272 EXTRACTS FROM 
the sands that scorched the feet, the bleached bones scattered 
about, the tracks of hyenas and jackals, the bald-headed 
vultures circling round, and for background the high utterly 
barren mountain-sides. Not a blade of grass refreshed the 
eye, and nothing broke the glare of the burning sun reflected 
from the wastes of sand and the white and yellow rocks that 
stood out in sharp relief against the dark blue sky. There was, 
however, an undeniable poetic charm in this truly monoto- 
nous but grand district. 
Suitable cover for creeping up to a bait unseen seemed to 
be afforded by a little hillock ; so I forthwith bought a sheep 
and had it taken to this place, where it was killed and its 
inside taken out as a first dainty morsel for the vultures. I 
then hurried back to my companions at the temple, and after 
thoroughly investigating all the ancient remains we breakfasted 
in one of its halls. 
As soon as we had finished our meal Hoyos and I set off 
again to pay a visit to the dead sheep, but before we had got 
well within shot of it a wary vulture detected us, and flapped 
up heavily from the ground, followed by about twenty of his 
great unwieldy comrades. Hoyos was lucky enough to knock 
down one of these big Griffon Vultures from the dense mass; 
but I was less fortunate and only wounded another very 
large one, which flew away across the plain hard hit. The 
ravenous birds had made a tremendous onslaught on the 
poor sheep, for nothing was left of it but the wool and a few 
dismembered fragments. 
After this successful sporting interlude we returned to the 
rest of the party, and went with them to the village, where 
we paid a visit to a blind peasant. This worthy man is one of 
the richest householders in the place, and also drives a trade 
in Egyptian antiquities, which are dug up for him in and 
about the temple, though quite illegally. Advised by Brugsch 
Pasha we bought some of the better objects, and had at the 
