A _Report on the Oasis of Siva. By T. B.
Hohler. (Cairo.)— Mr. Hohler visited the oasis of Siva (otherwise Siwah) in the summer of last year. The oasis, which lies somewhat less than two hundred miles inland, was reached by steamer to Mersa Matron (twenty and a half hours), and camel journey across the desert (five days). Historically it is:known:as Hammonium, and was the seat of the famous Temple and Oracle. Both the past and the present of the place are full of interest. Mr. Hohler's account of its physical conditions, its population, with the industry, trade, exports and imports, is highly interesting. The oasis is, of course, the result of local springs. Its chief produce consists of dates and olives, but there are also corn crops and various vegetables, fruits, &c. The date-palm is the predomi- nating growth of the country, both as to number and value. The total has been recently estimated at a hundred and sixty thousand, of which more than a fourth are wild,—i.e., grown from date-stones. Their fruit is palatable when fresh, but of no value when dried. The very best kind is El Ghazah ; this is eaten by the rich only. The Saidi palm is the most common variety ; of these more than 47,000 worth is exported. Next to the date comes the olive. The average value of this crop is put at 47,200, of which half is consumed locally. The taxes amount to 42,000 by the lunar year (the proposal to change the time of collection to the solar year met with opposition so fierce that it had to be abandoned). The population is unequally divided between the Senoussi and Madani sects. The first wholly occupy the western division, and are in the proportion of five to seven in the eastern. Party spirit runs very high. The social customs of the place are curious. On the whole, isolation does not seem to work for the moral advantage of the people, though physically they are satisfactory. They are fanatic followers of Islam, but show the least possible effect of belief on conduct. One of the two sects forbids tobacco and coffee. Moslems as they are, they drink a fermented juice of the grape.
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