DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0130
96
OPERATIONS CAKRIED ON AT GIZEII.
astic order of either sex, that ever existed, exhibit on
their painted walls several curious memorials of antient
worship.
Still further in the mountains are the remains of a
large convent, built upon a terrace, in a most romantic
situation ; and behind it are the portals of an Egyptian
temple, excavated in the side of a lofty cliff, over which
there is the path to the valley of Biban El Moluc. In
these lonely recesses ruined tombs abound in every
direction, together with mounds of broken pottery and
of sepulchral remains. And it is to be observed with
regret that the work of destruction is still going on,
for in one of the most beautifully excavated tombs at
Assasseuf I saw ox-wains busily employed in carrying away
large masses of stone, torn forcibly from highly sculptured
walls, for common purposes, and which could have been
obtained with equal facility from the natural rock. In
a very extensive tomb at the same place, which had a
long inclined entrance, there were fluted pilasters of
smaller proportions, but of the same kind of architecture
as those at Medinet Abou, and at Karnac. Innumer-
able objects of great interest might be alluded to, but
I must refer to Mr. Wilkinson's work for a more de-
tailed account of the unrivalled remains of antiquity,
which yet distinguish this remarkable scene of ruin, and
of desolation.
In the evening I returned to Luxor, where Mr. Lakin,
Mr. Rutherford, and Dr. Wilson had arrived. They were
on their way to Nubia.
4th. — Thermometer G5°. I spent the day at Karnac,
and took an opportunity of recommending the Catchief
OPERATIONS CAKRIED ON AT GIZEII.
astic order of either sex, that ever existed, exhibit on
their painted walls several curious memorials of antient
worship.
Still further in the mountains are the remains of a
large convent, built upon a terrace, in a most romantic
situation ; and behind it are the portals of an Egyptian
temple, excavated in the side of a lofty cliff, over which
there is the path to the valley of Biban El Moluc. In
these lonely recesses ruined tombs abound in every
direction, together with mounds of broken pottery and
of sepulchral remains. And it is to be observed with
regret that the work of destruction is still going on,
for in one of the most beautifully excavated tombs at
Assasseuf I saw ox-wains busily employed in carrying away
large masses of stone, torn forcibly from highly sculptured
walls, for common purposes, and which could have been
obtained with equal facility from the natural rock. In
a very extensive tomb at the same place, which had a
long inclined entrance, there were fluted pilasters of
smaller proportions, but of the same kind of architecture
as those at Medinet Abou, and at Karnac. Innumer-
able objects of great interest might be alluded to, but
I must refer to Mr. Wilkinson's work for a more de-
tailed account of the unrivalled remains of antiquity,
which yet distinguish this remarkable scene of ruin, and
of desolation.
In the evening I returned to Luxor, where Mr. Lakin,
Mr. Rutherford, and Dr. Wilson had arrived. They were
on their way to Nubia.
4th. — Thermometer G5°. I spent the day at Karnac,
and took an opportunity of recommending the Catchief