The Nile boat or, glimpses of the land of Egypt / by . ctural pur-poses, passages were cut through these useless masses into theheart of the mountain. I did not measure these avenues, butam sure that several of them are nearly half a mile in length byfifty or sixty feet wide and eighty deep. Many large massesremain as they are left by the workmen, and all the processes ofquarrying are plainly exhibited. These excavations form aperfect labyrinth, and are supposed by Dr. Olin to have givenshelter to the persecuted Christians, from the crosses that arepainted in different places. Some
The Nile boat or, glimpses of the land of Egypt / by . ctural pur-poses, passages were cut through these useless masses into theheart of the mountain. I did not measure these avenues, butam sure that several of them are nearly half a mile in length byfifty or sixty feet wide and eighty deep. Many large massesremain as they are left by the workmen, and all the processes ofquarrying are plainly exhibited. These excavations form aperfect labyrinth, and are supposed by Dr. Olin to have givenshelter to the persecuted Christians, from the crosses that arepainted in different places. Some idea of the peculiarities ofthis remarkable spot, of its perforated grottos, decorated withthe achievements of the ancient kings, its fantastic rocks, oneof which, from its resemblance to a rude pillar, is supposed tohave originated the idea of a chain being thrown across from itto the opposite side, together with the immense scale of the ex-cavations on the eastern or Arabian side, may be formed fromthe annexed wood-cut. The whole scene is very impressive, i-M. 202 ARRIVAL AT ASSOUAN. like the avenue of approach to some new region of the powerful current by the aid of our broad lateensails and a strong northerly breeze, we opened another andwider region of the valley, adorned with clustering palm groves,and passing the temple of Ombos, another noble specimen ofthe later Egyptian architecture, flew swiftly on towards thecataracts. A sudden squall from the east brought us up in themidst of our rapid career, the sails were instantly let loose,which saved us from going down, and with great difficulty wemade the shore, and tied our craft fast up to a group of river was one sheet of foam, the land almost obscured bya whirlwind of sand, which penetrated the deepest recessesof the palm grove where we sought a temporary again we soon came in sight of Assouan, the ancientSyene, the most picturesque spot, with the exception of Philae,on the
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectegyptdescriptionandt
