DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4372#0078
62
credit for the astonishing power of'their magic ; and as we can-
not suppose that the instances recorded in Scripture were to be
attributed to the exertion of supernatural powers, we must con-
clude that they were in possession of a more intimate knowledge
of the laws and combinations of Nature, than what is professed
by the most learned men of the present age.
To return from this digression.------Very little success attend-
ed our endeavours in search of the Nilometer of Syene. Our
conjectures and curiosity on this subject were particularly ex-
cited by three places on the island of Elephantine: the staircase
I have before mentioned, the steps of which may have served
to mark the gradations of the water and the progress of the inun-
dation ;—a perpendicular rock of granite near this spot, close to
the river, and on which was inscribed a perpendicular column
of hieroglyphics, in the best style and in very regular lines, though,
the lower part being still concealed under water, we had not the
means of ascertaining whether the height of the column had
really any reference to the ordinary rise of the river;—and towards
the Southern extremity of the island we observed several circu-
lar wells or pits, formed by art or nature in the granite rock, of
different widths and depth; we emptied some of them to ascer-
tain their form and use; we found them generally from ten to
twenty feet deep; but it was in vain we looked for some One
that had a communication below with the river. 1 am, however,
still inclined to think that the Nilometer, if it does exist in Ele-
phantine, will be found in one of these wells, which the inhabitants
may have turned to that purpose, finding then) already in part
made to their hands for other objects. Many of them are cer-
tainly artificial : but whether they were mummy pits*, granaries,
*To the South-west of the island there are several common mummy pits, like those
opposite to Pbilae.
or
credit for the astonishing power of'their magic ; and as we can-
not suppose that the instances recorded in Scripture were to be
attributed to the exertion of supernatural powers, we must con-
clude that they were in possession of a more intimate knowledge
of the laws and combinations of Nature, than what is professed
by the most learned men of the present age.
To return from this digression.------Very little success attend-
ed our endeavours in search of the Nilometer of Syene. Our
conjectures and curiosity on this subject were particularly ex-
cited by three places on the island of Elephantine: the staircase
I have before mentioned, the steps of which may have served
to mark the gradations of the water and the progress of the inun-
dation ;—a perpendicular rock of granite near this spot, close to
the river, and on which was inscribed a perpendicular column
of hieroglyphics, in the best style and in very regular lines, though,
the lower part being still concealed under water, we had not the
means of ascertaining whether the height of the column had
really any reference to the ordinary rise of the river;—and towards
the Southern extremity of the island we observed several circu-
lar wells or pits, formed by art or nature in the granite rock, of
different widths and depth; we emptied some of them to ascer-
tain their form and use; we found them generally from ten to
twenty feet deep; but it was in vain we looked for some One
that had a communication below with the river. 1 am, however,
still inclined to think that the Nilometer, if it does exist in Ele-
phantine, will be found in one of these wells, which the inhabitants
may have turned to that purpose, finding then) already in part
made to their hands for other objects. Many of them are cer-
tainly artificial : but whether they were mummy pits*, granaries,
*To the South-west of the island there are several common mummy pits, like those
opposite to Pbilae.
or