The native American., 1839-01-26

ment of the dromos in this plain, and the hghes,
water mark at present feet above the same pave
ment Mr.. Wilkinson concludes that the Nile al
this day oyerfows great portion Of land formerly
above the reach Of its nundation. Taking these
measurements as correct they show an accumula-
ton of nearly seven feet Of land in thi part of the
Egyptian valley, since the period when their
Coossi were erected, an era about ld30 years be-
fore Christ. In period OF 1868 years. therefore,
eighty two inches Of soil have been produced in
Upper Egypt by the inundation OF the river; a
little more than the thirty part Of an inch
every year. If the bed of the river had not risen
along with.this accumulation of the soil upon the
land the consequence must have been gradual
| but certain failure in the inundaon, which would
at length have narrowed the limits of possible cul
tivation far more than they have been increased
giving over to the dominion Of the desert greater
space than has ever been preserved or redeemed
from its incursions. And this is Just the result
which some writer's, emitting the important fact of
the increase of the channel Of the Nile have pre-
dicted
From these colossal statues We passed across the
plain to temple more extensive than any Gkher
on the western side Of the river but almost entire
| Iy buried beneath the ruined village of Mednet
Habou, whose wasand novels of half baked brick,
|
surround and cucumber the ancient Egyptian
edifce to the summit the Arabs having built their
houses upon lis roof. Although the temple is thus
rendered almost subtewanean, you can still trace it
on the northern side nearly in its whole length
the beautiful projecting cornice at the top being
quite unbroken for several hundred feet. On the
same side large portion of the wall that borders
the largest area or court of the temple, has been
partially laid open from the ruins and being covered
with historical scu pures possesses great interest
for the student of Egyptian antiquities. The sub
jects are principally battle scenes, and although
the figures, separately considered, are rudey drawn
and engraven apparently without any knowledge
of the perspective, in the whole together there is
other things, is exhibited, but with boats and
in such confusion that it is extremely difficult to
trace intelligent details, as it is, indeed IN almost
all these extensive surfaces OF sculpture SO that
one admires the ingenuity and patient observation
Joined with thorough previous study OF hierog'y-
phics, which could have enabled any man to make
detailed intelligent description. MIR. Wilkinson,
however, has given such description, in his work
on the Topography of Ancient Thebes, having
qualified himself for the task as no other man has
done, by several years Of life spent amidst Egyp-
tian tombs Of ruins. But even with his book IN
ones hands, it is difficult matter to make out the
Interpretation nor can find that skill developed
| in these sculptures which has been described and
praised by some travellers in such exaggerated
terms They reminded me strongly of the Mexi-
can paintings, but seemed hardly SO far advanced
in art. The tameness and similarity OF the coun-
Itenauces under all circumstances, is noticeable
In the battle piece above referred to, for example,
the hero represented standing the shore upon
the heads of his PROSTATE enemies, and shooting
arrows among the occupants OF the boats IN the
water but his face is as mild as if he were pre-
nouncing benedction, instead Of breathing fury
and deah. However, the general vigor and ener-
gy of the warlike scenes delineated is SO great,
| that it was not wholly without reason to say that
even Homer might have gathered from their study
ideas for the composition of his liad. The Sesos-
tries of the Egyptians whose exploits are en-
craven and celebrated in sculpture upon these
stupendous temples, was almost as great war
rior and hero in real life as the Achilles OF the
Greeks in the poetry Of Homer.
The buildings at Mednet Habou consist Of two
separate temples one Of which is as modern in its
date as the time of the Romans in the kingdom: :
the other is of true Egyptian antiquity and extent
being more than 500 feet in length, and must have
formed when disencumbered Of its rubbish, an OBJ
lject ofexceedng grandeur. Only two OF its courts
are visible to advantage, but these with their mag
nifcent eateways, fill the mind with admiration.
The first 10 feet by 1876 in its dimensions, has on
one side row of seven Osuide or mummy-shaped
pillars, and on the other, eight circular columns
with bell-shaped capitals. The second, into which
you pass from this, is Of the noblest in all the
temples. 1t is l23 feet by l33, surrounded on the
east and west sides by row Of massive columns
and on the north and south by row of gigantic
Osirade pillars, and behind these another row Of
colossal columns, forming corridor Of very grand
effect. A circuit of patry columns, which once
formed part of Coptic Christian church erected
within this court rather increases the sence of its
magnifcencc to the mind. Every part of it is
covered with sculptures, the pillars, the columns,
the roof the gateways, and the walls. The re-
naming part ofthe temple is completely filled and
enclosed with rubish, so that you can only trace
the beautiful external cornce of the northern
wall.
Yours truly, u. B.C.
~ D,v,,ns Dr,TH-One hitter night