The Nile, from the First to the Second Cataract and return by Tourist Steamer
| 1st day | Leave Assouan by rail for Shellal, about five miles up the river, where passengers embark for the Second Cataract. The steamer passes through one of the most interesting gorges of the Nile, El-Bab (the Gate), and shortly after arrives at the village of Kalabsha, where are ruins of two temples, one of which was the largest and most imposing of all the temples of Nubia. Some of the paintings on its walls are of the highest finish, the colors still retaining their brilliancy. The steamer stays for the night at Gerf Hasen, where there is a Rock Temple (53 miles from Philae). |
| 2d day | The steamer makes a short stay at Dakka, to allow a visit to the temple, supposed to have been built by the Ethiopian King Arq-Amen on the site of an earlier temple ; thence to Wady es-Sabua, the " Valley of the Lions," so called by the Arabs from the andro-sphinxes of the dromos that led up to the temple; and on to Korosko (118 miles from Philae). A high peak, which is easily ascended, commands a magnificent view of the Nile Valley on one side, and on the other, of the desert road leading via Abu- Hamed to Khartoum. |
| 3d day | To Abu-Simbel, 174 miles from Philae. |
| 4th day | Spent in visiting the great Temple of Rameses II and that of Hamor. These two monumental ruins are the greatest attraction Nubia has to offer to the antiquarian student. Both are hewn out of the solid gritstone rock, which thus forms site and edifice for each. Certainly, along the whole length of the Nile Valley, the traveler has seen nothing more overwhelmingly impressive than these remains, — not even the Pyramids or the ruins of wonderful Thebes, — and he realizes how puny and expressionless is modern architecture compared with the works of the inspired designers and the daring, resourceful builders of the days of Egypt's might and magnificence. The larger temple is covered with inscriptions and paintings (still vivid in their original colors), describing the life and conquests of the great Rameses. After allowing ample time to visit the temples the steamer proceeds to Wadi-Halfa, near the Second Cataract, and 214 miles from Philae |
| 5th day | An excursion is made to ABusir, where from a high cliff is to be had a magnificent view of the rapids. After this the steamer returns from Wadi-Halfa to Abu-Simbel, stopping to give another opportunity to visit the temples. |
| 6th day | Leaving Abu-Simbel, the steamer passes the partly ruined fort of Kasr [brim, dating back from Roman time, to Maharaka, where the night is spent. |
| 7th day | Return to Shellal, stopping on the way (a few miles before reaching Kalabsha) at the village of Dendur, to visit a great temple erected during the Roman occupation of Egypt, probably by Augustus Caesar. |
