[Illustration: PLATE I. NORTH SIDE OF THE BIRKET EL QURUN, LOOKING WEST.] SURVEY DEPARTMENT, EGYPT. * * * * * THE TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY OF THE FAYUM PROVINCE OF EGYPT BY H. J. L. BEADNELL, F.G.S., F.R.G.S. [Decoration] CAIRO NATIONAL PRINTING DEPARTMENT 1905. CONTENTS. * * * * * INTRODUCTION. PAGES. Surveying operations. Soil survey. History of discovery of Fayûm vertebrate fauna 9 PART I.—TOPOGRAPHY AND STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY. SECTION I.—CULTIVATED LAND— Area. Composition and character of alluvial soil. Connection with Nile Valley. Bahr Yusef and canal system. Ravines. Alluvial deposits of Lake Moeris and prehistoric lake. Increase of cultivated lands 11 SECTION II.—THE BIRKET EL QURUN— Site, depth and dimensions. Remnant of Lake Moeris. Continual shrinkage of lake. Deposition of sand in lake at present day. Salinity of lake. Possible underground outlets. Currents 12 SECTION III.—THE SURROUNDING DESERT REGION— Area and limits of Libyan Desert described. Rocks forming the area. Importance of dip. Chief causes of origin of Fayûm 14 SECTION IV.—WADI RAYAN AND NEIGHBOURHOOD— Colonel Western’s survey. Sir William Willcocks’ report. Borings. Details of proposed reservoir. Schweinfurth’s estimate of salt content. Willcocks’ “Assuan Reservoir and Lake Moeris.” Detailed geological examination not yet undertaken. Traverse from Nile Valley through Wadi Muêla and Rayan to Gharaq. Warshat el Melh and springs of Wadi Muêla. Der el Galamûn. Pass from Muêla to Rayan. Sand accumulations. Wadi Korif. Springs of Wadi Rayan. Analyses and output of water. Geological succession in Wadi Rayan. General geology of floor and bounding walls. Ridge separating Rayan and Gharaq. Apparent absence of Nile deposit and freshwater shells in Wadi Rayan. Question of leakage through ridge. Permeability of Rayan if used as a reservoir. Salinity of water 16 SECTION V.—CENTRAL AREA OF THE REGION— Area and features. Dip-slope of surface. Drainage basins of central plain. Pools formed by rainfall. Tamarisk growth. The eastern area covered by alluvium. The bounding plateau to the north. Ghart el Khanashat dunes 24 SECTION VI.—THE RIDGE SEPARATING THE NILE VALLEY AND FAYUM—