Travels and discoveries in North and Central Africa, Vol. 1 (of 5) : $b being a journal of an expedition undertaken under the auspices of H.B.M.'s Government, in the years 1849-1855Barth, Heinrich
History
Travels and discoveries in North and Central Africa, Vol. 1 (of 5) : $b being a journal of an expedition undertaken under the auspices of H.B.M.'s Government, in the years 1849-1855
Barth, Heinrich
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Africa, North -- Description and travel
The spot where we had pitched our tents afforded a very favourable
locality for commemorating any interesting events; and the sandstone
blocks which studded it were covered with drawings representing various
subjects, more or less in a state of preservation. With no pretensions
to be regarded as finished sculptures, they are made with a firm and
steady hand, well accustomed to such work, and, being cut to a great
depth, bore a totally different character from what is generally met
with in these tracts.
The most interesting sculpture represented the following subject, the
description of which I am unfortunately able at present to accompany
with only an imperfect woodcut, as the drawing which I made of it on the
spot was forwarded by me to England to Mr. Birch, the celebrated
Egyptian archæologist, and seems to have been mislaid.
[Illustration: Drawn by J. M. Bernatz, from a Sketch by Dr. Barth.
M. & N. Hanhart, lith. et impt.
TELISAGHE.
July 7th. 1850.]
The sculpture represents a group of three individuals of the following
character and arrangement:—
[Illustration]
To the left is seen a tall human figure, with the head of a peculiar
kind of bull, with long horns turned forward and broken at the point;
instead of the right arm he has a peculiar organ terminating like an
oar, while in the left hand he carries an arrow and a bow—at least such
is the appearance, though it might be mistaken for a shield: between his
legs a long tail is seen hanging down from his slender body. The posture
of this figure is bent forward, and all its movements are well
represented. Opposite to this curious individual is another one of not
less remarkable character, but of smaller proportions, entirely human as
far up as the shoulders, while the head is that of an animal which
reminds us of the Egyptian ibis, without being identical with it. The
small pointed head is furnished with three ears, or with a pair of ears
and some other excrescence, and beyond with a sort of hood (which, more
than any other particular, recalls the idea of Egyptian art), but it is
not furrowed; over the fore part of the head is a round line
representing some ornament, or perhaps the basilisc. This figure
likewise has a bow in its right hand, but, as it would seem, no arrow,
while the left hand is turned away from the body.
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