The evening times., 1900-01-12


world
His Visits to Egypt.
When he returned he said nothing about
his trip but from time to time since then
be has paid mysterious visits TO Egypt and
il has been known that he was in diplo-
matte communication with the govern
ment Now that his secret is out he ad-
mits that he was successful in finding the
mines on the occasion of his first trip, that
they were within a stones throw of one OF
the largest OF the ancient Roman barracks
and that he has kept this secret all these
years simply because he has been unable
10 make advantageous arrangements with
the government For nearly quarter OF
a century he has known where these mines.
so rich in precious stones. were located.
but he has been unsuccessful in securing
the grant that would enable him to oper-
ate them.
Once during this long period OF waiting
II almost seemed as if the treasure was
within his grasp. He had laid the matter
before Nubar Pasha and he was so favor
ably impressed by the scheme that he
promised Mr.. Streeter a company of SOL
ders to guard his property, but he died,
and as the new government was not friend
ly TO the idea another failure was scored.
About year ago Mr.. Streeter made an
other effort to secure his grant of land
from the authorities, and, finally, much to
his surprise, he was successful. His con-
cession gives him the right to carry on his
mining operation within an area of about
140 square miles on condition that the gov
eminent be taken into partnership in the
scheme and that at the end of five years.
he shall withdraw from the company en-
tirely. Hard as these conditions were Mr.
Streeter was very glad to accept them as
he expected to be able to mine vast guam
tity of the gems during the years in which
his concession is in force.
Where Search VIII Be Made.
The land where these unique mining op-
erations will be pursued lies in the centre
of vast depression in a long range Of
mountains which runs all along the Red
Sea coast. In this territory there are at
least two mines that will be worked. One
is about 149 miles from Edfu on the Nile,
and the other is about 120 miles overland
from the same point. To reach either of
these mines it will be necessary to travel
by camel and the stone mined will have
to be brought to the Nile by the same
means Up to the present time this por-
tion of the Arabian desert is practically
unexplored and Mr.. Streeter expects to
make some important discoveries during
the next five years. In February he will
visit Zebara where he discovered the ru-
ms of the Roman barracks more than TWEEN
ty years ago.
To archaeologists this discovery was a
most interesting one as there are few ru-
ins in that part of the country that are
as well preserved. In their day these bar
racks were able to accommodate 10000
men and even today those who visit the
spot are able to obtain an excellent idea
of the ancient Roman architecture. Time
has entirely demolished the roof, it is
true, but in other respects the ruins as
well as those of the Roman oven and the
various temples are in a wonderfully fine
state of preservation.
1t is remarkable however, when one re-
members that when the Roman soldiers
were encamped in this spot they were with
in short distance of the vast mines for
which the authorities had been searching