The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XVI, No. 6 [‎365r] (82/232)

THE OASES OF THE MUDIRIEH OF ASSYUT.
655
Lano cerrada, Enclosed lake (6, 7). Zwarte vlei. _ .
Serra da Estrella, or Star mountains (5, 6). Now Outemqua mountains.
Cabo talhado, Steep cape (2, 5, 6, 7). Cape Seal, 34 G S - Plettenburg
Bahia or Angra das alagoas, that is, Bay of the Lagoons (6 7, 8). Now Plettenburg
bay The old name does not seem to be very appropnate.
Terra das trovoados, Land of Thunderstorms (7). The Langekloof.
Pnntn dp Ttuv Pirez (5). Seal corner point, 34: 2 S. . j rr
Po«£ ZoWdas queimadas, Forest fire point (5,6,7). Now CapeSt. Francis and Krom
bay. ^ ,
Golfo dos Vaqueiros, Cowherd bay (2, 5). St. Francis bay.
Cabo do recife, Reef cape (5, 6, 7, 8). Still Cape Recife, 35 S.
Golfo da Boca, Rock bay (5, 6, 7). NowAlgoabay.
Ilheos da Cruz, Cross islets (6, 7, 8). St. Croix, 33° 48 S.
llheos chaos. Low islands (6, 7, 8). Bird islands, 33° 50 S.
Ponta do Carrascal, Green Oak point (6, 7). Now Woody cape.
PadrSo de S. Gregorio, St. Gregory’s pillar (2, 5, 6), March 12. Now cape Padron ,
33° 45' S. The “ S. Georgo ” of (2) is a clerical error.
Pe^dlTFmZ^ZZS^L (Ml). Now SMp rock, to the ^st of Jort Alfred,
33° 38' S. Pacheco uses Penedo das Fontes as a synonym for the Ilheo da Cruz.
nha do In/ante (2, 4). Now Three Sister., off Wet Point ©•
Rio do Infante (6, 7, 8)- The Grest Fish river, 33 30 S., 2, 8 E.
THE OASES OF THE MUDIRIEH OF ASSYUT.*
By A. R. GUEST.
The oases of Dakhilah and Kharjah lie at the foot of the ^ ste ^ e
plateau of the Libyan desert, which here ends in a steep wall <> f ^ s -
known to the natives as El Muhaita, or Muhita, “ the enclosure. n
the south and south-west the ascent of the land to the desert leje^ ■nuoh
more gradual. There is in this direction a vast amount of sand, ^d
the hills are smaller and scattered. The two oases separated^by
considerable stretch of desert, the passage of which, wr* ‘^e me
available, occupies two days, and there is scarcely any intercourse he ween
their inhabitants. The oases owe their fertility to the P--- ^'inder-
ground water, which, being under pressure, comes t0 the surf ^
borings are made. Most of their artesian wells, known locally as
“ains," are ancient, the art of making them having MT^yjieen
lost for a long period, and only resumed in this century Jh^fioorof
the oases is generally undulating, and as a ru e e soi roun d
ever water can be found. Neither the small strips ofcultiva on round
the “ ains,” nor the palm-groves, which indicate the position of the
rare villages, are, however, prominent features in the landscape. Sa -
dunes, lying north and south in the direction of the prevailing winds
occupy extensive areas. Many are quite bare, and, progressing under
the action of the wind, are most destructive.
* Abbreviated from a r^^nted by order ofthe Mmietrr of the Interior, Cairo
1900. The illustrations are from photographs by Dr. . on z.