OASES* 
189 
Indian geography. The Oasis Tarm^ which lies 
remote from the course of the African caravans, 
has never been visited by any modern traveller, and 
is almost unknown to the Egyptians themselves. 
It is placed by Ptolemy in the parallel of N. L, 
28° 45', about seventy-five G. miles to the west 
of Bahnasa, the ancient Oxyrinchus, a position 
which nearly corresponds to the distance of Bah- 
nasa from Cairo, estimated at seven journeys by 
Edrisi. Bahnasa of Al Wahat is distinguished 
from the Egyptian Bahnasa, or Oxyrinchus, by 
Abulfeda, who places it towards Nigritia. Mail- 
let, in his map of Egypt, places a district named 
Bahnasa to the west of the lake Cairun ; and we 
are informed by Browne, that the Arabs of the 
Lesser Oasis occupy the western shores of this 
lake ; a circumstance w^hich demonstrates the 
proximity of the district they inhabit. Lucas, in 
the province of Feium, was informed of an inha- 
bited spot of considerable extent, a few journeys 
to the west of that district, which abounded in 
dates and palms, though devoid of springs ; a 
position which can only correspond to the Lesser 
Oasis.* Browne was informed, that various ruins 
still exist in this Oasis.t 
The Oasis Magna, which lies in the route of 
* Lucas, Voyage Third, Vol. II. p. 206. 
f Browne's Travels, p. 1S2. 
