A correspondent of the Times, writing from Alexandria, informs the
public that Captain Burton, the African traveller, has made a "find " of unusual interest. At the request of the Khedive, he il/t8 visited the "land of Midian," the desolate region on the eastern aide of the Gulf of Akabah, the easternmost of the two long and narrow estuaries in which the Red Sea ends. Accompanied by M. George Marie, a French engineer, Captain Burton landed in Midian on 2nd April, and in an exploration of some weeks ex- plored a region full of ruined towns, built of solid masonry, with made roads, aqueducts five miles long, artificial lakes, and massive fortresses, all marking a wealthy and powerful people. Their wealth was based on mining operations, and Captain Burton re- ports the existence of gold, silver, tin, antimony, and turquoise mines. The auriferous region is extensive ; indeed, the dis- eoverer believes he has opened up a California, and the Khedive proposes to have the country worked by European capitalists. It will be remembered that in the Bible, Midian is always described as a land full of metals, especially gold, silver, and lead. It is more than probable that Solomon's Ophir was situated there, as the small ships in which be imported gold, ivory, and peacocks were launched at the head of the Red Sea. Midian is tart of the Egyptian Viceroyalty.
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