The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-04-10

once united the two entrances, but they
have all been hurled down and lie as
they fell, in long lines of disjointed
blocks, except one, which holds its soli-
tary lotus-bell against the sky. Two
mutilated colossi of red granite still
guard the doorway, whose Tinted stones
are 40 feet in length. Climbing over
the huge fragments which have fallen
from above and almost blocked up the
passage, we looked down into the grand
hall ofthe temple.
| knew the dimensions of this hall.
beforehand; | knew the number and size
ofthe pillars, but was no more prepa-
red for the reality than those will be,
who may read this account of it and at.
terward visit Karnak for themselves. 1t
is the great good-luck of travel that ma
ny things must be seen to be known.
Nothing could have compensated for
the loss of that overwhelming confusion
of awe, establishment and delight, which
came " on me like flood. | looked
down an avenue of twelve pilars-sX
on each side-each of which was SO
feet in circumference and nearly 80 feet
in hight. Crushing as were these pom
derous masses of soul ptured stone, the
spreading bell of the lotus-blossoms
which crowned them, clothed them
with an atmosphere of lightness and
grace. In front, over the top of anoth-
err pile of colossal blocks, two obelisks
rose shark and clear, with every emblem
legible on their polished sides. On
each side of the main aisle are seven
other rows of columns-one hundred and
tpenty two, in all-each of which is
about so feet bigh and 81 feet in cir
conference. They have the Osiride
fern, without capitals and do not range
with the central shafts. In the efforts
Of the conquerors to overthrow them,
two have been hurled from their places
and thrown against the neighboring
ones, where they still lean, as if weary
with holding up the roof of massive
sandstone. | walked alone through
this hall, trying to bear the weight Of
ITS unutterable majesty and beauty.
That had been so oppressed by Den
dera, seemed weakness which | was
resolved to conquer, and finally sue
ceeded in looking on karnak with a
calmness more commensurate with its
sublime repose-but not by daylight.
To describe the entire temple would
only bewilder the picture | have been
trying to draw; so | shall barely emu
merate the divisions of the main edifice.
To the great hall succeeds spacious
court, in which stands an obelisk, its
mate having been hurled down and
shattered to pieces. A gateway leads
into still another court of equal dimen-
sions, with an obelisk of a single block,
eight feet square and ninety-two Get in
hight.-Then follows sanctuary, built
Of enormous blocks OF granite, with
painted sculptures; another open court,
filled with ruins and rubbish; then a
massive edifice, supported by between
fifty and sixty columns, of the age of
Thothmes Ill, Q50O B. CO. beyond
which are the substructions of a still
more ancient edifce; and finally, in a
breach OF the long mounds denoting the
exterior wall, the eastern pylon, look
ing out to the Arabian Desert. After a
brief examination of the principal parts,
which occupied three hours, we return.
ed to the portal of the grand hall, and
found our breakfast ready on one of the
vast slabs. We then made second sur
vey, traced the wars of Osirei and Re-
meses, in Asia Minor and Syria, on the
exterior wall, and finished by riding
around the top of the outer Enclosure,
(fully mile and half) from every
point of which we had the grandest
view ofthe group of ruins.
My ride back to Luxor, toward even.
ing, was the next best thing after Kar-
max. The little animal rode had be-
come excited by jumping over stones and
sliding down sand-heaps; our guide be-
gan to show his Bedouin blood by dash
ing at full gallop towards the pylms
and reigning in his horse at bound; and
to conclude, | became infected with a
lawless spirit that could not easily be
laid. The guides eye sparkled when |
proposed a race. We left my friend
and the water-carriers, bounded across
the avenue sphinxes, and took a smooth
path leading toward the Desert. My
mare needed but word and jog of
the iron stirrup. Away we flew, our
animals stretching themselves for a long
heat, crushing the dry dourra-stalks,
clearing the water.ditches, and scatter.
ing on all sides the Arab laborers we
met. After glorious gallop of two or
three miles, my antagonist was fairly
dlstanced; but one race would not con-
tent him, so we had a second, and final
ly third, on the beach of Duxor. The
horses belonged to him, and it was a
matter of indifference which was the
swlftest; he laced merely for the delight
of it, and SO did |.