THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 105 



The hieroglyphics have been painted over, and great 

 part of the colouring yet remains upon the Hones, red, in all 

 its ihades,efpeciaily that dark dufky colour called TyrianPur- 

 ple ; yellow, very frefh ; fky-blue (that is, near the blue of an 

 eaftern fky, feveral fhades lighter than ours ; green of dif- 

 ferent fhades ; thefe are all the colours preferved. 



I could difcover no vefliges of common houfes in Den- 

 dera more than in any other of the great towns in Egypt. 

 I fuppofe the common houfes of the ancients, in thefe warm 

 countries, were conftructed of very flight materials, after they 

 left their caves in the mountains. There was indeed no 

 need for any other. Not knowing the regularity of the Nile's 

 inundation, they never could be perfectly fecure in their 

 own minds againft the deluge ; and this flight flructure 

 of private buildings feems to be the reafon fo few ruins 

 are found in the many cities once built in Egypt. If there 

 ever were any other buildings, they mull be now covered 

 with the white fand from the mountains, for the whole 

 plain to the foot of thefe is o erflowed, and in culti- 

 vation. It was no part, either of my plan or inclination, to 

 enter into the detail of this extraordinary architecture. 

 Quantity, and folidity, are two principal circumftances that 

 are feen there, with a vengeance. 



It flrikes and impofes on you, at firft fight, but the im- 

 preflions are like thofe made by the flze of mountains, 

 'which the mind does not retain for any confiderablc time 

 after feeing them ; I think, a very ready hand might fpend 

 fix months, from morning to night, before he could copy 

 the hieroglyphics in the infide of the temple. They arc, 

 however, in feveral combinations, which have not appeared 



Vol. I. O in 



