cade 
= 

TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 53 
Two other geological sections, which the author sketched and coloured, were also 
explained ; the first was a representation of the ‘Granite Peaks of the high Sinaic 
mountains,’ enlarged after Russegger; and the second was entitled, ‘Section of the 
Wadiel Araba, from the Gulf of Akaba to the Dead Sea, showing what portion is now 
lower than the level of the Red Sea.’ He likewise stated that the stoppage of the 
River Jordan through that Great Wadi (supposed to have once flowed through it) 
might have been effected by a volcanic agency, traces of which exist about the Dead 
Sea, and near the head of the same gulf. 
It is impossible in the limits of the present abstract to follow the author through 
his several divisions, wherein he carefully recorded the chief facts relating to the 
rocks, mountains, and plains, and the nature of the respective formations. But some 
of the geological characters, and the different formations of these countries, as far as 
they are at present known, are the following — 
I. Diluvium, alluvium, sand, marine formation, coral rocks, &c. 
II. Tertiary sandstone, upper Nubian sandstone, and oldest diluvium. 
ILI. Tertiary limestone and marl. 
IV. Limestone of the cretaceous series. 
V. Older sandstone, Nubian sandstone, and its marl (lower cretaceous series). 
VI. Unstratified or crystalline rocks; granite, sienite, porphyry, diorite, greenstone, 
felspar, gneiss, chlorite, hornblende, mica and clay-slates, &c. 
VII. Volcanic rocks; basalt, and basaltic lava. 
The distribution of these formations over these regions of Arabia and Egypt is 
briefly thus :— 
A large tract of beds comprised in I. occurs around the head of the Gulf of Suez 
and to the N.W., where exist the salt marshes, Szabegha. Then due N. a strip of 
tertiary sandstone and oldest diluvial beds, II.; next, a narrow piece of tertiary lime- 
stone and marls, III.; again a large extent of II., interrupted by a natrow belt of III. 
running N. and S., which stretches out N.E. nearly to 34° E. long. From thence 
the immense desert of El Tyh with its many plateaux of different elevations, bounded 
by Gebel el Rahah on the W., the Gebel el Tyh range on the S.W., S., and S.E., 
nearly to the line of 29° N. lat. consists of IV., limestone of the cretaceous formation, 
but covered in places by large tracts of sand, gravel, and flints. The western coast 
of the peninsula is I., about as far as Ras Soddur from the head of the Gulf of Suez 
on the W.; but tothe E., including more than half the range of El Rahah, III. pre- 
vails. Between that Ras (cape) and Wadi el Amarah, there intervenes an outlying 
piece of IV. From the last valley (Wadi) to about El] Hamam Faroun, III. again 
comes in, which continues a little to the E. of Howara. From Wadi Gharandel to the 
N. of Wadi Naszb and the well of Morkha, except along the sea-shore and the plain W. 
of the latter spot, which are of I., bounded on E. by Gebel Watah, and from thence 
to W. Naszb in a S.W. direction, IV. extends. From that mountain to Sarbut el 
_ Chadem inclusive, and from Morkha on the coast plain to the head of El Kaa, below 
Mount Serbal on the W., the sandstone (secondary), V., and its marls occupy that 
district. Gebel Araba range, near the sea, is of limestone, IV. ‘The long gravelly 
and sandy plain of El Kaa, which stretches out to the S. extremity of the peninsula 
is I., and more or less covered with pebbles and detritus of the primitive rocks, VI. 
Along the coast there follows a small chain, including the remarkable G. Narkus of 
-V., then succeeds G. Hemam, nearly as far as Tur Bay, composed of IV. Two 
patches of III. occur N. and S. of Tur; but that small town, the only one in the 
peninsula, stands on a raised coral bank and sand, I. South of Ras Sebil there is a 
little tract of III. ; and this reappears at Ras Mohammed; N.W. and N.E. of which 
_ low promontory some older sandstone, V., intervenes between it and the granitic roots 
ofthe Gebel El Turfa. East of Sherm, which is of V., volcanic rocks, VII., are seen, 
and crater-like appearances. hence north-eastwards, V., where an intermediate 
strip of IV. is found at Wadi Nubk. Along the Sinaic coast of the Gulf of Akaba 
upto Noweibia from Wadi Orta inclusive, VI. prevails; a little of V. occurring N.W. 
T 
at Dahab, and in the lower part of W. Sal. 
The unstratified or crystalline rocks, VI., range from the S.E. of Sarbut el Chadem, 
bounded by the S.W., S., and S.E. sides of the elevated sand plain of V., called 
Debbet el Ramleh, and from Wadi Romman, and the N. end of W. Firan, where it 
joins W. Mukatteb, along the eastern edge of El Kaa, to the S. termination of the 
El Turfa chain. Then N.E. of Wadi Sal, and N. of it to the northern branch of 
