New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-12
FROM NEW YORK To NINEvaH.
XIX
TIUBEs
TIHBEs
ecsresp scsscs Of The ~ v. n buse
Luxor, UrPKs Eorrr, Dec 7. 1881

LUXOR, IPPkk botff, bcC 70 l~)I.
The other evening, about 0 o'cloc ~
nv friend and I were taking our customary =. :.
nug pipe in the cabin, our vessel sndav,.>
stopped. The wind was still blowing, a. y
called TO Achmet 10 know what was the matter
I'VE have reached Luxor" answered the The
ban We dropped the chibouks, dashed Qua, up
the bank and saw, facing us in the brilliant
moonlight, the grand colonsde OF the TEMPS
the solid wedges of the pylon, snd the bro IS,
obellsk OF that which stands in the Place le =
Corcorde, in Paris. The wide plain OF ThsLc-
stretched away on either hand, and the beausiiul
outlines Of the three mountain-ranges which in
close it. rose in the distance against the starr.
We looked on the landscape few moments, N
silence. "Come," said my friend at length.
. this is enough for tonight. Let US not be toe
hasty to exhaust what is in store for u.s."
So we returned TO our cabin, closed the
blinds, and arranged cur plans for bes, seeing
and best enjoying the wonders Of the great
DiospoIis..
Before commencing my recital, let me attsmp(
to give you some idea of the topography Of
Thebes. The course of the Nile Is here nearly
north, dividing the site of the ancient city INTO
two almost equal parts. On approaching II
from Kenneh, the mountain Of Koorneh, Wick
sbuts on the river, marks the commencement ef
Of naked limestone crags, terminating in
pyramidal peak, gradually rccedes TO .he die.
tancs of two miles from che Nile, which it
again approaches further south. Nearly the
whole of the curve, which might be called che
western wall of the city, is pierced with tcmbs.
among which are those of the Queens, and the
grand priestly vaults OF the Assasseef Tho
Valley Of the Kings Tombs lies deep in the
heart Of the range, seven or eight miles from the
river. After passing the corner of the mountain,
the first ruin on the western bank is that of the
temple-palace of Koorneh. More than a milo
further, at the base of the mountain, is the
Memnonium, or temple of Remeses the Great,
between which and the Nile the two colossi are
seated on the plain. Nearly two miles to tho
south OF this is the great temple of Medeenst
Abou, and the fragments Of other edlices are met
with, still further beyond On the eastern bank,
nearly opposite koorneh, stands the temple OF
Karnak, about hall mile from the river Eight
miles eastward, at the foot of the Arabian Noun.
however, does not appear to have been in
Guided in the limits of Thebes. Luxor is d.
recty on the bank of the Nile, mile and half
south of Kamak, and the plain extends several
miles beyond it, before reaching the isolated
range, whose three conical peaks are the land
marks OF Thebes to voyageTs on the river.
These distances convey an idea of the extent
of the ancient city, but cannot give you tho
grand proportions of the landscape, 50 well
fitted, in its simple aud majestic outlines. to iu-
close the most wonderful structures the world
has ever seen. The green expanse Of the plain.
the airy coloring of tho mountains the mild.
solemn blue of the cloudless Egyptian sky -
these are part of Thebes, and inseparable from
the remembrance Of its ruins.
THE romBs OF THE KINGS.
Yesterday morning at sunrise we crossed to
the western bank and moored our boat opposite
Koorneh. 1t is advisable to commence with
the tombs, and complete the inspection Of this
side with Mcdeenet Abou, rescrving Karnak, tho
grandest OF ALL for the last. The most unm-
pouant objects in Thebes are full of interest
when seen first, whereas Karnak, once soon,
fills ones thoughts TO the exclusion of every
thing else There are Arab guides for each
bank, who are quite familiar with all the princi-
pal points, and have a quiet and unob!ruslve
way of directing the traveller, which should
be glad to sec introduced into England and
Italy Our guide was a tall, lean gray -board,
who wore white turban and long brown robe,
and was most conscientious in his endeavors to
satisfy US We found several horses on the
bank, ready saddled, and choosing two Of the
most promising set off on a stirring gallop for
the temple of Koorneh aud the Valley Of the
Kings Tombs, leaving Achmet to follow with
our breakfast, and the Arab boys with their wa
ter bottles.
The temple Of Kooneh was built for the wor.
ship of Amun, the Theban Jupiter, by Osirei and
his son, Remeses the Great, the supposed Ses-
osiris, nearly fourteen hundred years before the
Christian era. 1t is small, compared with the
other ruins, but interesting from its rude and
massive style, a remnant Of the early period Of
Egyptian architecture. The two pylons in front
OF it are shattered down, and the dsomos Of
sphynxes has entirely disappeared. The portico
is supported by single row OF ten columns,
which neither resemble each other, nor are
separated by equal spaces. What is most singu-
lar, is the fact that notwithstanding this dispro-
portion, which is also observable ia the doorways.
the general effect is harmonious. We tried to
fsthom the secret Of this, and found no other ex.
planaton than in the lowness Of the building.
and the rough granite blocks Of which 1t Is
built. One seeks no proportion in natural
temple Of rock, or cirque Of Druid stones. All
tina. the eye requires is rude strength, with q
certain approach to order. The effect produced
By this temple is of similar character, barring
its historical interest. Its dimensions are too
small to he imposing, and found. after passing
il several times, that valued it more as a fea'
,ure in the landscape, than for It's own sake.
The sand and pebbles clattered under the hoofs