CATARACT OF SEMNA The famous Cataract of Semna is situated a little to the south of the temple, and is a most picturesque feature of the landscape. The barrier itself is formed of black basalt, in which at intervals are layers of quartz, varying in thickness from i to 5 inches. The main channel of the Nile through this is about 150 yards wide. Through this, even at low Nile, the river rushes with great rapidity and force, and the roar of its waters can be heard on a windless day at a considerable distance. The Inspector and I found it necessary to visit the ruins of Kuinma, which stand on the high rock on the east side of the Cataract, and we inquired of the natives what means they employed in crossing the river. We learned that they had neither boat nor raft, and that when they were compelled to cross the Nile they usually went some distance either to the north or south of the Cataract, and then swam across it in the narrowest part they could find. They went on to say that one of their young men knew how to make a tof, or raft, and that he should take us across. One afternoon we were told that the tof was ready, and we went down to the river where it lay. It was made of four large bundles of reeds, about 12 feet long, tied together with ropes made of palm fibre, and was about 4 feet wide ; on these we placed an ankartb, and then took our places upon it. The raftsman sat on one end of it, with a flat piece of wood, which he used both as an oar and a steering pole, in his hand, but the real motive power was supplied by four men, who, having tied their garments in bundles and placed them on their heads, stepped into the water, and began to swim, pressing the raft forward with their breasts. The wind, fortunately, was in our favour, and we passed over to Kumma in about half-an-hour. The shekh and several men of the village met us, and escorted us through the defiles which led to the top of the rock. There were scores of hieroglyphic r_// on the rocks ' and boulders, and we noticed in several places layers of beautifully white quartz from 3 inches to 6 inches thick. The graffiti were only short sepulchral inscriptions, roughly hammered on the rock, to commemorate ancient Egyptian officials who must have died at the Cataract, or in its neighbourhood.

The village of Kumma is built inside the temple and its ' A selection of these will be found in Lepsius, Denkmd/er,.\hxh. ii., Bl, 139.

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