374 NOETÏÏ-EAST AEKICA. 



Egyptians, the holy island, whither was transferred the tomb of Osiris from Abydos. 

 Of all solemn oaths the most solemn was that sworn by the " Osiris who dwells at 

 Philse." It is a small island, less than half a mile in circumference ; but its out- 

 lines describe a charming oval, and there is no more graceful monument in all the 

 land than the kiosk on the east bank, whose festooned columns and floral capitals 

 rival the elegant forms of the shapely palm-stems overshadowing them. This 

 Egyptian edifice, dating from the time of Tiberius, is one of those that have been 

 most frequently reproduced by the pictorial art. It bears neither reliefs nor 

 inscriptions ; but it recalls the outlines of the Erechtheon at Athens, and it occupies 

 a lovely site. 



The other monuments on the island, temples of Isis reconstructed after the 

 conquest of Egypt by Alexander, are more remarkable for their inscriptions than 

 for their architecture. Perfectly preserved paintings are still visible on their 

 columns. Philse has become famous in the history of archaeological studies through 

 its two bilingual inscriptions, one of which, a copy of the celebrated " Rosetta 

 Stone," commemorates in hieroglyphic and demotic characters the triumph and 

 greatness of Ptolemy Y., named the " Immortal." At Philae also was found the 

 obelisk on which Champollion, after having already discovered the secret of the 

 sacred writings, deciphered the name of Cleopatra. This precious monument, 

 carried off by Banks and Belzoni, now forms part of a private collection in England.* 

 Another inscription at Philœ, dated the eighteenth ventôse of the year seven, records 

 the passage of the first division of the French army under the command of Desaix 

 in pursuit of the Mameluks, beyond the Cataracts. At one time a tunnel passed 

 under the narrow channel separating the island of Philœ from that of Biggeh, 

 which was formerly also a holy land. 



AssuAN — Abu. 



The valley through which flowed the Nile waters when they stood at a higher 

 level than at present, now forms the main route of caravans skirting the Cataracts 

 and transporting merchandise overland between Mahatta and Assuan. Here the 

 Khedive Ismail constructed a railway nine miles long, for military purposes, and 

 this line was extended by the English far into Nubia during the campaigns of 1884 

 and 1885. The importance attached for at least the last forty-seven centuries to 

 this commercial highway is evident from the inscriptions in various languages 

 engraved on its rocky walls. Its strategic value was also fully recognised, as 

 appears from the remains of a rampart constructed to defend Syene from the attacks 

 of the Blemmyes. The town lies below the Cataracts, on the right bank of the 

 river, where its houses are disposed in amphitheatral form on the slopes of the 

 rocks. The creek of Assuan is crowded with river craft, although less numerous 

 than at Mahatta, and the ShellaU, or " Men of the Cataract," swarm on the beach 

 every time a dahabiyeh weighs anchor in the direction of the rapids. The bazaar 

 is well stocked with arms and ornaments, ostrich feathers, skins of wild beasts, ivory, 

 * Amelia Edwards, "A Thousand Miles up the Nile." 



