'A JOURNEY IN THE EAST: 295 



This short rest was followed by a fatiguing climb along a 

 narrow mountain-path to Medinet Abu, and again we crossed 

 over a miserable stony desert on which the midday sun was 

 pouring down with a scorching power. We now had to 

 clamber about some steep cliffs, and not until we had tramped 

 a long way did we get to the ridge of the hill, and soon after- 

 wards to the region of the rock- tombs, and then passing dilapi- 

 dated houses, heaps of rubbish, and ruins, all belonging 

 to Moslem times, we reached the cultivated country, where 

 our donkeys were awaiting us under a shady wall. 



A still longer ride than that of the morning brought us to 

 the bank of the Nile past the Colossi of Memnon, which are 

 truly imposing and surpass all one's expectations. Having 

 got back to our steamer by boat, we immediately proceeded to 

 dine. 



The Arab sportsman had persuaded me to lie in wait again 

 for beasts of prey near Medinet Abu, so, as soon as dinner 

 was over, I took my jager with me and rode back by the long 

 road through the cultivated country and past the Colossi to 

 that wretched mud-built village, just behind which a pretty 

 broad and perfectly level stretch of desert separates the arable 

 land from the base of the mountains. 



Some much-trodden trails, which showed the tracks of 

 hysenas, wolves, and jackals, here ran between the hills and 

 the game-frequented lowlands. Near one of these runs I hid 

 myself behind some large stones just as the setting sun was 

 flooding with its glorious light the desert sands, the high 

 rocky mountains, the ruins, and the palms and villages of the 

 plains. 



A great tawny Egyptian Eagle-Owl flew noiselessly from 

 its dark retreat to look for plunder, and soon afterwards 

 appeared a jackal keeping closely to the track. I fired at 

 the beast as it came running along unsuspiciously, but it was 

 rather far off, and though it rolled over, it immediately got on 



