Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1845-01-23

count of the vast
TEMPLE on Osin,s Here a specc
of about lO0 feet IN height is hewn
from the mountain, smooth, except Tor
the reliefs. Along the summit, runs a
frieze Of little Monkeys in long array,
ns " the architect fcltthe ubs,irdity Of
the whole business, or as Byron some
times finishes of n sublime sentence
with q scott Then succeeds line
OF hicroglyphics, and some family car
we'd figures also in relief: and then
four colossal giants that seemed TO
guard the portpl. They are seated
on thrones w'ich form with them
selves part Of the living rock and are
about GO feet high. One is quite per
feet, admirably cut, and the proper
tons accurately preserved the sec
ond is dcfaccd as far as the knee the
third in sand to the waist, and the
fourth has only the face and neck vlsi-
bic above tho deserts sandy avalanche.
The doorway stands between the two
central statues, and is surmountcd by
a statue of Isis wearing the moon us
turban.
On entering, the traveller finds him
self in temple which few days
work might restore to the state in which
it was left Just finished 5000 years a
90. The dry climate and its extreme
soIidity have preserved its most deli
cate details from injury besides
which, it was bermetically sealed by
the desert for thousands Of years, until
Burkhnrdt discovered il, and Mr. Hay
cleared away its protecting hills.
A vast and gloomy hall, such ms f.
blick might have given Vathck au-
dience in, receives you on passing
from the flaming sunshine into that
shndowy portal. 1t is some time be
fore the eye can ascertain It's dImen-
sions through the imposing gloom con
trastcd with that glare but gradually
there reveals itself, around and above
YOU, vast nilsc, with pillars formed
n eight colossal giants, upon which
tie light of heaven has never shonc.
These images of Osiris are backed by
enormous pillars, behind which run
y two great galleries, and in these torch
light alone enabled ms to pursue Sc
ries of scriptures in relief, represen-
ting the triumpbs of Remcsis IL, OF
= Scsostris. The painting, which once
enhanced the effect of these spirited
> presentations, is not dimmed, bu
crmbled away where 1t exists, tho
: colors are as vivid as ever.
> This uneaualled hall is 100 feet ii
?. length and eight lesser chambers, al
i sculpturcd, open from it TO tho RICH
If aud left. Straight ON is Il low door
Q way, opening into n second hall o
:. similar height, supported by ioui
square pillars and within all is tn
# ndy,um, in which is a simple altar o
the living rock, behind which thcr
, are four large figures seated on rock
;, thrones This inner shrine is hcwl
10 at least 100 yards into the rock an,
10 here, in these silent depths of tina
/, great mountain, those awful idols, OH
,l that mysterious altar Of human sac riff
i ccs, had n very solemn and imposin
A. effect. The statues seemed TO sit ther
IL waiting for some great summon
10 which should rcanima.c them an
p Isaih's apostrophc TO Nebuchndnczzc
"A came wildly into my mind rs gaze
n, on these 'lxingsof the earth who Il
n in glory, every one in his ow
house"
70 Nearer 10 TIE first cataract is the C
10 losal temple which appeared to the a,
10 thor TO surpass in grandeur and C
~ feet all other remains Of the nnciei
no fnagnifcence Of Nubia. lie thinks Il
10 samboul itself is surpassed by
n, GuERr HAssAn-Ill as was, ! d
tn termlned TO visit this stupendous ten
10 pie, and was well repaid for the exc
lie, ton. II is the strangest, most uneart
no " sight ever beheld. 1t was dar
ry when we arrived in its neighborhoo
8. but this did not signify, as its myst
ly recesses were only visible TO tore
IS light IN the brightest noon. Cover,
IN with a sheet was carried OIL b.!
'es by four Arabs Of our crew, who relic
up cd each other in tnrn four more ca
of RED torches, and my friend X! al
ad Mahmoud brought up the rear.
on must have appeared rather a curlol
'or procession 10 the Nubian village IN
III we paysed through, hundreds OF who
he inhabitants, half or wholly make
i'd poured out 10 see us pass and sou
he OF the men demonstrated anXlOusly
'se favor of cxtlnguIshlng the torches 4
TX I'll we had passed through the cor
fields these were all 10 dry that
ed general conAagratioD would have be,
IA, the consequence Of spark falling on