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[Page 4]
Biljoradek & the B B. one named Mukabag, the other Mogarra, & being nearer to Cairo, may perhaps be pointed out in bearing, more readily than Biljoradek. As a Check to the bearings pointed out, it may be advisable to ask those of places already known, as Terane, Fairmie and Bilbeys.
I may congratulate you on Mr. Hornemans having corroborated in every particular the fact of Seewa being the Oasis of Amnon.
The opening or Gap seen by you, & Pococke near Sakkaia may also be enquird about.
I now turn to the East of the Nile - The Road from Cairo to Suez is given generally by Niebuke, but the extent of the hilly tract Northward & the beginning of the low Desert & Alluvion is not known, enquiries concerning the Bearings & distances of certain points in this boundary will probably produce some usefull matter towards the Geography of that quarter. The positions of Bilbeys (Bastees & Salahiah are given by the French observations of Lat & Long. Also a general Map of the Lake Monzala & position of Tineh or ancient Pelusium, & the Mouths of the ancient Tanitie & Mandezian Branches, But the interval between Pelusium & Gaza is vague, & rests merely on Caravan Routes. Accordingly the different course between Salahiah & Gaza is a desideratum. Pelusium itself is not fixd by Obs.n but is added by Triangles extended from the Tanitio Mouth, at no great distance, & may be received.
The French have also Approxd the place of the ancient Canal of Suez near Bubartis, pointing towards Suez, but I do not know what more they have done respecting the trace of it through the Desert. Accordingly the position of the Lake Sheb & every other particular to the east of the Line of Desert & Sand Hills that border the course of the ancient Pelusian branch by Bilbeys &c is wanted.
The French have taken a great number of Observations of Lat &, Lon. as well in Upper as in Lower Egypt. No doubt you will find in Cairo, Copies of the Decades that contain them. But Rahmany is omitted, & I am not satisfied with the Reports of the dist. between Rosetta & Alex.a - Rahmany & Alex.a