MR. HORNER ON THE ALLUVIAL LAND OF EGYPT. 
133 
surface of the ground to the level of the filtration water, was 12 feet 3 inches, and a 
vertical section exhibits the following varieties : — 
Speci- 
men, 
Feet. 
Inches. 
1. 
6 
7 
The surface layer of Nile mud. A blackish brown, fine-grained, indurated earth, not 
distinguishable from the sample No. L, and the analysed standard specimen F ; 
neither is it distinguishable from layer 1. in Excavation A. 
2. 
1 
10 
A grey, sandy, pumiceous-looking earth, effervescing briskly with acid, and when 
moistened, kneading into a plastic clay. Except in being darker in colour, it closely 
resembles sample No. XVII. in all its characters. 
3. 
3 
10 
A dark brownish black sandy earth, closely resembling the analysed standard speci- 
men B, which is a superficial Nile mud. Both effervesce with acid. 
Level of the filtration water. 
This specimen was obtained from under the surface of the filtration water, at a depth 
of about a foot. It is identical with the layer above. No. 3. 
4. 
12 
3 
Here we have 13 feet 3 inches of Nile mud. 
Excavation C. — 684 yards distant from B, and 784 yards due west of the obelisk. 
In this locality ten men were'set to work, while others were employed at the exca- 
vations A, B and D. A trench was cut from north to south, across the line of the 
supposed avenue of Sphinxes, and in the progress of the excavation they came upon 
numerous blocks of stone, the remains of a pavement, and even fragments of a colossal 
Sphinx, which interrupted the regular vertical sinking. The excavations were carried 
round these obstructions, on the north of the treneh to the depth of 12 feet 9 inches, 
on the south to the depth of 13 feet 10 inches from the surface to the level of the 
filtration water. Vertical sections of the soils sunk through exhibit the following 
varieties : — 
