by hills.) Very probably, Mr. Horneman’s idea goes to the whole
space inclosed by the hills; Mr. Browne’ s to the fertile part of it
on ly ; and it must be acknowledged, that the dimensions given by
the latter, accord with those of the ancients,
Mr. Horneman says, that all the waters of the springs, are consumed
in the irrigation of the gardens and fields; so that no stream
•flows beyond the district. It is certain, that Edrisi describes a river
named Costara, at eight journies from Bahnasa, in the Lesser Oasis,
towards Fezzan ; agreeing almost exactly with the distance to Siwah
from Cairo, fifteen days ; which, at 19 G. miles, are equal to 285;
and the construction has 275. According to Mr. Horneman s description
of the copious and numerous springs in Siwah, one of which
alone, he says, forms a considerable rivulet, and another, several
rivulets, it might be expected that some of the waters flowed to a
considerable distance before they were entirely absorbed in the
sands. The Costara river, may, however, flow from a distinct fountain
in the Desert: but the coincidence o f position is remarkable.
The description of the lands of Siwah, by Mr. Horneman, and of
the Greater Oasis, by Mr. Browne, appear to be of the same nature;
each possessing copious fountains and verdant fields, fitted either for
pasture or cultivation. The lands of the Lesser Oasis are said to
be much the same, though rather inferior: whence it would seem,
that the Valley of Mogara, which has good water at the depth of
four feet, only wants that it should spring up to the surface, in
order to form it into an Oasis, like the others!
I I I .' The Lesser Oasis.
Mr. Horneman was told that at the distance of seven journies
from Siwah, five from Faiume, and at only a few from Biljoradek,
there existed a country, similar to Siwah, and whose inhabitants,
who are less numerous, spoke the same language. He with reason,
concluded it to be a part of the Lesser Oasis of the ancients; and,
from its position, it ought to be the northern extremity.
If by a few days journey, when five and seven have been mentioned
before, we may understand three, or thereabouts, the place
in question, should lie in the parallel of 28° 50’ ; at about midway
between Cairo and Siwah; * and 89 G. miles to the westward of
Bahnasa, at the canal of Joseph. Hence it falls very near to Bahnasa,
in the Oasis, which has been already placed,at 83 from the
forementioned place.
Ptolemy places the Lesser Oasis in lat 28° 45': and at 75 G.
miles to the west of Oxyrincbus, taken for the last mentioned
Bahnasa. He no doubt meant to express some particular point in
the Oasis; and that point, probably, the principal town, which may
have been on the site of Bahnasa in the Oasis. So that there is a gene-
ral agreement between the ancient and the modern accounts of it.***
But Mr. Browne, when at Charje in the Greater Oasis, was told,
that the southern part of the Lesser Oasis, named by the inhabitants'
* Edrisi places it at seven journies from Cairo j probably through Faiume.
t Geography of Herodot. p. 560, 561.
t Most of the modern authors, who have, mentioned this Oasis, speak o f ruins
existing in it. In particular Mr. Browne, p. 133.
u