DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0071
42
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEH.
cultivated island, called Muogis, upon which are the ruins
of a church, is to the southward of it. Very little at
present exists of the ruins, mentioned by Mr. Wilkin-
son, on the western shore. Wady Haifa is eight days'
journey from Dongola, thirty from Kordovan, sixty from
Habesh (Abyssinia), and forty-six from Darfour. The
western shore is said to be uninhabitable for want of
water; but a few Ababde Arabs are enabled to inhabit
the Eastern Desert by means of reservoirs, which are
filled with a considerable quantity of rain water in the
winter season. An Oasis, or Wah, is at the distance of
ten or twelve days' journey to the westward; but I could
not obtain any particular information respecting it.
The boat was now prepared for our return, by taking
down the larger mast and sail; and it was with some
satisfaction that I began to proceed homewards.
2Qth. — Thermometer 78°. I landed at Faras, and
went up a sloping bank covered with palm-trees, dou-
rah, and lupines, to some sandy hillocks, which possibly
conceal the remains of an antient town. They were
partly overgrown with bushes, and abounded with the
recent tracks of leopards, lynxes, wolves, gazelles, &c.
I then crossed a sandy plain, containing a Turkish burial-
ground, to some antient tombs : they had been excavated
in the rocks, furnished with stone doors turning upon
pivots, and contained vestibules, which, in general, con-
ducted to a large apartment; whence passages, leading
to various chambers, branched off in different directions.
They appeared of great antiquity, and had probably been
used for concealment in the early ages of Christianity.
I did not see the inscriptions, nor the Egyptian cavern
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEH.
cultivated island, called Muogis, upon which are the ruins
of a church, is to the southward of it. Very little at
present exists of the ruins, mentioned by Mr. Wilkin-
son, on the western shore. Wady Haifa is eight days'
journey from Dongola, thirty from Kordovan, sixty from
Habesh (Abyssinia), and forty-six from Darfour. The
western shore is said to be uninhabitable for want of
water; but a few Ababde Arabs are enabled to inhabit
the Eastern Desert by means of reservoirs, which are
filled with a considerable quantity of rain water in the
winter season. An Oasis, or Wah, is at the distance of
ten or twelve days' journey to the westward; but I could
not obtain any particular information respecting it.
The boat was now prepared for our return, by taking
down the larger mast and sail; and it was with some
satisfaction that I began to proceed homewards.
2Qth. — Thermometer 78°. I landed at Faras, and
went up a sloping bank covered with palm-trees, dou-
rah, and lupines, to some sandy hillocks, which possibly
conceal the remains of an antient town. They were
partly overgrown with bushes, and abounded with the
recent tracks of leopards, lynxes, wolves, gazelles, &c.
I then crossed a sandy plain, containing a Turkish burial-
ground, to some antient tombs : they had been excavated
in the rocks, furnished with stone doors turning upon
pivots, and contained vestibules, which, in general, con-
ducted to a large apartment; whence passages, leading
to various chambers, branched off in different directions.
They appeared of great antiquity, and had probably been
used for concealment in the early ages of Christianity.
I did not see the inscriptions, nor the Egyptian cavern