THE EGYPTIAN SUDAN steps, leading up to a smaller court about 70 feet long and 45 feet wide, and containing six columns, each with a diameter of 10 feet.

3. A second propylon 167 feet wide and 24 feet deep. 4. A court 90 feet long and 1 13 feet wide ; it contained twenty-eight columns, and had a double row of them on the west side. 5. A court 78 feet long and 113 feet wide; this contained thirty-two columns, which were arranged in double rows on the north and south sides, and in single rows'on the east and west sides. 6. A small court which led into the sanctuary. 7. The sanctuary, which was divided into sections by walls, and contained the symbol of the god to whom the temple was dedicated. The total length of the whole temple was about 540 feet, i.e., it was between 30 and 40 feet longer than St. Paul's Cathedral. The temple is built on the edge of the desert, and its first propylon stood about 600 feet from the river bank. Even in its decay it possesses considerable grandeur, and the picturesqueness of its surroundings gives these ruins an appearance which is most striking. Every traveller has been much impressed by the effect which the sight of it has produced upon him, and every one must regret the state of ruin into which it has fallen. The first question which the visitor asks himself is, " What has wrought the ruin of this massive building ? " The answer is not difficult to find. Its ruin has been caused by the want of foresight on the part of the architect, who allowed the foundations of the pillars to be built of crude brick, as Cailliaud observed {Voyage, tom. i., p. 379). At some time or other the water of summer rains has found its way into the courts, and pillar after pillar has fallen because its foundations were melted under it. The general equilibrium of the rows of pillars having been disturbed, the massive stones, which formed the upper framework of the temple, fell, and in their fall broke the pillars which they struck. The sanctuary and the pro-naos have suffered most of all.

When I first saw these ruins seven or eight years ago there were in the second large court a number of inscribed and sculptured slabs which I hoped would one day come to the British Museum. They appeared to have formed a sort of screen wall between the pillars, and being of hard sandstone, they had suffered less than the other stones in the building. The Inspector and I 446