Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/375

 MARAWI— BABKAL. 299 their goods ; they deposit their bales iii the suud, under the protection of the shrine consecrated to " Saint Abii-IIanied," and when they return, after an absence of months, or years, they always find their property just as they left it under the shadow of this venerated tomb. Marawi — Barkal. Some ruins are found on the banks of the Nile between Ab(i-IIamed and the Fourth Cataract, but it is below these rapids that, next to those of Meroe, the most remarkable ruins of Upper Nubia are met with. Maraici, the village which at present stands in this part of the valley, is a name which seems to be derived from that of the ancient capital ; nevertheless, archaeologists, relying on the statements of authors, are certain that Marawi is the Napata of Herodotus, and the inscriptions deciphercfl are unanimous on this point. Marawi, situated at the foot of white rocks, occupies an important geographical situation, being the place where navigation recommences below the Fourth Cataract, and the converging point of the two routes from Berber and Shendi, across the Bayuda stepije. The Wady-Duni, one of the most fertile and least dried-up valleys of this region, forms a confluence with the Nile valley precisely opposite Marawi. Large heaps of rubbish mark the site of the destroyed monuments, and, not far above, the remains of great buildings are still to be seen at the base of the superb Mount Barkal, an enormous quadrangular sandstone mass, poised in the middle of the plain like a pedestal awaiting its statue. The hieroglyphic name of Barkal was " Holy Mountain," and its principal temple was dedicated to the glory of Amraon-Ra. Of this building but few ruins remain, suflScient, however, to leave no doubt as to the Egyptian origin of the monument attributed to Ramses the Great. Nevertheless, the name of Amenemha III. is also found on the granite rams and lions of natural size. In 1863, Mariette discovered amongst the monuments of Barkal five columns of the highest importance, proving that Ethiopia had a very important position among the Egyptian dynasties. For a period of fifty-one years, three Ethiopian kings, residing in Nubia, ruled over the greater part of Egypt. One of these conquerors, Tahraka by name, carried his expeditions even into Asia. The European museums possess several of these monuments from Mount Barkal. Groups of pyramids are found near the temple. But the most remarkable structures of this description are those which, to the number of twenty-five, stand on the left bank of the Nile, near the village of Xuri. These latter, larger than the pyramids of Meroe, are not so well preserved, owing to the less durable qualities of the sandstone, and nearly all have lost their exterior coating of polished stones. In the interior are found vaults, a method of support which w*a8 till recently believed to be an Etruscan invention, but which, nevertheless, occurs in various Oriental countries, notably at Saqqarah in the tombs of the sixth dynasty. In the wady of Abu-Dum, south of Nuri, are seen the ruins of a fine church and of a con ent in the Byzantine style ; but nowhere, on the left bank of the river, are to be found the traces of such an important town as Napata miist have been, which stood on the northern bank. The whole of this country formerly possessed