DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0141
106
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEII.
of hills near it. One of them, called Stahl-Antar, is
very extensive, and contains many apartments, which
seem to have been chiselled out of natural caverns, and
to have been decorated with painted hieroglyphics, the
figures of divinities, processions, &c. The ceiling of the
principal chamber has been coved; a descending passage,
which probably conducts to other apartments, was closed
up with rubbish, and fragments of human, and of other
mummies were scattered about in considerable quanti-
ties. I did not visit the alabaster quarries, nor the
convent at Dronka, where a good many Copts are said
to reside.
The gardens, with which the town is surrounded,
and the principal roads, are upon raised banks, as the
adjacent plain is annually inundated; and in conse-
quence extremely productive. Indeed, the whole place
was better built, and more flourishing than the gene-
rality of Arab towns, and contained several hareems,
and whitewashed houses. A battalion of infantry was
encamped near it, and appeared to be in good order;
the arms were remarkably clean. In my way to Stahl-
Antar, I met a concourse of people bringing from
a neighbouring village, for the governor's inspection,
the body of a man who had been murdered. The
delinquent had fled, but, from the nature of the
country, escape is very difficult. Before I returned to
the boat I called upon the Governor, Mohat Bey, to
express my thanks for his civility; he had been in
command in Nubia, and was a very agreeable person.
In going thither a circumstance occurred, which shews
the foolish mistakes that may arise in this country
between persons, who cannot understand each other.
As I passed through the bazar with the governor's
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEII.
of hills near it. One of them, called Stahl-Antar, is
very extensive, and contains many apartments, which
seem to have been chiselled out of natural caverns, and
to have been decorated with painted hieroglyphics, the
figures of divinities, processions, &c. The ceiling of the
principal chamber has been coved; a descending passage,
which probably conducts to other apartments, was closed
up with rubbish, and fragments of human, and of other
mummies were scattered about in considerable quanti-
ties. I did not visit the alabaster quarries, nor the
convent at Dronka, where a good many Copts are said
to reside.
The gardens, with which the town is surrounded,
and the principal roads, are upon raised banks, as the
adjacent plain is annually inundated; and in conse-
quence extremely productive. Indeed, the whole place
was better built, and more flourishing than the gene-
rality of Arab towns, and contained several hareems,
and whitewashed houses. A battalion of infantry was
encamped near it, and appeared to be in good order;
the arms were remarkably clean. In my way to Stahl-
Antar, I met a concourse of people bringing from
a neighbouring village, for the governor's inspection,
the body of a man who had been murdered. The
delinquent had fled, but, from the nature of the
country, escape is very difficult. Before I returned to
the boat I called upon the Governor, Mohat Bey, to
express my thanks for his civility; he had been in
command in Nubia, and was a very agreeable person.
In going thither a circumstance occurred, which shews
the foolish mistakes that may arise in this country
between persons, who cannot understand each other.
As I passed through the bazar with the governor's