of stone, and are evidently much more ancient than those of Meroe.

The largest is probably more than a hundred feet square, and something
more in height. It presents a singularity in its construction worthy
of notice. It is a pyramid within a pyramid; i.e. the inner pyramid has
been cased over by a larger one; one of its sides being in ruins makes
this peculiarity visible. By climbing up the ruined side, it is easy
to reach its summit. No remains of a city or any traces of temples are
visible in the immediate vicinity of this place, which is called by the
natives "Turboot."

On the 23d we came in view of the lower end of the rapids of the Third
Cataract; those hereabouts are called "the rapids of Oula" We were
obliged to consume thirty-nine days in getting as far as the island of
Kendi, (which is not above fifty miles from Meroe.) As the direction of
the river continued almost the same, coming from about the north-east,
and the wind being almost invariably ahead, the difficulties attending
advancing the boats by the cordel were very great, as the river here
is spotted by an infinity of islands and rocks. In some of the passages
where the water was deep, the current was as swift as a mill-sluice,
which made it necessary to employ the crews of perhaps twenty boats
to drag up one at a time. In other passages, where the water was very
shallow, it was sometimes necessary to drag the boats by main force over
the stones at the bottom. The camp of the Pasha remained during all
this time about eight hours march above Meroe, on the right bank of the
river, waiting till the boats should have passed the rapids. No military
movements took place, except detaching the Divan Effendi with four
hundred cavalry, to join the detachment already in Berber, where all was
quiet and friendly. The country on the rapids of the Third Cataract is
sterile, being composed, for the most part, of black granite and sand,