ABOUSIMBEL 285

again moved close to the rock-cut temples of Abou-
Simbel.

ABOU-SIMBEL.

The wonderful excavated temples of Abou-Simbel
were not known until the early years of the present

century. Burkhardt first called attention to them.
Belzoni followed. He says: "The large temple,
which has one figure of an enormous size with the
head and shoulders only projecting out of the sand ;
and notwithstanding the great distance I could per-
ceive that it was beautifully executed " (this figure
was the most southern of the series). "The sand from
the north side accumulated by the wind on the rock
above the temple, and which had gradually descended
towards its front, had choked the entrance and buried
two-thirds of it." *

Finding that he could not deal with the mass of
sand with the means then at his disposal, he prose-
cuted his voyage, and returned with Captains Irby and
Mangles in 1817, who after man)- tedious delays set
to work to clear the sand from the entrance. They
were assisted by their crew, which made fourteen
workers in all. After days of labour, disappointments,
and interferences from native authorities, they at last
found the entrance. " We soon made the passage
larger, and entered the finest and most extensive
excavation in Nubia."

We first visited the smaller temple, excavated in
a rock two hundred yards north of the Great
Temple. Inscriptions tell us that it was made In-
order of Rameses the (heat in honour of his be-
loved daughter and wife, Nefert-ari " Mer-en-mut,"

■ •■ Narrai p. ;<;■