136 
MR. HOUNER ON THE ALLUVIAL LAND OF EGYPT. 
by the Arabs the Bahr-il-Moussa, or River of Moses. A vertical section of the soils 
sunk through exhibits the following- varieties: — 
Speci- 
men. 
Feet. 
Inches. 
1. 
3 
6 
Surface layer. A blackish brown earth, scarcely distinguishable from the sample 
No. III. 
2. 
3 
n 
A grey sandy earth, very similar to layer No. 2. in Excavation B, and containing 
fragments of limestone and brick. In this layer was found a milk tooth (lower 
molar) of an ox, which had been worn down and shed. 
3. 
10 
A brown sandy earth, identical with layer No. 2. in Excavation E. 
4. 
O 
Quartzose sand ; the quartz neai’ly transparent, with rolled fragments of opake quartz 
and chert. 
10 
4 
Level of the filtration water. 
Excavation G. — 1215 yards north-east of the obelisk. 
This excavation was made in the celebrated melon grounds of Pleliopolis, which 
lie on the Bahr-il-Moussa. A vertical section of the soils sunk through exhibits the 
following varieties : — 
1. 
2 
6 
A brown sandy earth, very similar to layer No. 4. in the Excavation E, and the layer 
No. 3. in the Excavation F, and containing fragments of limestone. 
1 2. 
4 
2 
A brown sandy earth, very similar to layer No. 2. in the Excavation E, with nume- 
rous angular fragments of brick and pottery. The upper molar of an ox was found 
in this layer. 
1 
8 
4 
Quartzose sand, undistinguishable from layer No. 4. in Excavation F. 
1 
15 
Level of the filtration water. 
The quartzose sand continued below the water. 
Excavation H. — 615 yards east of the obelisk. 
This excavation was made in a line between the obelisk and a line of mounds which 
probably led to the necropolis of the city, which occupies a wide space of ground on 
the elevated skirts of the desert, due east of the obelisk. A vertical section of the 
soils sunk through exhibits the following varieties : — 
1. 
2 
10 
Surface layer. A blackish brown earth, similar to layer No. 1. in Excavation F, with 
fragments of brick. 
2. 
3 
8 
Chiefly quartzose sand, with numerous rounded fragments of quartz and chert, and a 
partial mixture of the brown earth of the Nile sediment. 
3. 
8 
Quartzose sand, identical with layer No. 4. in Excavation F, and with laj^er No. 3. in 
Excavation G. 
14 
6 
Level of the filtration water. 
4. 
The same sand continued below the water. 
