An Egyptian oasis : $b An account of the oasis of Kharga in the Libyan desert, with special reference to its history, physical geography, and water-supplyBeadnell, H. J. L. (Hugh John Llewellyn)
History
An Egyptian oasis : $b An account of the oasis of Kharga in the Libyan desert, with special reference to its history, physical geography, and water-supply
At Jaja there are scattered doums and a number of acacias, as well
as a small dense grove of date-palms, altogether a goodly number
of trees. The well is a broad and deep pool surrounded by vertical
walls of brown clay, representing the material from time to time
thrown out during the process of cleaning. Large bubbles of gas are
generally to be seen rising intermittently to the surface, while at
times the pool becomes perfectly still, except for the occasional
small bubbles which continue to rise at different points. Then
follows a strong flow from the actual bore (situated near the south
side of the pool), the water boiling up and breaking the surface
with considerable force and noise, which may continue for several
minutes before everything becomes quiet again. In all probability
the markedly intermittent flow is due to the temporary blocking
of the bore-hole by the sediment forming the bottom of the pool,
the mud being from time to time forced back by the accumulating
pressure of the water and gas below. The temperature of the water
was found to be 86° F., and the yield was stated to amount to 1½
qirats, or about 35 to 40 gallons a minute.
Dakhakhin is charmingly situated on the southern slope of an
eminence, alongside a dingle, prettily wooded with tamarisk and
doum-palms. The well is on the north side, and higher up than the
village. One of the irrigating channels, cut out near the bottom of
the western slope, follows the winding of the dingle to a thick clump
of date-palms near the mouth. Higher up, alongside the village, the
water in another channel races down the hill in a series of little
runs and falls, the stream threading its way through fruit-gardens
containing date-palms and vines, fig, mulberry, and apricot trees,
as well as pomegranates and bananas.
Ain Dakhakhin is a huge pool when full, though at times, when the
retaining bank on the south side is cut, a large part of its sandy
bed is exposed. The flow, taxed, I believe, as 3½ qirats (110 to
120 gallons per minute), varies at different times of the year,
and depends to a considerable extent on the amount of sediment in
the pool. Cleaning is periodically undertaken, in order to remove
the sand which drifts in from the north side in large quantities.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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