The geography and geology of south-eastern EgyptBall, John
Science
The geography and geology of south-eastern Egypt
Ball, John
Geology -- Egypt; Physical geography -- Egypt
The quality of galt water varies very much with the interval since
rainfall and with the nature of the rocks. Sandstone galts are very
pure, because of their short life and the siliceous nature of the
rock. Serpentine and diorite galts contain magnesium and other salts,
and as the loss by evaporation continues the water may become somewhat
bitter and purgative by concentration of these saline constituents,
though galts never suffer to the extent that some wells do in this
respect.
A galt is frequently accompanied by a small spring (_megal_ or
_megwel_); the galt represents the run-off, while the spring receives
the percolating water. Thus for months after a galt is empty it
may in some cases be possible to obtain water in small quantity by
scooping out sand-filled rock cavities close to the basin.
Galts are generally named after the mountain in which they occur,
though when large and well known they may have special names given
to them, as in the case of the Galt el Aguz mentioned above.
=Remarks on Water Transport.=
As will be gathered from the map on Plate III, water supplies are
seldom more than two days’ march apart in this part of Egypt. For
the ordinary traveller it will therefore be usually an ample provision
to carry four days’ supply; in special cases, where it is desired
to camp for any purpose remote from water sources, special provision
will of course have to be made. There is seldom any trouble with the
Arabs about their own water, as when their supplies run short one
or two camels can always be detached from a caravan to fill their
skins from the nearest well, and they are always content to travel
day and night for this purpose. With regard to the quantity of water
to be carried, I found ten gallons per European per day to be ample,
including water for cooking and for one’s personal servants. Water
is best carried in rectangular galvanized iron tanks, each holding
ten gallons, fitted with a good brass or wooden plug; two of these
carried horizontally make a light camel load, and on the march one
can add a little in the shape of tents or bedding to the load. I
have tried the barrel-shaped galvanised steel tanks used by the
mining companies, which hold sixteen gallons each and are easily
carried vertically, a pair forming a camel load; but I have found
them much more liable to damage than the smaller rectangular tanks,
and do not recommend them for regular desert travel.
=List of Water Sources.=
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account