CHAP. XI. CHARACTER OF THE DESERT. 11,5 



have, compared with the whole extent of the 

 country. In the Delta, tlie only sandy places of 

 consequence are here and there on the Libyan 

 shore, and on the coast of the Mediterranean, 

 bearing an imperceptible proportion to the whole 

 superficies of that })rovince ; and, indeed, the sand 

 on the coast is not worthy of notice, nor can it be 

 attributed in any way to the advance of the desert 

 upon the land of Egypt. 



In many countries, — as in France, about Dun- 

 kerque, the Landes, and other places ; in Scot- 

 land, about Nairn ; and in several parts of Europe, 

 — sand drifts occur of great size and extent ; but 

 the same theories are not formed upon their ag- 

 gressions; and we have in this, a proof how far 

 opinions are influenced by the name and by the 

 idea of a desert. 



I am far from affirming that no encroachment 

 of the sand takes place; my arguments are only 

 intended to show, that, taking into consideration 

 the relative advance of the sand, and of the allu- 

 vial deposit, the balance is greatly in favour of the 

 latter ; and the result is, that whatever partial in- 

 jury the sand may have it in its power to inflict on 

 certain spots, the extent of the land is constantly 

 increasing, and the number of square miles of in- 

 undated arable soil is much greater now than at 

 any previous period. 



I must also make some remarks on the nature 

 of the desert, which will be found to differ much 

 from received o])inion ; as the simple mention of 

 ranges of primitive mountains reaching an elevation 



I 2 



