July 15, 1909] 



NA TURE 



71 



are wonderful monuments of persevering toil. The 

 introduction of modern borinp machines and other 

 labour-saving contrivances may probably do much 

 towards increasing the productiveness of the land of 

 these oases in the future. Very interesting informa- 

 tion is given concerning the cultivation carried on in 

 the Kharga Oasis, and its possible extension in the 

 future. The chief crops at present are rice, date and 

 doum palms, and lucerne, though grapes, oranges, 

 and other fruits are produced to a small e.xtent. 



Persian rule, Cambyses sent an ill-equipped e.\pedition 

 to conquer the oases, but the whole army of 50,000 

 men. probably through the treachery of guides, 

 perished miserably in the desert. The Romans long 

 held sway in the oases, and many of the most re- 

 markable of the monuments of the district must be 

 referred to the period of their rule. The work before 

 us indicates the great numbers of objects of archaeo- 

 logical interest which are found in the district, 

 including many Grasco-Roman temples and a won- 



Many ^ 



of these fruits, with cotton and other useful vegetable ! dcrful early-Christian necropolis, as well as verv earlv 

 products, may be largelv sup- 

 plied from these districts, now 

 that communication has been im- 

 proved by the construction of the 

 railway. In spite of the tradi- 

 tions concerning the existence of 

 deposits of gold, silver, and other 

 metals in the oases, it is prob- 

 able, considering the geological 

 structure of the district, that it is 

 never likely to yield mineral pro- 

 ducts of greater value than the 

 ochre, alum, and epsom salts, 

 which the ancients obtained in 

 small quantities as the result of 

 an altogether disproportionate ex- 

 penditure of labour and pains. 



The author, being evidently a 

 keen sportsman, is able to give 

 many interesting details concern- 

 ing the feral life in these singular 

 depressions of the desert. The 

 wild mammals consist of the Dor- 

 cas gazelle, with three species of 

 fox, and occasional striped 

 hyaenas and jackals ; the birds, of 

 sand-grouse, rock-pigeons, turtle- 

 doves, and quail. But I^ritish 

 sportsmen must be prepared to 

 find, among the primitive inhabi- 

 tants of these lands, competing 

 sportsmen, as enthusiastic and 

 probably more experienced and 

 persevering than themselves. 



Although it is to the questions 

 of waUr supply, and the depen- 

 dent problem of agricultural 

 development, that we look mainly 

 for information to this work, yet 

 its author has not been unmind- 

 ful of many other points of 

 general interest concerning the 

 population of 8000 to gooo souls 

 and its distribution. Tliey be- 

 long to Berber tribes, quite dis- 

 tinct from the fellahin of the 

 Nile Valley, but with admixture 

 from various other sources, and 

 the author has been able, 

 during his sojourn among them, 

 to learn much that is of 

 interest about their habits and 

 personal characteristics, peculiarities of land- and 

 water-tenure, their taxation and commercial methods 

 are well described, and the features of their villages 

 and farms are admirably illustrated. Their modes of 

 combating their great enemy the drifting sands from 

 the north, which tend to form ever-advancing sand- 

 dunes, receive especial attention. Some of the results 

 attending this constant sand-drift are illustrated in the 

 figures taken from the work. 



The Egyptian kings, certainly from as far back as 

 the eighteenth dynasty (1545-1350 B.C.), have claimed 

 dominion over these oases. When Egypt fell under 

 NO. 2072, VOL. 81] 



Encroachment of Sand-dunes at Meheriq. From " .\n Egyptian Oasis." 



customs. Their I flint implements and pottery. We learn that Mr. 

 Pierpont Morgan has already had explorations com- 

 menced for the enrichment of American museums, 

 and the completion of the railway may not improbably 

 lead to excursions to Kharga and its temples becom- 

 ing as popular as the trips to the cataracts and 

 temples of the Nile are now. The book before us. 

 which is dedicated to the memory of an old colleague 

 of the author, Mr. Thomas Barrow, who fell a victim 

 to the climate during explorations in the Sudan, ought 

 to help to make known the points of interest at- 

 taching to these wonderful depressions in the great 

 Sahara. John W. Judd. 



