DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0100
RETURN FROM UPPER EGYPT.
69
situated at the termination of one of the principal roads
from the Red Sea. I could not find the ruins men-
tioned by Mr. Wilkinson, nor the cartouche of Rameses
the Second; neither did I observe any reservoir, or col-
lection of water, excepting a pond beyond the enclosure,
encrusted with a considerable quantity of natron. The
adjacent plain is surrounded by mountains, which ap-
proach the enclosure on the northern side, and contains
the antient Necropolis, which must have been very ex-
tensive. The intervening space between the boundary
wall and the hills is covered with broken pottery, sar-
cophagi, bones, fragments of mummy cloth, and other
indications of antient tombs. But the objects most worthy
of notice are excavations in the rocks, containing deep
shafts, and mummy pits, and on their walls various in-
teresting details and hieroglyphics painted upon stucco.
Most of them have in all probability been opened many
centuries ago, and are every day losing somewhat of their
original character, it is therefore fortunate that many of
these interesting inscriptions have been preserved, and
some of them already published by M. Champollion.
Beyond these tombs, and near the river are the
remains of a ruined temple mentioned by Mr. Wilkin-
son ; who has also described three others to the east-
ward, and at the entrance of the valley, through which
the communication with the Red Sea most probably lay.
They are three or four miles from the river. The small
chapel of Ra stands in the middle of the valley, and
fronts the east-north-east. It seems to have had neither
a peribolus nor portal, but is decorated with painted hie-
roglyphics, and with several cartouches, one of which is
that of Thothmes the Fourth. Near it at the foot of
69
situated at the termination of one of the principal roads
from the Red Sea. I could not find the ruins men-
tioned by Mr. Wilkinson, nor the cartouche of Rameses
the Second; neither did I observe any reservoir, or col-
lection of water, excepting a pond beyond the enclosure,
encrusted with a considerable quantity of natron. The
adjacent plain is surrounded by mountains, which ap-
proach the enclosure on the northern side, and contains
the antient Necropolis, which must have been very ex-
tensive. The intervening space between the boundary
wall and the hills is covered with broken pottery, sar-
cophagi, bones, fragments of mummy cloth, and other
indications of antient tombs. But the objects most worthy
of notice are excavations in the rocks, containing deep
shafts, and mummy pits, and on their walls various in-
teresting details and hieroglyphics painted upon stucco.
Most of them have in all probability been opened many
centuries ago, and are every day losing somewhat of their
original character, it is therefore fortunate that many of
these interesting inscriptions have been preserved, and
some of them already published by M. Champollion.
Beyond these tombs, and near the river are the
remains of a ruined temple mentioned by Mr. Wilkin-
son ; who has also described three others to the east-
ward, and at the entrance of the valley, through which
the communication with the Red Sea most probably lay.
They are three or four miles from the river. The small
chapel of Ra stands in the middle of the valley, and
fronts the east-north-east. It seems to have had neither
a peribolus nor portal, but is decorated with painted hie-
roglyphics, and with several cartouches, one of which is
that of Thothmes the Fourth. Near it at the foot of