DESCRIPTIONS OF EGYPT. 133 
Andreossi found some entire trees, eighteen paces 
in length, in a state of petrifaction. In most in- 
stances, the wood is changed into agate ; but where 
the crystallization is more imperfect, that part which 
formed the substance of the wood exhibits a scaly 
texture, invested with a hard external envelope. 
Here Andreossi likewise found the vertebra? of a 
large fish, which appeared to be mineralized. Sicard 
asserts, that in this valley he observed entire masts 
of ships, and the wrecks of vessels, petrified ; but 
his relation is not confirmed by Andreossi. 
The magnitude of the valley of the dry river, its 
direction towards Feium, and the apparent connec- 
tion with the lake Mceris, strongly support the an- 
cient tradition, that the river Nile, or a part of its 
waters, formerly flowed through these deserts, along 
the valleys of Nitria and the dry river. The allu- 
vial soil of the district of Mariout, on the west of 
Alexandria, corroborates this opinion. Beyond the 
valley of the dry river, the inhabitants of the dis- 
trict of Terane sometimes advance three days' jour- 
ney into the desert, to cut a particular species of 
rushes, which are used in constructing the finest 
mats. 
The only buildings in the desert of Nitria are a 
few Coptic monasteries, the recluse inhabitants of 
which are equally savage with their own solitudes. 
An enclosure of lofty walls, of red hue and naked 
aspect, forms the exterior part of the monastery, 
