A Night In The Catacombs Of The Nile.

rock , or precipice ,, on any partion of the Nilotic valley , or of the desert bordering upon it , which does not contain suites , more or less spacious , of sepulchnral chambers adorned with sculpture , painted in brilliant and gorgeous colours , abounding with symbolical representations with deep shafts , long corridors , endless flights of steps descending , rounding , branching off into the bowels of the

earth , with here and there niches for coffins , carved and decorated divans for tbe living , and beautiful tables running along the wall on which to arrange the wines , fruits , and viands designed to comfort and exhilirate the worship of Isis and Osiris . Once while rowing about the waters of Nubrid , we learned that there existed far out in the desertsomething

, which our informants called a ruin , though whether below or above the ground , they were unable to decide . Ee specting its exact distance from the river they were equally uncertain , some estimating it at one hour , some at three or more . Arriving shortly after dark at the village which was to form our starting point , we found the whole population asleep , or determined to appear so ,

with the exception of four young men whom we heard while groping our way through tbe dusky streets or rather lanes , talking and laughing in a ruinous unlighted building . Our Arab servants , who cherised strong prejudices against all inhabitants of the black countries , argued that they must be murderers or at least brigands , otherwise thoy could have no motive for sitting together

in tbe dark after all honest people were in their beds . But brigands or no brigands , they would probably consent for money to become our guide , which , when we had knocked and made known our wishes , they cheerfully did . It must be said for wild and Eastern men in general , that they seldom profess knowledge when conscious of ignorance , so that if they undertake to conduct you to any place , you may be tolerably certain tbey are familiar with the road , though about distances their ideas are often

extremely misty . On the present occasion our difficulties were multiplied by the circumstance , that the guides understood not one word of Arabic , while , with the exception of an ignorant river pilot , we were all equally unacquainted with the Noubah language . Scanty and unsatisfactory , therefore , was our inter-communication , but as they affirmed unhestatingly that they could lead us to

the ruins of which we were in seach , we bade them move on and followed . Soon the village was left behind , and the desert entered upon—the desert , vast , monotonous , lighted up by the most brilliant moon—its sand hills piled up and modelled by the winds , clothed in some places with tamarisk or the Oriental willow , alternating at intervals with barren rocks rising into peaks , or cloven into

vast fissures , through which we wound our way , immersed at times in deep shadow , with the yawning mouths of caverns on either hand . . Out attendants , little used to walking over deep sand or rugged rocks , presently became tired , and their weariness , perhaps , induced them to question us as to whether or not we had brought our firearms with us , since they apprehended that our guides mi

ght possibly have a design upon our lives , as they often Whispered together and laughed . Our rifles , our pistols , and even ona daggers had been left behind , so that had the Nubians intended mischief , they had an excellent opportunity , but they entertained no such idea , and at length , after a weary march of at least three hours , stopped at the foot of low mountaindeclaring

a , us now 4 ° * . Presence of the object of which we were in search . As neither column , nor obelisk , nor wall , nor gateway , anywhere appeared , we began to suspect » thoy were really Mocking us , and being roused to madness to anger , fiercely demanded what they meant . The men then with their S 6 rS inted to E cornice cut in the rockand

?) £ P ° an gyptian , an but covered with sand , which , kneeling down , they vigorousl y removed with their hands , till they laid open a-small doorway , through which , being the most eager of tbe party , I forced my way , and like the Egyptian deity , Agatko-demon , wriggled into a hole .

Once entered , I beheld by my wax taper one of the most astonishing sights I had ever witnessed . Standing on the sand mounds blown in by the winds , my head nearly touched the roof , which was completely instinct with life : myriads of small creatures with sooty wings , open mouths , and glittering bead-like eyes , hung quivering and trembling from the rock , detaching

themselves gradually , and darting madly hither and thither in the unaccustomed light . Leaving my companions to work their way through the sand at leisure , I advanced with more than my wonted caution into the cavern . Nor was caution at all unnecessary , for I had not proceeded many yards before a large square mummy pit yawned before me . Into this I threw a stoneand bits

, y frequent bounding and rebounding from side to side , conjectured that the depth of the shaft could not be less than seventy or eighty feet . After warning my friends of the danger , I skirted the pit , and theu paused in profound admiration of the grandeur , extent , and magnificence of this subterranean palace , constructed by the lavish industry of the Egyptiansin an

out-of-the-, way mountain , which they , who quenched their thirst at the Nile , could have seldom bad occasion to visit , unless , which is not improbable , all this portion ofthe wilderness had been rendered fertile by their genius and energy . The tamarisks , the willows and the mimosas , still growing on the hillocks aud hollows , testified to the practicability of such a transformation .

After gazing round me for several minutes , I discerned a square opening in the rock , leading to a lower suite of apartments , and after estimating the depth , which seemed to be from fifteen to eighteen feet . I leaned forward with my hands on the sides of the opening , and leaped down , followed by a torrent of bats , all apparently intent upon extinguishing my wax taper , and at length , to my nolittle annoyance , succeded . They now considered they had got me all to themselves , and as I stooped to . grope about for the candle , I felt them sprawling thick

upon the ground , and put my thumb and fingers into their open mouths , while others of the brethren crawled over my head into my bosom , and down the back of my neck , their cold clammy touch malting me shiver with , disgust . Into these halls and corridors , no light but that of a torch or taper had ever penetrated since the creation . Around me was the true Egyptian darkness , —a darkness

which could be felt , since it weighed upon the spirits , and made the eyeballs strain to catch a glimpse of something visible and tangible . I picked up stones and threw them in various directions , and as , however far they went , they struck against no rock or wall , but always fell on the sandy or stony floor , I conjectured that I stood in the midst of a vast hole , the pavement of

which might be pierced with mummy pits or other dangerous cavities . Beginning to be alarmed , since I knew not how to advance or retreat , I shouted with all my might to my companions , who , not knowing what course I had taken , had probably turned off into other galleries , never supposing I could have descended into that chasm . Whether they came to aid or notthere

my , was one circumstance which inspired me with the hope that I might find an exit from that dismal den , this was a slight curz-ent of air which now and then breathed upon me . Exploring the floor carefully , now with my feet , ancl now with my hands , I moved towards the point from which the air came ; but , to my dismay , the little refreshing breeze ceased to blow , and then , a few seconds

afterwards appeared to come from behind . I now resumed my former practise of throwing stones , and at length found thai they struck against a wall , which turned out , however , when I reached it , to be only the face of a large square pillar , designed to support the weight of the superincumbent mountain . On a low projection of this pillar I sat down to consider what was next to be done . If I sat there till morning , the return of day would not improve my condition . The stones which strewed the floors were too soft to afford the least spark of fire by