Download Travels in Egypt, Nubia, Holy Land, Mount Lebanon, and Cyprus; in the Year 1814 Book in PDF, ePub and Kindle
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1818 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. Departure for Philae--Locusts--Sail for Ibrim--Ruins at Gartaas--Taeefa-- Cataracts of Galabshee--Ruins at ditto--Temple at Garsery--Arrival at . Dukkey--Description of temple there--Hailed by an officer of the Cashief of Deir--Interview with the latter--Arrival at Deir--Excavations--Narrow escape of the writer--Ibrim--Superstition of natives. As Pococke and Denon did not proceed beyond Philae, and Norden, who ascended as far as Deir, appears rarely to have landed, and does not give any account of the antiquities of Nubia; and though Mr. Legh's work contains much valuable information; yet, as the objects described in it are new, I may be excused for entering again on the subject. I shall therefore relate what I saw in my progress up the Nile above Philae. I had to regret that Mr. Hamilton and his companions were not able to prosecute their researches here. Fortunately I received some information which was of use to me from Mr. Buckingham, an English gentleman, who went as far as Dukkey a short time before me. Having gratified my curiosity at Assuan and Elephantina, I prepared for my voyage; and, as the navigation was stopped by the rocks by which the river is here filled, and the channel so divided and reduced, in the ordinary state of the stream, as not to leave sufficient breadth or depth for boats; I therefore quitted mine, to proceed by land to the shore opposite Philae, and procured asses for my journey. On the 10th of May, I left Assuan, attended by my English servant and an Arab from my boat, having two asses for riding and three for baggage, accompanied by the sheik of Assuan's son, named Osman, as guide and guard; and proceeded through the ruins of the Arab town on the heights above Assuan. The desert here on every...