PHYSICAL FEATURES. xliii 
contradicts Edmonstone's statement about the existence of the lion, which he says is 
unknown. The temperature and rainfall of this oasis are much the same as in Dakhel. 
To the east of the oasis of Khargeh, and between it and Assuan, lies the small but 
little-known oasis of Kurkur. 
About 500 species of wild and cultivated plants were collected by Acherson in the 
oases of Farafreh, Dakhel, and Khargeh. The greater proportion of these species have 
been found to be of European origin, whereas the majority of the wild and cultivated 
plants of Egypt arc essentially African in their descent. The strong affinity which the 
flora of the oases presents to that of Europe sanctions the inference which has been 
put forward in explanation of it, viz., that the area of the Libyan desert in which the 
depressions lie had been directly continuous with the lands of the Western Mediter- 
ranean before it had formed part of Egypt. It remains yet to be ascertained whether 
the fauna of the oases will also favour a similar conclusion. The foregoing relations 
between the flora of the oases and that of Europe should, however, be kept in view in 
studying the eastern distribution in North Africa of south-western European species of 
reptiles, one or more of which have been reported as far east as the Delta, and one 
species in the south-east even as far as Somaliland. 
Major Lyons 1 , who has traversed the portion of the Libyan desert immediately to the 
south of the oases of Khargeh and Dakhel, describes it as a sandstone plateau falling 
away towards the north. A few hills rise from the plateau, but they are never more 
than 61 to 76 metres above its level. The sandy desert of this great region is almost 
destitute of vegetable and animal life, except in the neighbourhood of some other 
oases to the south, such as the oasis of Selima on the caravan-route between Assuan 
and Dar-Fur, and in the Wadi el Kab to the west of Dongola. The former is of no 
great extent, and lies in an undulating plain, over which low rocks are scattered, and 
it is surrounded more or less by a low escarpment. Browne rested at this oasis for a 
day in the month of June, 1793, on his way to Dar-Fur. He describes it as a verdant 
spot at the foot of a ridge of rocks of no great height, affording the best water along 
the route, but devoid of vegetation " fit for the support of either man or beast." 
Cailliaud, however, in 1822, found tamarisks and date-palms in this small oasis. 
The Wadi el Kab lies to the west of Dongola. It is a depression below the level of 
the high Nile, and is shut off from the river by rising ground about 5 to 6 kilom. in 
breadth, beyond which the land slopes to the west in a succession of terraces for about 
a distance of 11 to 12 kilom., when the edge of the oasis is reached, defined by low 
cliffs. It is about 200 kilom. in length, and in some places 8 kilom. in breadth. 
It is plentifully supplied with water, as there are numerous springs and sheets 
of water, and consequently there are groves of date-palms and other trees and 
sufficient pasturage to support the flocks of the Kababish Arabs who frequent it. 
Its southern end lies within the extreme northern limit of the area of periodical rains. 
1 Quart. Joura. Geol. Soc. 1. 1894, p. 531. 
9 
