424 



JOURNAL RELATING TO NUBIA. 



In front of the south columns are several rows of stones in regular 

 order, apparently part of the building thrown down, on which were 

 hieroglyphics, and on one there were Greek characters which I could 

 not trace. A bare wall near the south-east end of this ruin, contains 

 figures of ordinary sculpture, but evidently alluding to scriptural 

 subjects. 



Below OufFendoonee we passed a caravan of Gelabs (slave-mer- 

 chants) from Dongola on their way to Siout. I observed that they 

 were more attentive to the forms of the Mahometan religion than 

 the natives of these parts, of whom I had scarcely seen any attending 

 to its ceremonies. 



May 29, 30. — I continued descending the Nile to the cataracts of 

 Galabshee, where I was tempted to land for the purpose of sketching 

 the grand scene they presented to my view ; but as we approached the 

 shore the people of the neighbourhood ran down with their weapons 

 dancing and howling, and appeared to be inclined to oppose my 

 landing ; I therefore continued my voyage. 



May 31. — Arrived at Deboo. Here, on landing to examine the 

 ruins of the temple which I have already mentioned, I found the 

 greatest part of the inhabitants of the village had taken refuge in its 

 enclosure to protect themselves against the attacks of the people of 

 a neighbouring district, who, to avenge the murder of one of their 

 own body by an inhabitant of Deboo, committed nightly depredations 

 on the latter village ; ham-stringing cattle, which they could not 

 carry off, plundering and murdering every male inhabitant they could 

 find ; and these atrocities were to be committed until one of the 

 family of the murderer was sacrificed to their revenge. Not knowing 

 how soon their enemies might appear, 1 contented myself with taking 

 a general view of the ruins. 



They consist of three gates to pyramidal moles ; of these last no 

 traces now remain. The gates are behind each other at unequal 

 distances, and beyond the last a portico of four columns with entabla- 

 ture, cornice, and side walls in high preservation. 



