Chapter I. — Introduction 7

„ II. — SURVEYING METHODS AND GENERAL RESULTS 11

„ III. — THE ROADS CONNECTING THE OASIS OF BAHARIA WITH THE NILE VALLEY AND WITH OTHER OASES 17

„ IV. — TOPOGRAPHY, WITH NOTES ON THE WATER-SUPPLY, INHABITANTS, ETC. 37

„ V. — GEOLOGY 47

„ VI. — ANTIQUITIES 73

PLATES.

PLATE I. — Map of the Oasis geologically coloured at end

„ II. — Sketch Map showing Position of the Oasis „

„ III. — Villages and Principal Sources of Water „

„ IV. — Section through Western Escarpment, 11 kilometres north of south end of Depression „

„ V. — Diagrammatic Section from hill 15 kilometres north-east of Ain el Haiss to the Eocene-Cretaceous junction on desert to west „

„ VI. — Section from Mandisha through Jebel Mayesra and Conical Hill to Western Plateau „

„ VII. — Map of the Synclinal fold from Jebel Hefhuf to its termination in the Western Plateau, 13 kilometres north-west of Ain el Haiss „

„ VIII. — Sketch sections of Eastern Scarp „

ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT.

FIG. 1. — Section across Syncline, 12½ kilometres north-west of Ain el Haiss 66

„ 2. — Sketch shewing probable relations of Eocene and Cretaceous in Anticline on Western Desert Plateau, 11½ kilometres north-west of El Qasr 69

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PREFACE * * * * *

The geological examination of the Oases of the Libyan Desert was commenced in 1897, when two parties were sent out to Baharia Oasis, one under the charge of Dr. Ball, who, with Mr. G. Vuta as topographer, started from Minia and explored the eastern half of the area, while Mr. Beadnell with Mr. L. Gorringe as his topographer started from Maghagha and examined the western side of the oasis. The expeditions commenced work in October, and mapping on the scale of ¹⁄₅₀₀₀₀ the whole area was surveyed before the end of the year. The return traverses were made to Minia by the first party via Farafra to Assiut by the second. The following chapters and maps set forth the results of this joint exploration, certain gaps being filled from the data of Ascherson.

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BAHARIA OASIS * * * * *