306 NOETH-EAST AFRICA. 



all the other sculptures also commemorate the glory of Ramses, conqueror of the 

 Hittites. On the ceiling of one hall are carefully drawn various species of 

 animals no longer met with in Nubia, but only in Kordofân and Senâr. 



The smaller temple, consecrated to the goddess Hathor, has six colossi over 

 30 feet in height before the façade, and four of these huge masses again represent 

 Ramses II. ; two of the statues, the second and fifth, reproduce the features of 

 Nof reari, the " Divine Beauty," and their children are placed between the knees 

 of the wedded pair. 



Maharrakah — Beït-el-Walli. 



The imposing sanctuaries of Abu-Simbel are succeeded by many other temples, 

 which extend as far as the First Cataract. Fourteen have been described by 

 archaeologists, without including the sepulchral grottoes, gateways, and towers. 

 Passing beyond the temple of Sahua, almost buried in the sand, and the ruins of 

 the ancient town of Mahendi, whose tunnel-shaped galleries are still to be seen 

 passing under the houses, the traveller reaches the Roman ruins of Maharrakah, 

 which crown a promontory commanding an extensive prospect. 



Then come Dakheh, with its gigantic gateways, and Garf-Hossain, a sombre 

 cavern hewn out of the limestone rock, now infested by bats, like all the abandoned 

 edifices of ancient Egypt. Beyond this point are seen the ruins of Kalahshah, 

 another superb temple built by Ramses II., where a Greek inscription has been 

 found recording the victories that the Nubian king, Silco, gained over the 

 Blemmyes. Close by yawns the well-known specs or sepulchral cave of Beït-el- 

 Walli, whose sculptures, representing triumphal processions, assaults, court and 

 battle scenes, have been rendered more popular by engravings than any others. 

 Although somewhat tarnished by the castings taken from them, the colours of the 

 paintings of Beït-el-Walli are still remarkably brilliant. 



The defile leading from Egypt in the direction of Nubia is preceded by 

 temples and necropolises, which form, as it were, a long avenue of tombs. Cata- 

 combs are much more numerous than populated dwellings, and this region 

 probably contains fewer living men than gods engraved on the walls of the 

 temples or sculptured in the granite. 



