DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0133
RETCRN FROM UPPER EGYPT.
99
a rich, and fertile plain abounding with crops of every
description. The cotton appeared to be very luxuriant,
as well as the sugar canes, which were to be cut in
March. There were the remains of a large reservoir,
but the temple no longer existed. In my way to the
tomb of Dionysius I passed two handsome mosques,
that had been built, by the Mamelucs, opposite to each
other, and consequently the niche in one of them, which
should have indicated the position of Mecca, pointed in
a contrary direction. The tomb, supposed to have been
built in the time of the Ptolemies, was nearly covered
with stones, and sand, so that the lower apartment was
inaccessible. Amongst the sculptures which were visible,
the protecting genius was represented in the form of a
female as at Philse. The Mahometan burial-grounds on
the adjacent plain were said to have been the scene of
a great battle; and a considerable number of mummies
have been from time to time dug out of the distant moun-
tains — the necropolis of the antient city.
Farshiout, about six miles inland from Girjeh, is the
modern capital of the province, and Arabet-El-Matfoun
is not very distant from the latter place.
10///. — I set out from Girjeh with some officers,
who were returning to England from India, for Arabet
(the antient Abydos). We could not at first procure
a sufficient number of horses, but, upon meeting the
Sheik on the outside of the town, he readily sup-
plied the whole party. Our road lay over cultivated
plains, and in about an hour and a half we arrived at
Arabet, near a large pond, the banks of which were
encrusted with natron. The village is built (apparently
99
a rich, and fertile plain abounding with crops of every
description. The cotton appeared to be very luxuriant,
as well as the sugar canes, which were to be cut in
March. There were the remains of a large reservoir,
but the temple no longer existed. In my way to the
tomb of Dionysius I passed two handsome mosques,
that had been built, by the Mamelucs, opposite to each
other, and consequently the niche in one of them, which
should have indicated the position of Mecca, pointed in
a contrary direction. The tomb, supposed to have been
built in the time of the Ptolemies, was nearly covered
with stones, and sand, so that the lower apartment was
inaccessible. Amongst the sculptures which were visible,
the protecting genius was represented in the form of a
female as at Philse. The Mahometan burial-grounds on
the adjacent plain were said to have been the scene of
a great battle; and a considerable number of mummies
have been from time to time dug out of the distant moun-
tains — the necropolis of the antient city.
Farshiout, about six miles inland from Girjeh, is the
modern capital of the province, and Arabet-El-Matfoun
is not very distant from the latter place.
10///. — I set out from Girjeh with some officers,
who were returning to England from India, for Arabet
(the antient Abydos). We could not at first procure
a sufficient number of horses, but, upon meeting the
Sheik on the outside of the town, he readily sup-
plied the whole party. Our road lay over cultivated
plains, and in about an hour and a half we arrived at
Arabet, near a large pond, the banks of which were
encrusted with natron. The village is built (apparently