THB TEMPLE OF HERM0NTI8. }45 CHAPTER XI.

FROM THEBES TO THE NUBIAN FRONTIER.

The Temple of Hermontts—Esneh and its Temple—The Governor—El Kab by Torch* light—The Temple of Edfoa—The Quarries of Djebel Silsileh—Ombos-Approach to Nabia—Change in the Scenery and Inhabitants—A Mirage—Arrival at Assouan.

Our journey from Thebes to Assouan occupied six days, including a halt of twenty-four hours at Esneh. We left Luxor on the night of December 8 th, but the westward curve of the Nile brought us in opposition with the wind, and the next day at noon we had only reached Erment, the ancient Hermontis, in sight of the three peaks of the Theban hills. We left our men to tug the boat along shore, and wandered oflF to the mounds of the old city, still graced with a small temple, or lying-in house of the goddess Reto, who is here represented as giving birth to the god Hor-pire. The sculptures in the dark chambers, now used as stalls for asses, were evidently intended only for the priesthood of the temple, and are not repeated, as are those of other temples, in the halls open to the public.

Notwithstanding the great license which the Egyptian faith assumed, its symbols are, in general, scrupulously guarded from all low and unworthy forms of representation.

The group of pillars in the outer court charmed us by the 7