LEGH. 
^01 
to Philge. Of this spirit of inquiry, the only de- 
tailed result which has yet been laid before the 
public, consists in the recent narrative of Mr 
Legh. We shall take it up at the cataracts above 
Syene. Mr Legh confirms the report of all mo- 
dern travellers, that these cataracts present no- 
thing of the grandeur which some passages in the 
ancient writers would lead us to expect. It may 
perhaps be a question, whether these writers did 
not confound this with the yet unexplored catar- 
act of Genadil ? Those of Syene are formed mere- 
ly by the river forcing its way in a contracted 
channel among rocks of granite, or rather syenite, 
which form several ledges across it ; but boys, for 
a trifle, will swim over them. The aspect of the 
scene, however, is very imposing. " The wild 
disorder of the granite rocks, which present 
" every variety of grotesque shape, the absence of 
" all cultivation, the murmur of the water, and 
" the savage and desolate character of the whole 
" scene, form a picture which exceeds all power 
** of description." On passing this cataract, the 
aspect of the country is entirely changed. The 
valley of Upper Egypt, which had not before ex- 
tended above a few miles in breadth, is entirely 
closed in, and the mountains scarcely leave a few 
patches on which dates can be planted. The va- 
ried population of Egypt disappears, and is sup- 
planted by a native race called iiarabras, the same 
