The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume X, No. 6 [‎103r] (58/186)

A JOURNEY TO SIWA IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, 1896.
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Captain Sykes : In reply to Mrs. Bishop’s three questions, I do not think that
there was ever more irrigation or cultivation in the Dasht-i-lut than nowadays; in
pre-historic times there is reason to believe that the desert formed an inland sea,
in support of which theory, Sir Frederic Goldsmid mentions that at Yunasi
or Yunsi, on its north-west edge, there is a tradition that the prophet Jonah, or
Yunas, was cast up there and hid for three days under a gourd. As to the second
question, I am afraid that I am not much of a botanist, but I have seen assafoetida
growing in the hills near Kerman, but always at a higher elevation than any
portion of the Dasht-i-lut, where, indeed, one only sees stunted camel-thorn
bushes. Finally, I regret to state that the Ahwaz-Burujird road has not, as yet,
been commenced.
The President : We have listened to a very interesting paper this evening, and as
regards the journey from Khorassan to Kerman, I believe, from what Captain Sykes
has told us, that we shall be able to make some not unimportant additions to the
map of Persia which was brought out under Mr. Curzon’s supervision a few years
ago. I therefore think we may all look forward with great interest to the additions
Captain Sykes will be able to give us. We have all noticed, I think, how very
interesting it is for an accomplished traveller like Captain Sykes to travel over a
country little known, but which has many geographical and many historical re
miniscences connected with it, and I was particularly interested in hearing him refer
to the routes of Alexander and to the identification of places mentioned by Marco
Polo and Friar Odoric. It reminds me how very much we owe to our late associate,
Sir Henry Yule, as regards this country and other parts of Asia. If it had not been
for his elucidations of the great work of Marco Polo, and for his having first brought
to the notice of Englishmen the very interesting narrative of Friar Odoric, we should
not now be able to listen to the researches of those travellers who have benefited
by what Sir Henry Yule has written. We have much to thank Captain Sykes for
besides the paper he has read to us. We have all been extremely interested in
looking at the very beautiful photographic sketches he has shown us on the screen,
especially those buildings at Kerman, and the golden-domed mosques and tombs at
Meshed. We also have to thank him for kindly bringing here, and placing in the
next room for our inspection, a number of interesting products connected with the
province of Kerman, also some tiles and other older remains. I feel confident,
therefore, that you will all wish me to convey to Captain Sykes a very cordial vote
of thanks for his communication this evening.
A JOURNEY TO SIWA IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, 1896.
By WILFRED JENNINGS-BRAMLY.
The famous oasis of Siwa, which lies about 300 miles west of Cairo, cannot be said
■to have fallen from its high estate, for it is probably much as it was when Herodotus,
Strabo, Diodorus, Plutarch, and Pliny thought it worthy of mention; only it has
stood still while the world went on. What it was in the days of its fame before
the reign of Cheops it is still—the first halting-place on the great desert high-road
to the west. Alexander the Great visited it, and it was well known in the Poman
occupation of Egypt, but it was not until 1792 that its fame reached Western
Europe through the visit of Alexander Browne. Mehemet AH sent an expedition
which gathered much knowledge of the place, and enabled him to fix the taxation
YI.—December, 1897.] 2 s.
CP,