Page:H. D. Traill - From Cairo to the Soudan Frontier.djvu/147

Rh sunlight, two early visitors from Luxor trotted up on their donkeys to the base of Shama's pedestal. They dismounted and proceeded leisurely to examine him.

"Observe the cartouche of Amenhotep III.," said the first visitor, "and the inscription, 'Son of the Sun. Beloved of.

"Oh, yes," said the second, though in no very profoundly interested tone. "Quartzose sandstone, you see. This came from the quarries between Keneh and Koser, no doubt. You notice, I daresay, that it does not belong to the formation of the district, which consists, I need hardly tell you, of nummulite limestone. You don't find the sandstone-conglomerate until you get as high as"

"The waist. Yes, that is where the restoration began. But it is rather singular, considering how fond the Roman Emperors were of airing their Egyptian titles, that one doesn't find any record of the fact. I wish, old chap, you would just take a turn round