In transcribing the following paragraphs from the Internet Archive online version of The Imperial Gazetteer’s entry on Egypt I have divided the long entry into separate documents, expanded abbreviations for easier reading, and added paragraphing and links to material in the Victorian Web. Unless otherwise noted, charts and illustrations come from the original Gazetteer. — George P. Landow
he climate of Cairo is esteemed healthy. It is dry, though in winter heavy rain is frequent. At that period, also, the nights are cold. From July to November North winds prevail, and in general are favourable to the country and the traveller; but they bring with them from the Mediterranean heavy and cold dews, which lower the temperature suddenly, and render it dangerous to be out at night without being warmly clad. In April and May the hot Southerly winds prevail, and no dew falls. The medium temperature is about 70˚ 25' Fahrenheit, varying from 95˚ the maximum, or 86˚ 50' the medium of August, to 52˚ the minimum, or 56˚ 50' the medium of January. It is in order to form a shelter from the great heats of summer, and the cold winds of winter, that the streets are built so crooked and so narrow.
Bibliography
Blackie, Walker Grahamiles The Imperial Gazetteer: A General Dictionary of Geography, Physical, Political, Statistical and Descriptive. 4 vols. London: Blackie & Son, 1856. Internet Archive. Inline version of a copy in the University of California Library. Web. 31 July 2020.
Last modified 1 August 2020