The extreme south-east corner of Egypt was first explored in 1831 and 1832 by LINANT DE BELLEFONDS, who twenty years later published an interesting account of his travels and discoveries.[6] The manner in which Linant Bey’s expedition arose is very curious. He had read the accounts of Diodorus and Arabic writers concerning the ancient gold mines of the Eastern Desert, and when he accidentally discovered small crystals of gold in quartzose detritus brought down the Wadi Alaqi into the Nile by a storm torrent, he at once inferred that this wadi would lead him to the mines. The Arabs told him, quite correctly, that the down-wash had its origin far up the wadi, nine days’ journey from its mouth. Reporting his discovery to Mohammad Ali Pasha, that prince commissioned him to lead an expedition to search for the mines. Starting from Aswan, Linant journeyed south-east and discovered the ancient mines and ruins at Gebel Seiga (_Bp_), and subsequently the more extensive workings at various places round the head of Wadi Alaqi, such as Egat (_Ft_) and Darahib (_Gu_). From the Alaqi district he proceeded northward to Bir Shinai (_Hr_), and thence eastwards round the spurs of the mountains to Bir Meisah (_Kr_), east of which he discovered the old mines of Romit (_Ls_). Crossing the great Wadi Di-ib, he appears to have reached Bir Akwamtra (_Os_), at the foot of Gebel Elba. His desire to explore the mysterious Elba mountains was frustrated by the Arabs, and he only ascended a minor peak before commencing his return march. From Elba he returned _via_ Bir Meisah, Bir Beida (_Ho_), and the Wadis Khashab (_Gn_), Hodein, Rod el Kharuf (_Ch_), and Kharit to Daraw on the Nile, discovering the springs of Abu Saafa (_Em_) in the course of his march.