This group of granite mountains is situated near the sea in the extreme south-east corner of Egypt, between longitudes 36° and 37°, on and about the parallel of 22° of north latitude. Part of the group, including the highest peak (Asotriba, 2,216 metres) is in the Sudan, and we shall here consider only the northern parts, which fall within Egypt proper. The principal mountains of the group are Gebels Elba (1,428 metres), Shendib (1,912 metres), Hanquf (1,465 metres), Shendodai (1,529 metres), and Shellal (1,409 metres). Besides these, which form a cluster of high rugged ridges and bristling peaks, there are some outlying hills to the east and west, and it is convenient to consider all the hills east of Wadi Di-ib as belonging to the group. The principal of these outlying hills are Gebels Balatitda, Sul Hamid (572 metres), Qash Amir (724 metres), and Sela (560 metres) on the west, and Karam Elba (586 metres) and Gebel Hadarba (217 metres) on the east of the main masses. The general relations of the Elba district will be seen from the orographical map on Plate I, while the large scale map on Plate XIX shows the detailed features on a larger scale. Towering to great heights from the coast-plain, the mountains of the Elba group are very conspicuous from long distances either on sea or on land when the air is clear. But often for weeks together they are so shrouded in mist as to be invisible even when one is fairly near to them. These very mists, which so often hinder the view being obtained, are the cause of much added beauty to the scene when the air is clear; for the moisture produces a rich vegetation, not only in the wadis, but along all clefts right up to the tops of the mountains, and furnishes in addition the largest and most important water sources in the Eastern Desert. So abundant is the vegetation in all the wadis draining from Elba, that it is impossible to approach the mountains very closely with loaded camels, owing to the closeness of the trees. Richest in water supply and in vegetation of all tracts in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, it is natural that the Elba district should also be the greatest centre of desert population, and there are considerable settlements of Bisharin Arabs round the feet of the mountains. PLATE XIX. [Illustration: MAP OF THE DISTRICT OF ELBA & HALAIB. Ball. Geography & Geology of South-Eastern Egypt. Photo-Metal-Process. Survey Dept. Cairo 1910. (60-190)]