_Merga._—To geographers the most important of the new determinations
will undoubtedly be that of the uninhabited oasis of Merga, which had
not previously been visited by a European, and of which the situation
could hitherto only be guessed at from Arab statements. Merga lies in a
shallow depression about 50 metres deep, broken by sandstone hills and
sand-dunes, and extending for some 20 kilometres north-east and south-
west. The salt-lake, near the centre of the depression, measures about
300 metres by 150. It is surrounded by tall rushes and sandhills except
at its south-western end. There are numerous date-palms, both near the
lake and at considerable distances from it, as well as acacia trees and
tamarisk bushes. The neighbourhood of the lake swarms with mosquitoes.
Good and plentiful water was got by shallow digging about 1 kilometre
south-south-east of the observation-spot, and could probably be obtained
by digging almost anywhere in the depression. It is possible that the
names Bidi and Tura el Bedai, shown with a question mark on some Sudan
maps, may refer to different spots within the same depression. Owing to
the plentifully scattered vegetation, the place cannot easily be missed,
either by travellers passing within several miles of the lake, or by
aircraft; but the landing of aeroplanes in the neighbourhood of the lake
might be difficult owing to the extensive sand-drifts.
_Bir Terfawi._—Scarcely less important than the accurate fixation of
Merga is that of Bir Terfawi, the farthest south-west of all the
Egyptian artesian water-sources hitherto known. It will be remarked that
this latest determination places the well some 22′ south and 15′ east of
the position which I had provisionally assigned to it from the rough
data furnished by Lieut. Moore’s traverse of 1916.[60] A knowledge of
the true position of Terfawi is specially desirable for a traveller who
wishes to reach it, owing to the absence of any conspicuous landmark
near it and to the sandy nature of the surrounding country, which causes
tracks to be soon obliterated. There are numerous sandhills covered with
tamarisk bushes around Terfawi, and a little grazing for camels. Besides
the well at which observations were taken, water was found by digging in
the sand at the foot of some tamarisk mounds about 13 kilometres farther
west, and it is probable that good and plentiful supplies could be
obtained at shallow depths near any of the other mounds. The palmtrees
at Terfawi are few and small, and are less conspicuous than the
tamarisk-bushes. These latter should enable the place to be easily found
by aircraft; but landing would require some caution owing to the
prevalence of drifted sand.
_Gebels Kissu and Owenat._—The peaks of these mountains (especially that
of Kissu, because of its isolated character and sharply marked summit)
will form useful points for the connection of future surveys, being
visible from very long distances.
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