Universitätsbibliothek HeidelbergUniversitätsbibliothek Heidelberg
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Edwards, Amelia B.
A thousand miles up the Nile — New York, [1888]

DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4393#0360

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3-13 A THOUSAND MILES UP THE NILE.

I, Silco, puissant king of the Nubians and all the Ethiopians,
I came twice as far as Talmis* and Taphis.t
I fought against the Blemyes.J and (<od granted me the victory.
1 vanquished them a second time; and the first time
I established myself completely with my troops.
I vanquished them, and they supplicated me.
I made peace with them; and they swore to me by their idols.
I trusted them; because they are a people of good faith.
Then I returned to my dominions in the Upper Country.
For I am a king.

Not only am I no follower in the train of other kings,
But I go before them.
As for those who seek strife against me,

I give them no peace in their homes till they entreat my pardon.
For I am a lion on the plains, and a goat upon the mountains.

Etc.

The historical value of this inscription is very great. It
shows that in the sixth century, while the native inhabit-
ants of this part of the valley of the Nile yet adhered to
the ancient Egyptian faith, the Ethiopians of the south
were professedly Christian.

The descendants of the Blemmys are a fine race; tall,
strong, and of a rich chocolate complexion. Strolling
through the village at sunset, we see the entire population
—old men sitting at their doors; young men lounging and
smoking; children at play. The women, with glittering
white teeth and liquid eyes, and a profusion of gold and
silver ornaments on neck and brow, come out with their
little brown babies astride on hip or shoulder, to stare as
we go by. One sick old woman, lying outside her hut on
a palm-wood couch, raises herself for a moment on her
elbow—then sinks back with a weary sigh and turns her
face to the wall. The mud dwellings here are built in and
out of a maze of massive stone foundations, the remains of
buildings once magnificent. Some of these walls are built
in concave courses; each course of stones, that is to say,
being depressed in the center and raised at the angles;

* Talmis: (Knl(tbshch).

+ Taphis: (Tafali).

| Blemyes: The Blemeys were a nomadic race of Berbers, supposed
to be originally of the tribe of Bilmas of Tibbous in the central
desert, and settled as early as the time of Eratosthenes in that part
of the Valley of the Nile which lies between the first and second
cataracts. See " Le Nord de l'Afrique," by M. V. de St. Martin.
Paris, 1863, section iii, p. 73.
 
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