— 109 — 
which the water is derived, the actual temperature at the point of exit being 
dependent on local conditions, such as the depth of the well and the rate at 
which the water finds its way to the surface. It is probable that the water- 
bearing table has its outcrop in the rainy regions of Darfur, although some of 
its water may be derived by direct infiltration from the Nile in its upper 
reaches. 
42. Kharga oasis. — Kharga, the easternmost of the two southern oases, is a 
north and south lying depression, mostly bounded by steep and lofty escarpments 
but open to the south and south-west. A great part of its floor, which is composed 
of the Nubian sandstone, is buried under sand accumulations. There are seven 
principal villages, besides numerous hamlets and smaller settlements, with a total 
population of under 8,000. Taxes are elvied as in Dakhla and amount to slightly 
over £E. 1000. The adult palm trees in the oasis number about 60,000 and the 
cultivated lands have an area of some 4,500 acres, or half an acre and eight 
palm trees per inhabitant. The crops raised do not appear to be sufficient to 
support the population, as a certain amount of grain is imported from Dakhla. 
Dates are exported to the Nile valley, though in less quantities than from Dakhla 
and Baharia. 
The general level of the floor of the oasis lies between 50 and 130 metres above 
sea level, though near Qasr Zaiyan a limited area appears to lie below sea level. 
Water is met with in most localities on digging to a moderate depth ,but the 
best supplies are from deep wells ; as in Dakhla the majority of the wells are 
of considerable antiquity, though some have been recently made with modern 
boring plant. With an increased water-supply cultivation could be very much 
extended, as there are large areas of unoccupied alluvium covered land within 
the oasis. The same difficulties exist in Kharga as in the other oases, though 
here perhaps aggravated by the encroachments and movements of blown sand, 
namely, the lack of control of the wells and water-supply and the apathy of the 
inhabitants generally. 
43. Baharia oasis, lying 180 kilometres west of Minia, is a large natural 
excavation 150 metres deep and entirely surrounded by escarpments. The 
cultivated lands bear a very small proportion to the total oasis-area ; their 
general level is 110-115 metres above sea level, rising to 155 metres at Ain-el- 
Haiss in the southern part of the depression. There are four chief villages with 
a population, inclusive of outlying settlements, of just over 6,000. The standard 
of public health in this oasis is low, mainly owing to febrile disorders. The total 
area of cultivated land is about 2,500 acres (barely | an acre per inhabitant), largely 
made upof palmgroves; rice, wheat and barley are grown, but the area sown with 
cereals has of late years being decreasing in extent owing to a diminished output 
from the springs. Baharia is par excellence the date-producing oasis of Egypt 
and very large quantities are annually exported to the Nile valley; besides date- 
palms the gardens contain numbers of olive, apricot and other fruit trees. 
Taxation is on palm trees and land. 
The water-supply is derived from the Cretaceous sandstones forming the floor 
of the depression, the water rising naturally to the surface of the lowest areas. 
In numerous cases long adits have been driven into the rock to obtain an 
