New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-29
FROM NETWORK TO NINEvEH.
THE NUBIAN FRONTIER.

Editorial Consspondsacs Of The n r. Tribune.
AssouAN, UPrss Eayrr.l
Monday, Dec. Is, 1881.
Our Journey from Thebes to this place
occupied six days, including a halt Of twenty
four hours at Esneh. We left on the night OF
sth, but the westward curve Of the Nile brought
US in opposition with the wind, and the next day
al noon we had only reached Erment, the
ancient Hermontis, in sight of the three peaks
of the Theban hills We left our men to tug the
boat along shore, and wandered of to the
mounds of the old city, still graced with snsu
temple or Iying.in house Of the goddess Reto.
who is here represented as giving birth to the
god Hor pire The sculptures in the dark
chambers, now used rs stalls for asses, were
evidently intended only for the PRIESTHOOD oil the
temple, and are not repeated, as are those %
other temples, in the halls open to the puSlic'
Notwithstanding the great license which the
Egyptian faith assumed. It's symbols arc scru-
pulously guarded from all low aud unworthy At
tributes. They give evidence Of degree Of re-
finement in the people, which could appreciate
the aims Of Art, without soiling il purity.
The group of pillars in the outer court charm
ed us by the richness and variety OF their do
signs. No two capitals are Of similar pattern.
while in their combinations Of the papyrus. the
lotus and the palmleaf, they harmonic one with
another and as a whole. The abacus, between
the capital and tho architrave, il 90 high a. al
most to resemble second shaft. In Karnak
and the Memnonum it is narrow, and lifts the
pondrous beam just enough to prevent its op'.
pressing the lghtness of the capital. was %
delighted with the pillars Of Hermontis that
scarcely knew whether to call this peculiarly
grace or defect. have never seen employed
In modern architecture, and Judge therefore that
Il has either been condemned by our rules or
that our architects have not the skill and daring
Of the Egyptians
We reached Esneh the same night, but were
Obliged TO remain all tho next day in order to sl.
low our sailors to bake their bread. We employed
the time in visiting the temple, the only remnant
of the ancient Latopolis, and tho palace OF Abbss
Pasha, on the bank of the Nile. The portice Of
the temple, half buried In rubbish, like that o.
Dendereh, which il resembles in design, 10 ex'
ceedingIy beautiful. Each Of its twenty'fsur
columns is crowned with different capital, %
chaste and elegant in their execution that Is
impossible to give any one the preference. The
designs are mostly copied from the dome-pstm,
the date palm and the lotus, but the cane, the
vine and various water plants are also intro
duced. The building dates from the time Of tho
PtoIemies, and its sculptures are uniateresting.
We devoted all our time to the study Of the capt.
tails, q labyrinth of besuty, ia which No were
soon entaneled. The Governor Of Esneh, ALI
Effendi, most friendly and agreeable Arab, &C.
COMMANDED us through the temple, and pointed
ont MI the fish, birds and crocediles he could
find. To him they were evidently the most in
terssting things in il. He asked me how old the
building was, and by whom it had been erected.
On leaving, we accepted his invitation to par
| take Of coffee and pipes. The visit took place
in due form, with many grave salutstIons' "aica
we csuscisntiously initiated. Achmsf hso 70
turned to our boat, and my small stock o. Arso'c
was soon exhausted, but We managed to OF.
change all the necessary commonplace saa
make our exit in the true Egyptian styie' WIZ
multitude of sslaams. n.
IN. pasb.'s Palace is plain white ouifdins'
100. .,o,;.. hist. and furnished In very ordinary
| .,,,s tall Nsbisn eunuch conducted os
,,you.b tho empty chambers and upon the nss
80 thence We enjoyed wide view up saa,
Avn the Nile, which here flows through nan.
rover valley and bsthss scansisr coil than -
tho porshwsrd of Thsbes. The garden 81 rhs
Palace is rich in date. orange, pomsgrsaass and
| 6a trees, and it, alleys breathe Of the ~ mine.
rose and sweet pee. On leaving. the v.tssdsa'
,,..srtsd each Fl az with . bunch Of shoies
sover,. which are still blooming "a our cabin.
able.
The day Of leaving Emeh. wsr ssshsd Il Kss
thu srciens Elsu.hyas. whose. rock-tonbs srs
amor the most curious IN EUps. We landed