Art. XV.—Note on the Saltness of the Red Sea

Extract

In the Asiatic Society Journal for September 1835, Mr. Prinsep, the distinguished Editor of that invaluable publication, has given the result of the examination of two bottles of sea-water; one from the Indian Ocean, the other from the Red Sea. The officers of the Hugh Lindsay steamer having reported that, in consequence of the greater saltness of the Red Sea than of the Ocean, it was necessary “to blow-off much more frequently while in that part of the voyage,” Lieut. Burnes had, therefore, brought to India a bottle of the water of the Ocean, and of the Red Sea, which were found to have (at the temperature of 86°), a specific gravity of 1·0254 and 1·0258 respectively; too small a difference to cause any sensible effect in blowing-off. But as lime might exist in greater quantity in the inland sea, the analysis was principally directed to ascertain the proportions of sulphuric acid and lime, the precipitation of which is the cause of the necessity of blowing-off.