The New York herald., 1870-05-07

rivers. one OF which poured into Ethiopia the other
nso TO sysns now Asoaa Juneyaa was c
blocks nom which tho columns Of Rsmeses, the
ODollsk1 o. the Place de 10 COncOrde ut Rome, kar
nae and Heliopolis fashioned An Obelisk lives
IN the quarry yet but, through defect In H. It was
hot not, removed rom us birthplace. 1t would have
pceh hnety-nve Ieet high and ten feet square,. As ~
ieA however one can better appreciate the skill OF
the Egyptians their patience and indOmltable indus
granite quarrles Of Syene win give more Information
Oh now tneir gigantic works were done than OF any
nmount OF books upon the subject The quarrles are
noe ueep-at no place Al they deep-Dut tney
eAteno over square miles, and the chips lie scattered
cn M tne ground ana the marks OF the chsel ana we
ueures In granite are as fresh as II the Egyptanh nau
put quit their work for holiday. There are enough
Docks, great and small, lying about loose out OF
cn raa sized Sy sns yes Oe hs
nteojut ont OF the ground IN many direction,
0ecks granile lie heaped one upon another, as
Stunning the most fantastic shapes
Three miles above the se OF Elephantla Is the nrst
cataract caused by the OF granite which rise
IN an almost unbroken line clear across the river,
streams because 0f the numerous ey0ts which NIL the
stream. Beyond the cataract surrounded by many
bizarre hills OF granite-by many peaks, avaanches
OF granite, by athOeand strange shapes or granite
lies the lovely Isle OF Philae, on which stand a
lengthy row OF ruined temples and coonnades inter-
seeted by thin lines and cunps Of ieathery palms.
Very romantic is the SITUATION OF Philae, as 1t lies
drcamily amidst smooth, placid lakelets, shadowed
by palms and temples, while around is widest
scenery. Romantic also are the legends connected
with IT,, In the cataract below the holy one OF
dsturos these waters. TO Osiris the Isle. Isle
Of Phiiae was consecrated to Isis, his wife ana
sister, and to their son Horus the temples
Isle Hs' attracted ali Egyptian eyes ana ago hearts, rms
They came In long PROFESSIONS oI devotees, IN gor.
streamers; they made the Nile and Phae's rocks
meodeous with their songs and muslc the river saw
nappesI lie gladdenit ITS waters as the people sailed
upwards TO ol1er at the srlnes OF the Blessed Triad.
With these legends brimmng over with sweet ro-
nance IN his mind the traveller looks aJ Phae with
kindly eye never with that OF critic; for though
the temples covering surface are egyptian in style
yet tney are as INFERIOR to the older and more stu.
pendous temples os the work of an apprentice Is to
tnat Oi Ills master. Greek art was IN It's zenith
when the foundation stone OF lss's temple was laid;
Greek visitors from Athens and Cornth were ire.
qucnt IN Egypt; mutual trade was prospering be-
tween Egypt and Greece. 1t was but likely. then,
that the Egyptians, upon seeing that the tendency
OF Geek ars was 70 INITIATE nature and perceiying the
beautiful erect OF the Corinthian capital proceeded
upon the same principle, but IN this the Egyptian
speedily exceeded bounds Of good taste. No tree
grew nor plant nourished IN Egypt but what became
model for the sculptor and the effect OF all this s
noticeable In the ncongruity and unsymmetrical ap.
pearance or the temples Of Philae. r.t
The ruins OF Philae consist the temple OF Isis,
almost Intact with architrave cornice, torns pyOn
anu propyke chambers, cells, crypts sti unnJured,
anu Two or three pylons and remnants OF temples.
There IS rectangular area IN front OF the temple OF
Isis, with u corridor SIDE supported py SIX
teen columns, and another on the other side sup
ported by thirty columns. The original of the
capitals OF columns may be seen in the portico
OF the grand temple. 10 tue east Of this grand
temple II small peripterai temple, very elegant
below that Is a quay constructed OF sandstone,
which In ancient days ran around the island on
ach side or the temple OF Isis there are found
several remnants OF pylon9. walls and chapels
Travellers BY steamer ascend no higher than
Assouan; so, having seen all worthy to be seen ON
the eighteenth day OF our departure from Cairo our
return voyage was commenced, where, the
evening OF the 3d. we arrived after having enjoyed
twenty three days OF KeenesI anu most exquisite
pleasure. unmarried by single adverse incident.
might dwell longer upon the calm divine days Of
Egypt; upon the beauties of the remarkable river;
upon the dreamy panorama OF It's banks and
very many other things OF interest; but have
already exceeded my page and dare not task the
EDITORS patience; but to those who wish be wise
TO be heathfu to borrow month OF real pleasure
before you die from lifetime. would say come aud
see the Nile. 80,