.3 



8o TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



It is probable that, immediately upon their fuccefs at 

 Meroe, they loft no time in flrctching on to Thebes. We 

 know that it was a colony. of Ethiopians, and probably from 

 Meroe, but whether directly, or not, we are not certain. A 

 very fliort time might have paffed between the two eftablifh- 

 ments, for we find above Thebes, as there are above Meroe, a 

 vaft number of caves,which the colony made provifionally, 

 upon its firft arrival, and which are very near the top of the 

 mountain, all inhabited to this day. 



Hence we may infer, that their ancient apprehenfions 

 of a deluge had not left them whilft, they faw the whole 

 land of Egypt could be overflowed every year without rain 

 falling upon it ; that they did not abfolutely, as yet, trufl to 

 the flability of towns like thofe of Sire and Meroe, placed up- 

 on columns or ftones, one laid upon the other, or otherwife, 

 that they found their excavations in the mountains were 

 finifhed with lefs trouble, and more comfortable when com- 

 plete, than the houfes that were built. It was not long 

 before they aflumed a greater degree of courage. 



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CHAP, 



