100 
A TRIP TO EGYPT. 
the zodiac on the ceiling ; the temple itself is still buried. At 
noon we set out in the steamer, and by three reached Edfou. We 
landed, and proceeded on donkeys to the renowned 
Temple of Edfou, 
one of the most perfect of its kind in Egypt. Our dragoman. 
Mahamed, took us all over it, and gave us descriptions of the more 
important of the figures and hieroglyphics. We then climbed to 
the top of the propylon, or gateway, 112ft. high, from which we 
had a fine view of the temple beneath, the mud city all round, the 
Nile winding for many miles beyond. A north wind was blowing, 
which made it a little cooler, as for several days previously my 
thermometer had registered 90° on deck beneath the awning. 
We left Edfou at 5 o’clock the next morning, and passed without 
stopping 
Hagae-Tilsileh, 
92 miles from Luxor. On both sides of the river are quarries, from 
which the stone was obtained for many of the Nile monuments. 
We stopped for half-an-liour at 
Kom-Omboo. 
I went on shore and climbed up to inspect the temple ruins. One 
of its fine capitals was formed of five whorls of lotus ornament. 
It was dedicated to Horns and Sebek. I obtained some plants 
and a grasshopper from here. Soon after lunch we anchored off 
Assouan, 
the highest point up the river to which our steamer could take us. 
The rapids which extend six miles upwards from here have usually 
to be ascended on shore, either by the short railway or on donkey 
back. We crossed in sail and row boats to the 
Island of Elephantina, 
and saw the granite remains of a temple, and obtained a good view 
of the beautiful scenery on the Nile southwards, and on our way 
back passed the ancient Nilometer. We then took boat across to 
Assouan, and bought a few things of native manufacture in its 
busy bazaar, and on our way back witnessed a glorious sunset. At 
7 45 o'clock the next morning, we started on donkeys from our 
steamer, crossed the sand for a mile to Assouan, went over a small 
May, 1893. 
