New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-07-20

heather age may nave been rendered in these dark
and secret places to unknown gods2 Perhaps tits
well that an mpenetrable veil Of mystery shrouds the
long buried history of this strange land AT Thebes
we passed but one day. In ascending the river, the
current being very strong it is necessary to take ad
vantage Of the winds, when favorable and voyaging
slowly, we in five days more reached Assouan, the
terminus of our journey.
The approach to Assouan, the first cataract is very
pretty the edge Of cultivated land for some miles
before reaching it is very narrow and the arid noun
tains rise near at hand on either side Gradually
the delta widens most on the eastern side where in
the midst OF fine palm grove, is palace-white,
misunderstanding in pretty contrast with the deep
green verdure that surrounds it. Before US noun
tain rises boldly up, its summit crowned by airy
little summerhonse, and on its steep sides, towards
the river the crumbling ruins Of an old tewer at its
foot and stretching away southwark, lies the green
Isle of Eephantine, its sides hemmed by the silver
stream We. 4. ,rTa
Opposite the northern end of the island, the rocks
rise from the midst OF the river, and worn by its
eddying current, presents many strange forms and
combinations On the east side on point jutting into
the river, are the scanty remains of the tower of
Syene, mentioned in the prophesies of Ezekiel 29thc
and 10th Vs. and 30th and 9th vs. Behind the tower
lleS HoutIu toNu vi ASSOuaQ, us WTeIcneQleSS
and filth hidden by beautiful grove of palms. The
day after Arrival we visited the beautiful ruins on
the Island of Phac, called the jewel of the Nile It
was ride of some miles on donkeys, the only
Of locomoton in Egypt; the track lying along the
edge of the desert, but occasionally approaching the
bank of the river, and passing too through several
villages where we were met by the most persistent de-
mands for bucksheesh that we had yet encountered.
1tx,,r
walk up to the old man with beard silvered by the
frost of Time, united in the cry. At length we
emerged from behind rocky hill, small verdant
isle encrced by the river, hedged the eastern side
by groves of palm trees and crowned by long ranges
of columns, and noble pyon arrested our delighted
gaze and the sacred Island of Philac lay before u.s.
In all my journeyings, 1 can recall but few scenes
which have so filled my ideas of the beautiful as that
first view Of Philac. In a boat of most primitive
construction, crossed the river, and soon stood
amid the ruins of the Temple of Isis, which cover
the greater part of the island.
have no power to describe its beauty and its pro-
portions. do not know, I only knew that hours
passed while wandered through or sat wondering
amidst the forest of columns and in the lofty halls
where each column is different from the rest, and al
are beautiful, and was not conscious of the flight OF
time or Of fatigue of mind body and only turned
away with reluctant step and longing gaze when the
fast sinking sun lighted with horizontal rays the deep
dark chambers, and warned us to seek floating
home. Volumes upon volumes have been written
on Thebes and yet her glories remain almost untold
for me- the subject was too great, and wrote but lit
tie about it, and that little fear, would not interest
you, but you know whatsoever you desire of me thai
/ will do, and should You wish it, write and I viii
send it. Within the past few days we have visited
the geat Pyramids of Ghizeh and Sakhura. ascendet
Cheops the greatest, alone, not allowing of the
guides to assist me- either in going up or coming
down, or in the steep passages in the interor-wha
do you think of that Shortly shall set face
toward the Holy Land, probably by the Short Des
ert and you must not be surprised if long interva
eapses you again get letter. But now goodbye
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