LIGHT— BELZONI. £07 
blished, and the feuds thus generated are so nu- 
merous and violent, that labourers following their 
daily employments, and even boys, go constantly 
armed. They profess the Mahometan religion, 
but are by no means assiduous in the performance 
of its rites : almost the only instance of it observ- 
ed by our traveller, was when they quoted the 
Koran to justify their right of private revenge. 
From Cairo to Deir there is a gradual but conti- 
nued change in the complexion of the inhabitants, 
from white to black ; and the Nubians, to their co- 
lour, add a considerable share of the Negro fea- 
tures. Yet, between Dakkey and Deir, there is 
a sudden reappearance of the Arab language, and 
even aspect. 
From some valuable communications recently 
made to a periodical work,* we are enabled to 
give a view of the researches made in Egypt and 
Nubia by an Italian gentleman of the name of 
Belzoni, under the auspices of Mr Salt, who now 
fills the place of British Consul at Cairo. M. Bel- 
zoni set out to examine the temple of Ipsambul 
or Ebsambul, situated about two days' journey 
beyond Ibrim, and forming the most extraordi- 
nary excavation yet discovered in this part of the 
world. Mr Bankes had already brought an ac- 
* Quarterly Review, June and September 1818. 
5 
