190 
DESCRIPTIONS OF EGYPT. 
the Abyssinian, Nubian, and DarFur caravans, is 
much better known, and its position is more ac- 
curately determined than that of the Oasis Par- 
va. It is placed by Ptolemy in N. L. 26*^ 55', 
by which he probably intended to mark the site 
of the principal town. Strabo places it seven 
journeys from Abydus, and Herodotus seven 
journeys from Thebes. The latter distance is 
nearly correct, but that given by Strabo is too 
great, as the site of Abydus is only ninety-five 
miles from the nearest point of the Oasis. Ac- 
cording to Herodotus, it was inhabited by a Sa- 
mian colony when visited by Cambyses ; a cir- 
cumstance the more probable, as, at that period, 
Samos flourished as a maritime power, and enjoy- 
ed particular immunities from Amasis of Egypt. 
According to Strabo, it abounded in springs, and 
was fruitful in vines and other productions. It 
was traversed by Poncet in 1698, on his way to 
Abyssinia. Maillet, who resided in Egypt about 
the beginning of last century, imagined that this 
territory was fertilized by the waters of the Nile, 
conducted across the hills by an ancient canal. 
He places very justly the nearest point of the 
Oasis to Egypt, in the direction of Manfalout, 
from which Poncet commenced his journey. 
Browne, who traversed this Oasis on his journey 
to Darfur, has contributed most to the illustration 
of its position and topography, as well as the na- 
