Sinn tne we! 
xT. 58.] TO JOHN TORREY. 581 
February 1.— Reached Abou Simbel at daybreak, 
and were under the great giant Rameses when the 
first rays of the sun touched their huge, placid faces, 
and were in the rock temple within when the hori- 
zontal rays entering the small opening for a half hour 
lighted up the great Osiride figures to best advantage, 
and even reached the broken statues at the bottom of 
the adytum. Later in the day explored leisurely and 
repeatedly the whole interior chambers with candles, 
and occasionally with Bengal lights and magnesium 
wire (the best of all lights), bringing out well the 
famous sculptures that cover all the walls. Climbed 
the heights later in the day to get superb views of 
desert and river and the sunset. Late in evening 
some went again through the sand to see the great 
faces by moonlight, which, however, they supple- 
mented by torches. We were moored right under the 
face of the smaller rock temple. . . 
February 9.— Awoke at Phile ; ie which I will 
only say that even Miss Martineau does not exag- 
gerate the interest of the whole, and the beauty aad 
picturesqueness of the site. 
February 10.— All day at Phile, and dropped 
down to Mahatta just as the sun set gloriously be- 
hind the ruins and the mighty rocks which surround 
them. 
February 11. — The Ibis shot the great cataract, all 
but one of our party being on the shore to see the ex- 
citing sight, —finer, it is thought, than being on board, 
though you thus lose the sense of personal danger. 
We were taken on shore round the trying points, and 
in our rowboats the rest of the way down to Assouan, 
where we joined the Ibis, vociferously welcomed by 
our combined Egyptian and Nubian crews, all re- 
