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pletlira, neither agrees with this, nor can agree with thatof any other Egyptian edifice ; since the plan of an Egyptianbuilding invariably requires a diminution, by no increase ofdimensions, from the entrance to the inner chambers; andwhile the body of the temple, behind the portico, retainedone uniform breadth, the areas in front, and frequently theportico itself, exceeded the inner portion of it by their pro-jecting sides. The peristyle and‘columns in the form ofliving beings,’ roofed colonnade, sitting statues, and tripleentrance to a chamber supported by columns, agree well withthe approach to the great hall of this temple. The largeststatue in Egypt can scarcely be looked for but in the build-ing before us, yet the sculptures to which he alludes, remindus rather of those of Medeenet Haboo ; nor is it impossiblethat either Heeatasus or Diodorus have united or confoundedthe details of these two edifices.

“ The second area is about 140 feet by 170, having on thesouth and north sides a row of Osiride pillars, connected witheach other by two lateral corridors of circular columns.Three flights of steps lead to the northern corridor behindthe Osiride pillars, the centre one having on each side a blackgranite statue of Berneses II., the base of whose throne iscut to fit the talus of the ascent. Behind these columns,and on either side of the central door, is a limestone pedestal,which, to judge from the space left in the sculptures, musthave once supported the sitting figure of a lion, or perhapsa statue of the king. Three entrances thence open into theerrand hall, each strengthened and beautified by a sculptureddoorway of black granite, and between the two first columnsof the central avenue, two pedestals supported (one on eitherside) two other statues of the king. Twelve massivecolumns form a double line along the centre of this hall, andeighteen of smaller dimensions, to the right and left, com-plete the total of the forty-eight which supported its solidroof, studded with stars on an azure ground. To the hall,which measures 100 feet by 133, succeeded three centraland six lateral chambers, indicating, by a small flight ofsteps, the gradual ascent of the rock on which this edificeis constructed. Of nine, two only of the central apartmentsnow remain, each supported by four columns, and eachmeasured about 30 feet by 55; but the vestiges of theirwalls, and appearance of the rock, which has been levelledto form an area around the exterior of the building, pointout their original extent. The sculptures, much more interest-ing than the architectural details, have suffered still morefrom the hand of the destroyer ; and of the many curi-ous battle-scenes which adorned its walls, four only nowremain.”

Still southward is the village of Medeenet Haboo, whichcontains the ruins of two temples, of which we have notspace to give a particular account. The smaller one consistsof an open area 125 feet by 80, the north side being formedof a row of eight columns, through which access is obtained toa transverse area, having two pyramidal towers at its extre-mity, and between them an entrance into an hypmthral courtwith similar towers. These lead into a court GO feet long,with a colonnade on either side, and at its extremity anentrance into the sanctuary, which is surrounded by colon-nade= and chambers. The larger edifice is approachedthrough a dromos 265 feet in length, at the end of which aretwo propylsea leading into a large hypsethral court. At thefurther side of this court an entrance through pylons is giveninto a very fine peristyle court 123 feet by 133 feet, at theextremity of which is the portico. The large court containsspecimens of Caryatid columns.

We now arrive at a different class of buildings—the tombsor catacombs, which consist of subterranean apartments

nibs ot 1

a vast tract of land in the neighbourhood ofKurnu. The two following descriptions are frompreviously quoted; the first relates to one of the toikings, which was first opened by Belzoni:— . t ]y co n "

“ The tomb, which of all others stands pre-enu n gtll tespicuous, as well for the beauty of its sculptureof its preservation, is undoubtedly that discovered ^ ai' dby Belzoni. But the plan is far from being well regu rgg itsthe deviation from one line of direction greatly o

general effect; nor does the rapid descent by a aho.-i<twenty-four feet in perpendicular depth, on a ^ 0 f tl> elength of twenty-nine, convey so appropriate an > ^ ot ]ier

entrance to the abode of death, as the gradual ta u o

of these sepulchres. To this staircase succeeds a r

,ass»o ean

- • 11 “^’P° St lv.ntld

eighteen feet and a half'by nine, including the ia>l [ )0r jzo» ta ,passing another door, a second staircase descends ,n a y g , anlength twenty-five feet; beyond which two “ a0 j 0I1(r cl |9lI j”a passage of twenty-nine feet, bring you to an o » pelber twelve feet by fourteen, where a pit, y U [),e to® 1 ®'zoni, once appeared to form the utmost limit o ^ lie"'! 1Part of its inner wall was composed of a 8 mo ot '

stone, closely cemented together, and covered wi ‘ e( j csd 9 'coat of stucco, like the other walls of this exca^ gU pjgctcomb, on which was painted a emtinuation ol tithat still adorn its remaining sides. a dini r9 ^ /

“ Independent of the main object of this well? 3 ^ t j J(3 gU 1 '*calculated to mislead, or at least check, the searc ga> n f ^ous and the spoiler, another advantage was “ ie toin i), wb 1 ®in the preservation of the interior part of , t * ie . nroa d of .was effectually guaranteed from the destructive i . nte ,. c ep te jrain-water, whose torrent its depth complete^ av0C c aUsea fact which a storm, some years ago, by the 1in the inner chambers, sadly demonstrated. r ,tione ( b ®^,“ The hollow sound of the wall above" ai j en cha 111 ^^'a small aperture, betrayed the secret of its hm^ c j a ssic t 9 ^and a palm-tree, supplying the place of the more ^ tforced, on the well - known principle of ti g plen d . [Sintermediate barrier, whose breach displayed ^gjjghtiaSof the succeeding hall, at once astonishing andiscoverer, whose labours were so gratefully rep gqu 9 ’“ Its four pillars, supporting a roof twenty -31 ^.^ b'tr .hare decorated, like the whole of the walls> ^finished and well-preserved sculptures, which, r an( j ne flI \. 0 fcolours, appear but the work of yesterday? gec0I1 d ha ^centre of the inner wall, a few steps lead to a ^ leftsimilar dimensions, supported by two pillars? ^nce®unfinished state, the sculptors not having y e * t just e aoutline of the figures the draughtsmen ha the S et ! jppleted. It is here that the first deviations 1 rejna rkabline of direction occur, which are still more ^ e p-

the staircase that descends at its southern , cor ] l£1 mk er 8 . e tb®“ To this last succeed two passages, and •? orj ned^’J ,n p ty'teen feet by fourteen, communicating by a ’; c h is

centre of its inner wall, with the grand hal ? . Qn e

seven feet square, and supported by six p 11side is a small chamber opposite the angle ? oon ,and the upper end terminates in a vaulte sa rcop^Id?#*®

feet by thirty, in whose centre stood an alabas ^the kenotaph of the deceased monarch, U P° -ygase 011 ^ fo rsummit of an inclined plane, which, with a f . ce0 us T ° C . rll j}<i eside, descends into the heart of the argi .., e t be er, .j bfa distance of a hundred and fifty feet. *! lS ’ j coo° e ® n f tb®of the tomb and the first hall, was closed bas e j a ii<*

a wall of masonry, which, coming even wi c0 ve r

sarcophagus, completely masked the stairelevelled with the floor.