MEROE. 229 CHAPTER XVIII.

THE RUINS OP MEROE.

Arrival at Bedjerowiyeh — The Ruins of Merot — "Walk Across the Plain— The Pyramids—Character of their Masonry — The Tower and Vault— Finding of the Treasure— The Second Group — More Ruins— Site of the City — Number of the Pyramids — The Antiquity of Meroe — Ethiopian and Egyptian Civilization — The Caucasian Race — Reflections.

A light breeze sprang up soon after midnight, and when I arose, at sunrise, we were approaching the village of Bedjerowiyeh. By the time coffee was ready, the America was moored at the landing-place, and Rai's Bakhid, who was familiar with all the localities, stood in waiting. Achmet, with Beshir and another sailor, also accompanied me. We crossed some fields of cotton and dookhn to the village, which was a cluster of tolculs, or circular huts of mud and sticks, in a grove of sont trees. The rais tried to procure a donkey for me, hut the people, who took me for an Egyptian, and appeared very timorous and humble, denied having any, although I saw two halfstarved beasts among the trees. "We therefore set out on foot, toward a range of mountains, about five miles distant.

The discovery of the ruins of Meroe is of comparatively recent, date, and it is only within a very short time that their