Edwards, Amelia B.: A thousand miles up the Nile (New York, [1888])

77//-; SECOND CATARACT. 293

hours within the space of a mile, was run at last into a
sheltered nook, and there left in peace till the wind should
change or drop.

Imprisoned here for a day and a half, we found our-
selves, fortunately, within reach of the tumuli which we
had already made up our minds to explore. Making first
for those on the east bank, we took with us in the felucca
four men to row and dig, a fire-shovel, a small hatchet, an
iron bar, and a large wicker basket, which were the only
implements we possessed. What we wanted both then
and afterward, and what no dahabeeyah should ever be
without, were two or three good spades, a couple of picks,
and a crowbar.

Climbing to the top of one of the highest of these hil-
locks, we began by surveying the ground. The desert
here is firm to the tread, flat, compact, and thickly strewn
with pebbles. Of the fine yellow sand which characterizes
tne Libyan bank, there is little to be seen, and that little
Hes like snow in drifts and clefts and hollows, as if carried
thither by the wind. The tumuli, however, are mounded
of pure alluvial mold, smooth, solid, and symmetrical. We
counted thirty-four of all sizes, from five to about five-and-
tliirty feet in height, and saw at least as many more on the
opposite side of the river.

Selecting one of about eight feet high, we then set the
sadors to work ; and although it was impossible, with so
few men and such insufficient tools, to cut straight through
the center of the mound, we at all events succeeded in
digging down to a solid substratum of lumps of crude clay,
evidently molded by hand.

Whether these formed only the foundation of the
tumulus, or concealed a grave excavated below the level of
the desert, we had neither time nor means to ascertain,
ft was something at all events, to have convinced our-
selves that the mounds were artificial.*

As we came away, we met a Nubian peasant trudging
northward, lie was leading a sorry camel ; had a white
cockerel under his arm; and was followed by a frightened

On referring to Col. H. Vyse's "Voyage into Upper Egypt," etc.
1 see that he also opened one of these tumuli, but " found no indica-
tion ol siti arti6cial construction." 1 can only conclude that he did
not carry his excavation low enough. As it is difficult to suppose
'he tumuli made lor nothing, 1 cannot help believing that they
would repay a more systematic investigation.