THE NATEON LAKES. 



327 



perhaps to the infusoria inhabiting it, oozes up to the surface from the east side 

 of the valley, whence it flows in rills and rivulets down to the lakes. 



In these basins the waters increase till the end of December, by which time 

 they have attained a depth of about 5 feet. Then they subside, leaving some of 

 the cavities quite dry. Their composition varies with the different basins. In 

 some marine salt prevails, in others carbonate of soda ; while the sulphate of soda 

 is intermingled in diverse proportions. Two of the lakes, presenting a reddish 

 appearance when dried up, leave an encircling ring of red or brown salt, which 

 emits the pleasant fragrance of the rose. The decomposition of the marine salt by 

 the carbonate of lime contained in the moist soil produces crystals of soda, which 



Fig. 98. — The Natron Lakes. 

 Scale 1 : 250,000. 









■:_: ■;."-■ ■■.':. ■ ■ •'.'•■. ' \ 



%:/■■)■:'/: ■■■■■■■r':\-::i-\. 



>4v< 



^^ '-< ;; . ^erel-Baramou^.- :■.. .^■, ■•■.■•:'•.• -'■•f^^fe,^- 



'"ïïi Î'!"" ■W^i& 





50° 10'. 



50°20 E . of Greenwich 



, 6 Miles. 



are deposited in a greyish layer, and which are collected by the natives of Terraneh, 

 a village on the left bank of the Hosetta branch of the Nile.* 



A few springs of fresh water, which have their source in the neighbouring 

 rocks, help to support a scanty vegetation, mainly comprising Mediterranean 

 species and a few sickly palm-trees. The only inhabitants of the Natron district 

 are the inmates of the Baramus, Saint Macarius, and other convents founded in 

 the fourth century of the Christian era, at a time when thousands of monks took 

 refuge in the caves and valleys of this rocky and sandy region. Like the old 

 anchorites, the recluses of the Natron Valley are forbidden to consume the pro- 



* Natron of the Terraneh lakes, according to Berthollet : — 

 Cliloride of sodium . . 52 per cont. I Sand 

 Carbonate of soda . 23 „ Carhonate of lime 



Sulphate of soda . . . 11 ,, Oxide of iron 



3 per cent. 

 0-9 

 0-2 



