242 Account of Antiquarian Rescanhes in Egypt. 



without any idea of hospitality. They refused us things the 

 most necessary; entreaties and promises had no effect on them. 

 We were reduced to live upon Turkish corn soaked in water. 

 At length, by dint of patience and courage, after twenty-tuo 

 days persevering labour, I had the joy of finding myself in the 

 Temple of Ybsambul, where no European has ever before en- 

 tered, and which presents the greatest excavation in Nubia or 

 in Esypt, if we except the tombs which I have since discovered 

 at Thebes. 



The Temple of Ybsambul is 152 feet long, and contains four- 

 teen apartments and an immense court, where we discovered 

 eight colossal figures thirty feet high. The columns and the 

 walls are covered with hieroglyphics and figures very well pre- 

 served. This temple has then been spared by Cambyses, and 

 the other ravagers who came after him. I brought some anti- 

 quities from thence — two lions with the heads of vultures, and 

 a small statue of Jupiter Animon. 



On returning again to Thebes, I applied myself once more to 

 discover what has been, from time immemorial, tlie object of 

 discovery for all travellers of every nation — I mean the tombs of 

 the kings of Egypt. 



It is known that, independent of those tombs which are open, 

 there existed several underground, but no person has yet discovered 

 in what place. By means of observations on the situation of Thebes, 

 I at length found the index that should lead me on the way. 

 After various excavations, I succeeded in discovering six of these 

 tombs, one of which is that of Apis, as it seems to be pointed 

 out by the mummy of an ox found there. This mummy is filled 

 with asphaltes. For the rest, nothing that I can sav would enable 

 you to conceive the grandeur and magnificence of this tomb. 



This is undoubtedly the most curious and the most astoiiishing 

 thing in Egypt, and which gives the highest idea of the labours 

 of its ancient inhabitants. The interior, from one extremity to 

 the other, is 309 feet, and contains a great number of chambers 

 and corridors. The walls are entirely covered with hieroglyphics 

 and bas-reliefs painted in fresco. The colours are of a bright- 

 ness to which nothing within our knowledge is to be compared, 

 and are so well preserved that they appear to have been but just 

 laid on. But the most beautiful antiquity of tliis place, in the 

 principal chamber, is a sarcophaijus of a single piece of alabas- 

 ter, nine feet seven inches long !)v three feet nine inches wide, 

 within and without equally covered with hieroglyphics and carved 

 figures. This large vessel has tl.e sound of a silver bell, and the 

 transparency of glass. There can be no doubt that when I shall 

 have transported it to England, as I hope to do, it will be esteemed 

 oiie of the nio?t precious tnorceatix of our European Museums. 



XLIl. On 



