DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11448#0076
30 the crescent and the cross l^hap. ix
_-,-------*____________,
tion for which they were originally hewn out of the granite quar-
ries of Syene. They terminated avenues of columns or of sta-
tues, or stood in pairs before the entrance of the Propylea, and
bore in hieroglyphic inscriptions the destination of the temples to
which they belonged.
People talk of the ruins of the temple of the Sun as being
discoverable here : and there are reports about a sphinx, but we
could discover neither. Here is the garden of Metarien, where
grew the celebrated balm of Gilead, presented by the queen of
Sheba to Solomon, and brought to Egypt by Cleopatra. On our
return towards Cairo, we were shown the fountain which re-
freshed and the tree which shaded the Holy Family in their
flight to Egypt.
Another day we went to Shoobra, the palace and garden of
Mehemet Ali. We rode along under a noble avenue of syca-
mores, just wide enough to preserve their shade, and, at the end
of three miles, came to a low and unpretending gateway, pic-
turesque, however, and covered with parasites. Without were
tents and troops, and muskets piled, and horses ready saddled ;
but within, all was peace and silence.
A venerable gardener, with a long white beard, received us
at the entrance, and conducted us through the fairy-like garden,
of which he might have passed for the guardian genius. There
were very few flowers ; but shade and greenery are everything
in this glaring climate ; and it was passing pleasant to stroll
along these paths all shadowy with orange-trees, whose fruit,
" like lamps in a night of green," hung temptingly over our
"heads. The fragrance of large beds of roses mingled with that
of the orange flower, and seemed to repose on the quiet airs of
that calm evening. In the midst of the garden we came to a
vast pavilion, glittering like porcelain, and supported on light
pillars, which formed cloisters surrounding an immense marble
basin, in the centre of wKoh sparkling waters gushed from a
picturesque fountain. Gaily painted little boats for the ladies
of the hareem floated on the surface of this lake, through whose
cli:ar depths gleamed shoals of gold and silver fish. In each
corner of the building, there were gilded apartments, with di*
_-,-------*____________,
tion for which they were originally hewn out of the granite quar-
ries of Syene. They terminated avenues of columns or of sta-
tues, or stood in pairs before the entrance of the Propylea, and
bore in hieroglyphic inscriptions the destination of the temples to
which they belonged.
People talk of the ruins of the temple of the Sun as being
discoverable here : and there are reports about a sphinx, but we
could discover neither. Here is the garden of Metarien, where
grew the celebrated balm of Gilead, presented by the queen of
Sheba to Solomon, and brought to Egypt by Cleopatra. On our
return towards Cairo, we were shown the fountain which re-
freshed and the tree which shaded the Holy Family in their
flight to Egypt.
Another day we went to Shoobra, the palace and garden of
Mehemet Ali. We rode along under a noble avenue of syca-
mores, just wide enough to preserve their shade, and, at the end
of three miles, came to a low and unpretending gateway, pic-
turesque, however, and covered with parasites. Without were
tents and troops, and muskets piled, and horses ready saddled ;
but within, all was peace and silence.
A venerable gardener, with a long white beard, received us
at the entrance, and conducted us through the fairy-like garden,
of which he might have passed for the guardian genius. There
were very few flowers ; but shade and greenery are everything
in this glaring climate ; and it was passing pleasant to stroll
along these paths all shadowy with orange-trees, whose fruit,
" like lamps in a night of green," hung temptingly over our
"heads. The fragrance of large beds of roses mingled with that
of the orange flower, and seemed to repose on the quiet airs of
that calm evening. In the midst of the garden we came to a
vast pavilion, glittering like porcelain, and supported on light
pillars, which formed cloisters surrounding an immense marble
basin, in the centre of wKoh sparkling waters gushed from a
picturesque fountain. Gaily painted little boats for the ladies
of the hareem floated on the surface of this lake, through whose
cli:ar depths gleamed shoals of gold and silver fish. In each
corner of the building, there were gilded apartments, with di*