DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4372#0029
13
ters of the river were conveyed into the lake Moeris, now called
the Birket el-Carun, and by which the equilibrium of the inun-
dations was maintained. Jts present appellation is derived from
the circumstance of its having been repaired by the Sultan Saleh
ed-din, who is more commonly known in Egypt by the name of
Jusuf.
The Heptanomis is now almost entirely uncultivated and aban-
doned, excepting the borders of the Nile and Bahhr Jusuf.
In the course of this excursion we visited the ruins at Behen-
nese and Ashmunein, the first of which was called by the Creeks
Oxyrinchus, and the latter Hermopolis Magna.
At Melaoui, re-embarking in our large cangia, we sailed with-
out any material delay to Es Suan, where we arrived in the mid-
dle of November, and remained nearly three weeks.
This time was employed in visiting the antient monuments of
Syene, and those contained in the islands of Elephantine and
Ehilse; in examining the quarries, from which was extracted a
large portion of that fine granite which is found in the antient
edifices of Egypt, Greece and Italy; in surveying the cataracts,
and their stupendous scenery ; and in making excursions across
the mountains into Nubia, where, at the distance of twenty-five
miles above Es Suan, Elfi Bey and one hundred Mamalukes
were encamped on the eastern bank of the river.
This chief, who had been appointed by the Grand Vezir gover-
nor of the Said, alarmed by some intelligence he had received
from Cairo, had retired suddenly from EsSiut to Kenneh ; when,
hearing of our approach with some English soldiers, whom the
reports of his spies had magnified from an escort of eleven men
into a formidable body coming to take possession of the upper
country, and still doubtful in what manner the British commander
in
ters of the river were conveyed into the lake Moeris, now called
the Birket el-Carun, and by which the equilibrium of the inun-
dations was maintained. Jts present appellation is derived from
the circumstance of its having been repaired by the Sultan Saleh
ed-din, who is more commonly known in Egypt by the name of
Jusuf.
The Heptanomis is now almost entirely uncultivated and aban-
doned, excepting the borders of the Nile and Bahhr Jusuf.
In the course of this excursion we visited the ruins at Behen-
nese and Ashmunein, the first of which was called by the Creeks
Oxyrinchus, and the latter Hermopolis Magna.
At Melaoui, re-embarking in our large cangia, we sailed with-
out any material delay to Es Suan, where we arrived in the mid-
dle of November, and remained nearly three weeks.
This time was employed in visiting the antient monuments of
Syene, and those contained in the islands of Elephantine and
Ehilse; in examining the quarries, from which was extracted a
large portion of that fine granite which is found in the antient
edifices of Egypt, Greece and Italy; in surveying the cataracts,
and their stupendous scenery ; and in making excursions across
the mountains into Nubia, where, at the distance of twenty-five
miles above Es Suan, Elfi Bey and one hundred Mamalukes
were encamped on the eastern bank of the river.
This chief, who had been appointed by the Grand Vezir gover-
nor of the Said, alarmed by some intelligence he had received
from Cairo, had retired suddenly from EsSiut to Kenneh ; when,
hearing of our approach with some English soldiers, whom the
reports of his spies had magnified from an escort of eleven men
into a formidable body coming to take possession of the upper
country, and still doubtful in what manner the British commander
in