294 EXTRACTS FROM 
We now tried climbing up to the crest of the mountain 
by different paths, hoping that by so doing we might per- 
chance get a shot. 
The ridge was soon attained, and from it there opened a 
splendid view of the verdant valley of the Nile, with the mighty 
river, the town of Luxor, the ruins of Karnak, and the Arabian 
mountains ; while in front of us was a high plateau, with a 
wild assemblage of summits, peaks, precipices, ravines, and 
valleys, slopes of sand and loose stones, slabs of rock and 
masses of limestone. All was dazzling white or yellowish 
in colour, without a trace of vegetation, glittering with the 
most brilliant reflections, and baked through and through by 
the rays of the African sun. One can hardly imagine a more 
desolate, but at the same time more magnificent picture of a 
true desert mountain. 
In the sand I found tracks of hyeenas, wolves, and jackals, 
also numberless holes belonging to various beasts of prey ; 
vultures were sitting in the shaded crannies of the rocks, 
swifts were whirling about the barren pinnacles, and a wolf 
ran across the path in front of me, but too far off for my shot 
to take effect, nor was the Grand Duke more fortunate with a 
jackal. 
Following a narrow track we now descended over some 
awkward places to the spot in the main valley where we had 
previously arranged that the donkeys:should be waiting for us, 
and we then rode along a gloomy ravine closely confined by 
glaring white hillsides, to the Tombs of the Kings at Biban- 
el-Moluk. There both path and valley end in a cul-de-sac 
of abrupt slopes and cliffs, and the dark chasm opens which 
leads into the vaults of the most ancient dynasties. 
Armed with torches we penetrated into the sanctuaries of 
the long-past ages, and after carefully examining these most 
remarkable Tombs of the Kings we took a frugal lunch out- 
side the entrance. 
