New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-31

proportion, that the building is much more agree
able when viewed as a collection OF detached
parts, than as a whole. From ITS locality, IL mas
suffered comparatively little from the ravages OF
man. and might be restored to almost It's orlgna'
condition. The mud which Coptc Christians
Mastered over the walls of it's sanctaries have
concealed but not defaced their richlycolored
sculptures, and the palm-leaf aud lotus capitals
of its portico retain the first brlliancy oil thei,
green and blue tnts. The double corridor O.
thirty six columns. in front of the temple, reach
ing to the southern end of the island, has never
been finished some Of the capitals last erected
being without sculptures, and others exhibiting
various stages of completion. In Egypt one 80
accustoms himself to looking back four thou'
sand wears, that Phile seems but of yesterday
The Gothic Cathedrals of the Middle Ages are
like antediluvian remains, compared with Its ap-
parent newness and freshness.
We examined the interior chambers with the
aid of light, and also explored several secret
passages, inclosed in the THO ness of the walls
The sculptures are raised or the face OF the
stone, and painted in light and brilliant colors.
They represent Isis and Osiri with their Off
spring, the god Horus, which three constituted
the Trinity worshpped in Phila. In one place
Isis is seen giving suck to the infant god-a
group which bore singular resemblance to
some painting have seen of the Virgin and
Child The Gods are here painted of a fair,
Greek complexion, and not, as in the oldest
tombs and temples, of light red Their pro.
files are symmetrical and even beautiful, and the
emblems by which they are surrounded, are
drawn and colored ia admirable taste. Those
friends of the African Race, who point to Egypt
az proof OF what that race has accomplished,
are wholly mistaken. The only Negro features
represented in Egyptian sculpture are those of
slaves and captives taken in the Ethiopian wars
of the Pharoahs. The temples and pyramids
throughout Nubia, as far as the frontiers OF OAR
Fur and Ably ssinia, all bear the hieroglyphs of
these monarchs, and there is no evidences in all
the valley Of the Nile that the Negro Race ever
attained higher degree of civilization than is
at present exhibited in Congo and Ashantee.
mention this, not from any feeling hostile to that
race, but simply to controvert an opinion very
prevalent in some parts of the United States.
East of the great temple is square, open
building, whose four sides are rows OF columns,
supporting an architrave, and united to about
half their hight, by screens of stone. The CAPT
tails are all of different design, yet exhibit the
same exquisite harmony which so charmed US
in Hermontis and Esneh. The screens and pill
lars were evidently intended to have been COW
cred with sculpture, and roof OF sandstone
blocks was to have been added, which would
have made the structure as perfect as it is unique.
aI bot
the capital and archtrave, is even higher than
in the pillars Of Hermontis, and / was equally
puzzled whether to call it grace or defect.
There was one thing, however, which certainly
did give grace to the building, and that was
our breakfast, which we ate on block large
enough to have made an altar for the Theban
Jupiter, surrounded by a crowd of silent Arabs.
They contemplated the ruins of our cold fowls
with no less interest than we those of the tenn
pies OF Phil3.
Before returning, we crossed to the island o.
Biggeh, where two pillars of emple to Athor
stand sentry 6efors the door Of a mud hut, and q
red granite colossus is lucky in having no head,
since it is spared the sight of such dissertation.
The children Of Biggeh fairly drove us away
with the cries of "backshishr The hideous
Assouan, and when we were again saluted with
it, on landing at the head of the Cataract, pa
thence ceased to bea virtue. My friend took his
cane and the stick of my donkey driver, and
since the naked pests dared not approach near
enough to get the backshish, they finally ceased
10 demand it. The word is in every Nubian
mouth, and the very boatmen and camel-drivers
as they passed us said "backshish" instead Of
"sood morning" As it was impossible to avoid
hearing it, used the word in the same way, and
cordially greeted them with "baekshsh" The
other day, as we were walking on shore near
Esneh, company of laborers in dourra-feld
began the cry. | responded, holding out my
hand, whereupon one Of the men pulled of his
white cotton cap (hs only garment) and offered
it to me, saying, If you are poor, take it," One
would gladly give handful OF copper coins, if
that would suffice, butit only makes the matter
worse, and the best plan is to harden your face
and shut your hand.
We walked down to the edge Of the Cataract
and climbed a rock, which commanded view
Of the principal rapid There is nothing like a
fall, and the passage up and down is attended
with no peril The bed of the Nile is filed with
granite masses, around which the swift. current
roars and foams, and can imagine that the de.
scent must be very exciting, though perhaps less
so than that OF the Rapids of the st. Lawrence.
Boats are towed up, under the supernte ndence
OF one of the raIs, or captains of the Cataract.
There are four of these officers, with body of
about two hundred men. The fee varies from
two to four hundred piastres, according TO the
size OF the boat. One-third of the money 10 di.
vided among the captains, and the remainder
falls to the portion OF the men. This also in
cludes the descent, and travellers goinr TO the