A TRIP TO EGYPT. 
FEBRUARY and MARCH, 1892. 
BY W. H. WILKINSON, F.L.S., F.R.M.S., 
PRESIDENT OF THE BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY ; 
FELLOW BOTANICAL SOCIETY, EDINBURGH. 
(Continued from page 83.) 
A Trip up the Nile 
Was made in the fine new steamer, Rameses the Great.” Starting 
from the landing stage of Messrs. Cook and Sons, at Cairo, near to 
the fine iron bridge, Kasr-el-Nil, which spans the Nile, we passed a 
number of beautiful steamers and dahabeahs, which this enterprising 
firm has provided for Egyptian tourists. Our first stop was at 
Bedrachin, where we landed, and, mounted on donkeys, visited 
ancient Memphis, the Step Pyramid of Sakkarah, the Serapeum, 
and the tomb of Till. From one point I counted twelve pyramids 
in a line looking southwards. At Sakkarah we gazed with much 
astonishment on the two gigantic statues of Rameses the Great, 
one being carved out of red granite and the other of polished lime¬ 
stone, their total height being about 42ft. (See Plate VI.) 
For a fortnight we continued our pleasant trip southwards for 
583 miles, from Cairo to Assouan, stopping each night in mid-stream, 
and visiting places of interest in the day-time. At the end of the 
first week, after a beautiful day, we quietly steamed up to the 
landing stage at 
Luxor, 
and at once landed and went over the ruins of the magnificent 
temple of Luxor while illuminated by the glorious beams of the 
setting sun. It is over 800ft. long, and contains a colossal statue 
of Rameses II., and a number of broken ones, carved in red granite. 
The long row of columns on the bank, close to the water’s edge, 
forms one of the most beautiful ruins in the whole of Egypt. 
On the following morning we left our steamer at 8 15 o’clock, 
and crossed the Nile in a small boat to the western bank. Then a 
donkey ride of half an hour brought us to the 
May, 1893. 
