SEBEK-HETEP 111.

Behind the statue of Sebek-hetep III., at about the same distance, sculptured in gray granite, is a group of monkeys standing on their hind legs 1 , and having their fore-legs raised in adoration before them. The town which stood near the temple must have been of considerable importance, and Lepsius saw ' the traces of one extending far across the plain, with an immense necropolis attached to it, in which two huge monumental tombs were distinguished above all the others, one of which was called Kerman and the other Dafufa. They are oblong in form ; the larger is 150 feet long and 66 feet wide, and the smaller 132 feet long and 66 feet wide. Each is about 40 feet high, and is solidly built of crude mud bricks ; in front of each is a building, which may have served as a chapel wherein prayers were said for the dead, and offerings made. Lepsius thought that the oldest Egyptian settlement of any importance on Ethiopian territory must have been on this spot ; it was probably occasioned by the Egyptian power having been driven back towards Ethiopia during the rule of the Hyksos in Egypt. In connection v/ith the statues on the Island of Arko, reference must be made to the granite quarries wherein these were hewn. These quarries are situated on the Island of Tombos, which is about two hours down stream, at the head of the Cataract of Hannek, and a little north of Kubba Abu Fatma ; here among the blocks of granite which are scattered about is still to be seen another colossal statue, about 12 feet long, which is in a much ruined state. The quarries are on the right bank of the river, and are sufficiently far away from the Island of Arko to make the work of transporting the statues there one of no small difficulty.

Towards the close of the Xlllth Dynasty there reigned in the Delta a king who styled himself " King of the South and North, Ra-Nehsi," or Nehsi-Ra.

Now the word " Nehsi " means ' Letters p. 234.

2 For views of these see Hoskins, Travels, p. 216; Lepsius, Denktiidler, Abth. i., Bl. 120.

• More correctly TuNEUS ----1'.

* For a view of it see Hoskins, Travels, p. 218.

559