tombs which they have left
tell us their history. They honeycomb in long lines the sides of the
steep hill which looks down upon the whole extent of the left bank of
the Nile opposite the narrow channel of the port of Aswan. A rude flight
of stone steps led from the bank to the level of the sepulchres. The
mummy having been carried slowly on the shoulders of the bearers to the
platform, was deposited for a moment at the entrance cf the chapel.
The decoration of the latter was rather meagre, and was distinguished
neither by the delicacy of its execution nor by the variety of the
subjects. More care was bestowed upon the exterior, and upon the walls
on each side of the door, which could be seen from the river or from the
streets of Elephantine. An inscription borders the recess, and boasts
to every visitor of the character of the occupant: the portrait of the
deceased, and sometimes that of his son, stand to the right and left:
the scenes devoted to the offerings come next, when an artist of
sufficient skill could be found to engrave them.

[Illustration: 275.jpg THE MOUNTAIN OF ASWAN AND THE TOMBS OF THE
PRINCES OF ELEPHANTINE]

Drawn by Boudier, from a photograph by Insinger. The
entrance to the tombs are halfway up; the long trench,
cutting the side of the mountain obliquely, shelters the
still existing steps which led to the tombs of Pharaonic
times. On the sky-line may be noted the ruins of several
mosques and Coptic monasteries.

The expeditions of the lords of Elephantine, crowned as they frequently
were with success, soon attracted the attention of the Pharaohs:
Metesouphis deigned to receive in person at the cataract the homage of
the chiefs of Uauait and Iritit and of the Mazaiu during the early days
of the fifth year of his reign.*

* The words used in the inscription, "The king himself went
and returned, ascending the mountain to see what there was
on the mountain," prove that Metesouphis inspected the
quarries in person. Another inscription, discovered in 1893,
gives the year V. as the date of his journey to Elephantine,
and adds that he had negotiations with the heads of the four
great Nubian races.

The most celebrated caravan guide at this time was Hirkhuf, own cousin
to Mikhu, Prince of Elephantine. He had entered upon office under the
auspices of his father Iri, "the sole friend." A king whose name he does
not mention, but who was pe