DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4372#0057
II
CHAPTER IV.
ANTIQUITIES ABOVE ES SOUAN. PAHEMBOLE.
XjlAVING crossed over the river from Debode, to examine the
ruins of Parembole, we landed a little to the South of a very hand-
some stone building in the rustic style, which has marked the ap-
proach to the Temple from the water. It has evidently formed the
head of a pier or jettee thrown out a considerable distance into
the river as a cmay for boats, when the trade between Egypt
and ^Ethiopia deserved a name in the commercial history of
the world. This building is still very complete, and we could
trace the foundations of two stone causeways, that led from it
to the temple, Avhich is about six hundred yards from the river.
On approaching the temple we were gratified to see that,
though small, it was much more perfect and unencumbered Avith
rubbish than any we had seen below the Cataracts; so that we
could even trace the exterior Enceinte, the three Propyla which
led to it, the pavement of the Dromos, and almost every part of the
building within and without. There is a small village within the
enclosure; but the inhabitants, less barbarous than their wealthier
neighbours of the North, have not profaned the interior of the
building by converting it into a dust-hole or a sink. The
Sheik of the village seems to have an exclusive right to this ha)-
lowed spot, as a repository for his dates, his Doura grain, his
millet or Dugum, and calibashes*.
* These articles, with the milk of a few sheep and goats, and now and then a lean kid,
form the whole list of their provisions.
o The
CHAPTER IV.
ANTIQUITIES ABOVE ES SOUAN. PAHEMBOLE.
XjlAVING crossed over the river from Debode, to examine the
ruins of Parembole, we landed a little to the South of a very hand-
some stone building in the rustic style, which has marked the ap-
proach to the Temple from the water. It has evidently formed the
head of a pier or jettee thrown out a considerable distance into
the river as a cmay for boats, when the trade between Egypt
and ^Ethiopia deserved a name in the commercial history of
the world. This building is still very complete, and we could
trace the foundations of two stone causeways, that led from it
to the temple, Avhich is about six hundred yards from the river.
On approaching the temple we were gratified to see that,
though small, it was much more perfect and unencumbered Avith
rubbish than any we had seen below the Cataracts; so that we
could even trace the exterior Enceinte, the three Propyla which
led to it, the pavement of the Dromos, and almost every part of the
building within and without. There is a small village within the
enclosure; but the inhabitants, less barbarous than their wealthier
neighbours of the North, have not profaned the interior of the
building by converting it into a dust-hole or a sink. The
Sheik of the village seems to have an exclusive right to this ha)-
lowed spot, as a repository for his dates, his Doura grain, his
millet or Dugum, and calibashes*.
* These articles, with the milk of a few sheep and goats, and now and then a lean kid,
form the whole list of their provisions.
o The