RUINS OF SAIS. 299 
buried the sovereigns of the Sditic dynasty"; chap, 
VI 
and it may be supposed that tlie ransacking of > 
such a coemetery would lead to the discovery of 
many curious antiquities, and even give proba- 
bility to the narrative related by the inhabitants 
of Se'l Hajar to Egmont and Heyman\ concerning 
the camel-loads of treasure which were found 
upon the spot. Our next inquiry was directed 
towards the mosque; suspecting that, in the ma- 
terials employed for this building, something 
more might come to light. After a slight hesi- 
tation, they also granted us permission to carry 
on our researches here, and admitted us to 
view the interior of the structure. The frag- 
ments of some antient columns appeared in the 
walls ; and in the steps, before the entrance, 
we noticed a large slab of polished Syenite. 
Having with some difficulty extricated and Hierosii</- 
turned the stone, we found it to be the base or uiet. 
pedestal of one of those upright statues which 
seem to correspond with the notion entertained 
of the Androsphinxes mentioned by Herodotus; 
although it does not answer in its size to the 
proportion necessary for the colossal figures 
(6) Herodot. ibid, c. 169. For an account of this tlynasty, see 
Kircher, GSdip. ^gypt. torn. i. c. 10. p. 91. Rom. 165!?. 
(7) See Egmont and fl(?ym««'s Travels, vol.11, p. 112. Land. 1759. 
