DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4669#0288
CHAPTER XXII
NUBLA
Nubia—Philae—The land of Gush or Ethiopia—Beautiful scenery at
Babel-el-Kalabshe Stars—Nubian temples—Dakkeh—Chame-
leons.
'"T^HK following morning we proceeded to Shellal,
X those who were extending their voyage up the
Nile to the Second Cataract to join their vessel, those
who were about to return to Cairo to spend the clay
amid the ruins and picturesque surroundings of the
lovely island of Philae. Camels and donkeys were
provided for all who desired to ride across the Desert;
the rest were conveyed by the light railway which
connects Assouan directly with Shellal. Near the
station was a stone slab bearing the cartouche of
Thothmes III., a relic of ancient Syene ! The rail-
way passes the rubbish heaps of this old city, the
cemetery with its curious old gravestones and mosque-
like tombs, and gradually ascends a valley which was
probably in prehistoric times the channel of the river,
winding in and out and avoiding the masses of vol-
canic rock which frequently rise above the surface in
almost pyramidal hills. The rocks are all of a warm
grey hue shading into lilac, red, and purple ; with
the rich gold tint of the sand these are the prevailing
colours of the landscape throughout Nubia. The
train consisted of a luggage van and a long air)'
carriage like a tramcar. The air was fresh and cool
NUBLA
Nubia—Philae—The land of Gush or Ethiopia—Beautiful scenery at
Babel-el-Kalabshe Stars—Nubian temples—Dakkeh—Chame-
leons.
'"T^HK following morning we proceeded to Shellal,
X those who were extending their voyage up the
Nile to the Second Cataract to join their vessel, those
who were about to return to Cairo to spend the clay
amid the ruins and picturesque surroundings of the
lovely island of Philae. Camels and donkeys were
provided for all who desired to ride across the Desert;
the rest were conveyed by the light railway which
connects Assouan directly with Shellal. Near the
station was a stone slab bearing the cartouche of
Thothmes III., a relic of ancient Syene ! The rail-
way passes the rubbish heaps of this old city, the
cemetery with its curious old gravestones and mosque-
like tombs, and gradually ascends a valley which was
probably in prehistoric times the channel of the river,
winding in and out and avoiding the masses of vol-
canic rock which frequently rise above the surface in
almost pyramidal hills. The rocks are all of a warm
grey hue shading into lilac, red, and purple ; with
the rich gold tint of the sand these are the prevailing
colours of the landscape throughout Nubia. The
train consisted of a luggage van and a long air)'
carriage like a tramcar. The air was fresh and cool