EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 23 
where are ruins, but you cannot go to them, for it is furrounded 
hj water, and there are no boats. He then entered into an 
enchanted hiftory of this place ; and concluded with diffuading 
me from going there. I foon found, from the defcription, that 
Arafchie was not the Oafis of Ammon, but conceiving it 
fomething gained to pafs farther weft, and that poffibly fome 
object might eventually offer itfelf that would lead to farther 
difcovery, I determined, if it were poffible, to proceed thither. 
For this purpofe we were obliged to ufe all poffible fecrecy, 
as the Siwefe were bent on oppofmg our farther progrefs. An 
agreement was therefore made with two perfons of the poorer 
clafs of the natives, for a few zecchins, that they Ihould con- 
duct us to Arafchie-, and if what we fought for was not there 
found, that they fhould, on leaving it, proceed with us to the 
firft watering-place that they knew directly to the fouthward. 
The remainder of the time I ftayed at Siwa was employed in 
combating the difficulties that were raifed about our departure; 
and it was not till Monday, 12th March, that we were enabled 
to commence our journey weft. 
The Oafis which contains the town Siwa, is about fix miles 
long, and four and a half or five wide. A large proportion of 
this fpace is filled with date trees ; but there are alfo pomegra- 
nates, figs, and olives, apricots and plantains ; and the gar- 
dens are remarkable flourifhing. They cultivate a confiderable 
quantity of rice, which, however, is of a reddifh hue, and 
different from that of the Delta. The remainder of the culti- 
vable land furnifties wheat enough for the confumption of the 
inhabitants. 
