A custom termed 'Shemm en-Nessem' (or the Smelling of the Zephyr) is observed on the first day of the Khamaseen. Early in the morning of this day, many persons, especially women, break an onion, and smell it; and in the course of the forenoon many of the citizens of Cairo ride or walk a little way into the country, or go in boats, generally northward, to take the air, or, as they term it, smell the air, which on that day they believe to have a wonderfully beneficial effect. The greater number dine in the country or on the river. This year they were treated with a violent hot wind, accompanied by clouds of dust, instead of the neseem; but considerable numbers, notwithstanding, went out to 'smell' it.
Most of those enjoying the Nile are locals, but a German mother and son also joined in. You can tell them by their pale complexion. Even the horse seemed to be enjoying the water, although I didn't like the small boy who was repeatedly hitting him with a stick for no obvious reason. And Nubi from Blue Sky wet his pants ... .
The police boat was there to stop people from going too far from shore.
What is that brown thing lurking in the reeds? The locals tell me that you don't get alligators this far down the Nile ...