JOURNAL RELATING TO NUBIA. 409 



I hired a boat of the inhabitants of the east shore opposite to 

 Fhilas, which though of smaller size than the one I left at Assouan, 

 was large enough to enable me to lay my bed cross-ways at the stern ; 

 four men made the crew ; and a mat arched on some palm-branches 

 served for a skreen against the sun. 



May 12. — Early in the morning we sailed up the river, and in 

 consequence of the wind failing, moored at Ser Ali, on the east bank, 

 where we observed some crocodiles. About half way between Philse 

 and Ser Ali on the west bank are the remains of a temple, in a village 

 called Deboo ; on the cultivated spots in the neighbourhood are many 

 sheep and cows, with plantations of palm-trees. 



May 13. — Detained at Ser Ali by Kamseen winds, which set in 

 with an obscure sky ; the sun becoming pale, as seen through a dis- 

 coloured glass. 



May 14. — Arrived at Gartaas, (called by Norden, Hindau), on 

 the west bank, where I landed to examine the architectural ruins, of 

 which there are many at intervals, for the space of nearly two miles. 

 The first and most southern is a square inclosure of masonry, of one 

 hundred and fifty-three paces, its greatest height sixteen feet ; its 

 thickness about ten. In the south and north sides there are gateways ; 

 that in the north is nearly in the centre, and has a cornice, on which 

 is a winged globe, and the outline of a symbolic figure cut on one of 

 the stones. Beyond this, going northward, amongst some quarries of 

 sandy free-stone, is a narrow passage open at the top, cut by art ; on 

 each side of which at intervals are hieroglyphics coarsely sculptured, 

 and the outline of a Monolithic temple. This passage leads to a 

 part of the rock on which is a shallow recess ; here I saw the half- 

 length figures of men in full relief ; the heads are defaced ; they have 

 drapery about the shoulders and arms, and appear to have in their 

 hands the wand and whip of the Egyptian mythology ; the former 

 being a symbol of power ; the latter the Flagellum sometimes given 

 to Osiris, at others to the genii Averrunci. They are about three 

 feet high, and are cut out of the rock. 



Above and below these figures are numerous Greek inscriptions 



3 G 



