64 
ME.  HOENEE  ON  THE  ALLUVIAL  LAND  OF  E&TPT. 
The  first  sinking  in  this  line  was  in  ground  below  the  inundation  level  of  1853,  which 
was  very  nearly  the  same  as  that  of  1851,  at  a distance  of  fifty  yards  from  the  eastern 
slope  of  the  Libyan  Hills,  and  nearly  eight  miles  from  the  left  bank  of  the  Xile.  In  this 
distance  twenty-six  trials  were  made.  Passing  over  to  the  right  bank,  twenty-five  trials 
were  made  in  a space  about  eight  miles  westward.  Thus  fifty-one  penetrations  of  the 
soil  were  made  at  intervals  in  a line  across  the  valley  of  about  sixteen  miles,  and  sections 
of  them  are  given  in  Plates  IV.  and  V.,  with  accompanying  explanations.  In  each 
instance  the  boring  terminated  when  the  filtration  water  was  reached.  The  operations 
were  carried  on  in  the  month  of  July,  except  in  four  instances. 
I would  draw  particular  attention  to  the  sections  24,  25  and  26,  in  Plate  IV.,  and 
to  section  No.  1,  in  Plate  V.,  on  account  of  the  great  depths  to  which  the  borings  were 
there  continued. 
The  instrument  employed  was  an  iron  graduated  rod,  having  a deep  threaded  screw 
to  work  into  the  soil.  The  screw  was  conical,  and  the  samples  of  soil  were  brought  up 
from  the  several  depths  given  without  turning  it ; and  in  separating  the  sample,  great 
care  was  taken  to  keep  it  clear  of  any  soil  adhering  to  the  exterior  of  the  screw,  and  the 
instrument  was  washed  each  time  that  it  was  drawn  up,  before  the  next  descent. 
The  Boring  No.  24  was  made  at  the  distance  of  fifteen  yards  fr'om  the  left  bank  of  the 
Nile,  near  the  village  of  Sigiul,  about  ten  miles  below  Cairo,  the  surface  of  the  ground 
being  3 feet  10  inches  below  the  inundation  level  of  1853.  The  operation  was  carried 
on  from  the  13th  to  the  17th  of  November  1854,  and  was  continued  to  the  depth  of 
50  feet.  The  soil  consisted  of  35  feet  of  argillaceous  earth  (Nile  sediment),  of  various 
shades  of  brown,  and  15  feet  of  bluish-  and  greenish-brown  quartzose  sand.  The  tool 
brought  up  particles  of  “ rubbish”*  from  depths  of  26,  28  and  32  feet. 
The  Boring  No.  25  was  in  the  same  locality,  at  a short  distance  from  No.  24,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  village,  and  was  also  continued  to  the  depth  of  50  feet,  the  sui’face  of 
the  ground  being  3 feet  above  the  surface  at  No.  24.  . The  soil  consisted  of  the  same 
Nile  sediment,  to  the  depth  of  32  feet,  and  of  18  feet  of  quartzose  sands.  Particles  of 
“rubbish”  were  brought  up  from  a depth  of  32  feet,  and  the  sand  at  46  feet  contained 
particles  of  limestone. 
The  Boring  No.  26  was  at  the  south-western  extremity  of  the  same  rillage,  1330  yards 
above  the  intersection  of  the  parallel  of  Heliopolis  with  the  great  Libyan  dyke  of  the 
Nile,  the  surface  of  the  ground  being  4 feet  above  the  surface  at  No.  24.  It  was  made 
on  the  21st  of  September,  1st  and  5th  of  October  1854,  and  was  continued  to  the 
depth  of  50  feet.  The  soil  penetrated  consisted  exclusively  of  Nile  sediment,  \^ith 
some  varieties  of  colour.  From  the  last  five  feet,  the  tool  brought  up  particles  of 
“ rubbish.” 
The  Boring  No.  1 in  Plate  V.,  was  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  at  the  north-western 
extremity  of  the  village  of  Bessousse,  nearly  opposite  to  the  village  of  Sigiul,  and  722 
* Hekektajst  Bex,  in  using  the  term  “rubbish,”  means  particles  and  very  frequently  morsels  of  baked 
clay,  usually  red,  and  of  limestone. 
