhal affec-
tions who insist that It Is beneficial
The mean temperature In Cairo In winter
Is So degrees Fahrenheit, as warm as the
Madeira Islands Because Of the trees IN
Cairo II rains two or three times a year
Along the Upper Nile the slightest show
er causes a sensation among th2 natives
a temperature OF 50 degrees has been
reached in Cairo. but il is very rare BY
early forenoon on the coolest days the
sun always lifts the mercury many de-
grees.
It is much warmer IN Upper Egypt. II
the traveller IS not content with a tenn
worn after sunset. he may take a slow
but comfortable boat for the Upper Nile
or a somewhat less slow and much less
comfortable train IN a day by land. OF q
few days by water. he reaches a climate
where summer clothing may be worn In
January without discomfort. The system
ef hotels from the Mediterranean SOUTH
ward 20 the cataracts OF the Nile IS grad
uaIly expanding and improving Every
effort OF Europeans IN Egypt who are in
terested IN the volume OF tourist travei
is bent toward convincing the traveller OF
the folly OF seeking sun and health on
the Riviera while the nOdding palms that
fringe the Nile beckon the wayfarer TO
rest and recuperation where frost is IN
known and where rain rarely fails
The American visitor. proud Of the fact
that his government came and saw and
Overcame the mosquito IN Havana and
the Canal Zone. IS amazed 70 find a De-
culiarly large and ferocious type of man
eating mosquito in one Of the driest coun-
tries in the world. Every bed IN Cairo
has its mosquito bar. II is used the
year round In the absence OF fly screens
Il rs a necessity. The mosquitoes breed
upon the pools formed by irrigation
bitches and infest the whole country.
Within convenient distance from Cairo
there are several health resorts. HeIouan
a bijou oasis with its famous baths and
its horse races. claims the attention OF
persons who are weary OF pyramid climb
ing. golf, polo. and dancing IN Cairo. or
whose state OF health does not permit
them to dissipate while recuperating.
This town, with its sulphur springs that
were valued BY the Romans. IS in the
desert. Il affords view OF the Nile. a
sky Inc against which pyramids are
etched and a distant view OF the No
kattam hills behind Cairo Il is within
half an hour OF the social gayety OF the
capital
At Luxor in Upper Egypt the health
seeker who has eliminated a part OF his
rheumatism by bathing at Helouan or
climbing Cheops finds a warmer. drier
climate. and more monuments to explore.
He takes his tonic while exploring Thebes
OF muslng upon the grandeur Of the past
before the temple OF Karnack at Assouan.
He may take his sun IN saHboat upon
q teNe duVNo Nlc ASSOudn ldlfls Two or
three times as large as Lake Geneva. and
see the ruins OF ancient Phflae, insulated
By irrigation. II he is master OF the art
OF travelling by easy stages. and enjoys
travel sufficiently not 70 insist upon the
shortest schedule between two points. he
may spend a month or two exploring the
Nile IN a "dahabeah." q sail boat SUI
hciently archaic constantly to remind him
that he IS IN the land OF the Pharaohs.
Those who insist that the expansion OF
agriculture. due 70 British methods OF
irregatiOn, has reduced the violence and
frequency Of sand storms IN Cairo. can
not be taken seriously when the size or
the adjacert desert is considered. But
joan Bull may justly claim that while he
has made Egypt hahitable 10 Occidentals.
and therefore health resort. he has also
improved the condition Of the natives.
The prevalence OF ophthalmia, due 10 the
superstitious belief Of Egyptians that TO
drive insects rom the faces or children
subjects them to the influence OF the
Evil Eye. is still plainly and pathetically
in evidence. But ophthalnic hospitals
are doing much toward aiding the az
fiicted, and medical science is gradually
overcoming opposition.
tCopyrisht lse. By Frederic J. Hsskinl
Tomorrow - PRn-Presbyterian
Alliance.