. History of Egypt, Chaldea, Syria, Babylonia and Assyria . the voyage from Sais to period of time must be probably correct, since at the present daydahabeahs constantly run from Cairo to the second cataract and back in twomonths, including stoppages of ten days to a fortnight for seeing the monu-ments. The twenty days of Herodotus represent the minimum duration ofthe voyage, without taking into account the stoppages and accidents whichoften delay sailing vessels on the Nile. Nine days, which Herodotus givesas the time for reaching Thebes, is not sufficient, if the voyage is u
. History of Egypt, Chaldea, Syria, Babylonia and Assyria . the voyage from Sais to period of time must be probably correct, since at the present daydahabeahs constantly run from Cairo to the second cataract and back in twomonths, including stoppages of ten days to a fortnight for seeing the monu-ments. The twenty days of Herodotus represent the minimum duration ofthe voyage, without taking into account the stoppages and accidents whichoften delay sailing vessels on the Nile. Nine days, which Herodotus givesas the time for reaching Thebes, is not sufficient, if the voyage is undertakenin the usual way, stopping every evening for the night; but it would bepossible if the navigation were uninterrupted day and night. This is nowrarely done, but it might have been frequent in ancient times, especially inthe service of the State. ^ It would seem clear that Herodotus stopped at Panopolis and had com-munications with the people of the town. [Panopolis or Khemmis is thepresent Ekhmim.—Tr.] 302 THE LAST DAYS OP THE OLD EASTERN WORLD. LONG STRINGS OF LADEN VESSELS. at Coptos and Thebes, would take about a month, allowing time for a stay at Thebes, and returning to Memphis in February or March. Thegreater part of the timewas employed in gettingfrom one point toanother, and the neces-sity of taking advantageof a favourable wind ingoing up the river, oftenobliged the travellers toneglect more than one interesting locality. The G-reek was not so keenly alive to the picturesqueness of the scenes through which he passed as the modern visitor, and in the account of his travels he took no note of the long lines of laden boats going up or down stream, nor of the vast sheet of water glowing in the midday sun, nor of the mountains honey-combed with tombs and quarries, at the foot of which he would be sailing day after day. What interested him above all ^ Drawn by Boudier, from a photograph by Gautior.
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