D'Athanasi, Giovanni; Salt, Henry [Hrsg.]: A brief account of the researches and discoveries in Upper Egypt: To which is added a detailed catalogue of Mr. Salts collection of Egyptian antiquities (London, 1836)

38 mr. banks' obelisk.

Mr. Salt with his travelling companions very
soon arrived, and after spending a few days where
we were we all set off for the second cataract,
leaving behind us only as many as were neces-
sary to guard the sarcophagus and our effects
at Biban-Ilmilouko

We pursued our journey, stopping always
wherever there were any ruins to be examined,
and in a few days we arrived at the first cataract;
and after having ha;d our boat carried up, we
stopped at the Isle of Philoe, where Mr. Belzoni
made preparations for transporting down the river
a small obelisk which M. Drouetti had presented
to Mr. Banks. But owing to the weight of the
pedestal, and the paucity of water in the midst
of the cataract, it became grounded and we were
obliged to leave it there; and there it remained for
four years, without a possibility of removing it,
after all the enormous expenses which had been laid
out upon it. As however, Mr. Banks was con-
tinually enquiring after it, Mr. Salt one day
desired me to do my utmost to have it brought
down. I saw no other means of accomplishing
this, than to have it dragged by land to a certain
point below the cataract, about two hours' journey
distant, from whence it might be shipped with