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across the great cultivated plain or lake bed； framed
like a vast emerald in its setting of frowning cliff；
and had another opportunity of wondering at the
extraordinary nature of the site chosen by these old
people of Ko^r for their capital； and at the
marvellous amount of labor； ingenuity； and engineering
skill that must have been brought into requisition by
the founders of the city to drain so huge a sheet of
water； and to keep it clear of subsequent
accumulations。 It is； indeed； so far as my experience
goes； an unequalled instance of what man can do in the
face of nature； for in my opinion such achievements as
the Suez Canal or even the Mont Cenis Tunnel do not
approach this ancient undertaking in magnitude and
grandeur of conception。
When we had been walking for about half an hour；
enjoying ourselves exceedingly in the delightful cool
which about this time of the day always appeared to
descend upon the great plain of Ko^r； and which in
some degree atoned for the want of any kind or sea
breezefor all wind was kept off by the rocky
mountain wallwe began to get a clear view of what
Billali had informed us were the ruins of the great
city。 And even from that distance we could see how
wonderful those ruins were； a fact which with every
step we took became more evident。 The city was not
very large if compared to Babylon or Thebes； or other
cities of remote antiquity； perhaps its outer wall
contained some twelve square miles of ground； or a
little more。 Nor had the walls； so far as we could
judge when we reached them； been very high； probably
not more than forty feet； which was about their
present height where they had not； through the sinking
of the ground or some such cause； fallen into ruin。
The reason of this； no doubt； was that the people of
Ko^r； being protected from any outside attack by far
more tremendous ramparts than any that the hand of man
could rear； only required them for show and to guard
against civil discord。 But； on the other hand； they
were as broad as they were high； built entirely of
dressed stone； hewn； no doubt； from the vast caves；
and surrounded by a great moat about sixty feet in
width； some reaches of which were still filled with
water。 About ten minutes before the sun finally sank
we reached this moat； and passed down and through it；
clambering across what evidently were the piled…up
fragments of a great bridge in order to do so； and
then with some little difficulty up the slope of the
wall to its summit。 I wish that it lay within the
power of my pen to give some idea of the grandeur of
the sight that then met our view。 There； all bathed in
the red glow of the sinking sun； were miles upon miles
of ruinscolumns； temples； shrines； and the palaces
of kings； varied with patches of green bush。 Of
course； the roofs of these buildings had long since
fallen into decay and vanished； but owing to the
extreme massiveness of the style of building； and to
the hardness and durability of the rock employed； most
of the party walls and great columns still remained
standing。
Straight before us stretched away what had evidently
been the main thoroughfare of the city； for it was
very wide； wider than the Thames Embankment； and
regular。 Being； as we afterwards discovered； paved； or
rather built； throughout of blocks of dressed stone；
such as were employed in the walls； it was but little
overgrown even now with grass and shrubs； that could
get no depth of soil to live in。 What had been the
parks and gardens； on the contrary； were now dense
jungle。 Indeed； it was easy even from a distance to
trace the course of the various roads by the burned…up
appearance of the scanty grass that grew upon them。 On
either side of this great thoroughfare were vast
blocks of ruins； each block； generally speaking； being
separated。 from its neighbor by a space of what had
once； I suppose； been garden…ground； but was now dense
and tangled bush。 They were all built of the same
colored stone； and most of them had pillars； which was
as much as we could make out in the fading light as we
passed swiftly up the main road； that I believe I am
right in saying no living foot had pressed for
thousands of years。
Presently we came to an enormous pile； which we
rightly took to be a temple covering at least four
acres of ground； and apparently arranged in a series
of courts； each one enclosing another of smaller size；
on a principle of a Chinese nest of boxes； which were
separated one from the other by rows of huge columns。
And； while I think of it； I may as well state a
remarkable thing about the shape of these columns；
which resembled none that I have ever seen or heard
of； being fashioned with a kind of waist in the
centre； and swelling out above and below。 At first we
thought that this shape was meant to roughly symbolize
or suggest the female form； as was a common habit
among the ancient religious architects of many creeds。
On the following day； however； as we went up the
slopes of the mountain； we discovered a large quantity
of the most stately looking palms； of which the trunks
grew exactly in this shape； and I have now no doubt
but that the first designer of those columns drew his
inspiration from the graceful bends of those very
palms； or rather of their ancestors； which then； some
eight or ten thousand years ago； as now； beautified
the slopes of the mountain that had once formed the
shores of the volcanic lake。
At the facade of this huge temple； which； I should
imagine； is almost as large as that of El…Karnac； at
Thebes； some of the largest columns； which I measured；
being between eighteen to twenty feet in diameter at
the base； by about seventy feet in height； our little
procession was halted； and Ayesha descended from her
litter。
〃There used to be a spot here； Kallikrates；〃 she said
to Leo； who had run up to help her down； 〃where one
might sleep。 Two thousand years ago did thou and I and
that Egyptian asp rest therein； but since then have I
not set foot here； nor any man； and perchance it has
fallen；〃 and。 followed by the rest of us； she passed
up a vast flight of broken and ruined steps into the
outer court； and looked round into the gloom；
Presently she seemed to recollect； and； walking a few
paces along the wall to the left； halted。
〃It is here；〃 she said； and at the same time beckoned
to the two mutes； who were loaded with provisions and
our little belongings； to advance。 One of them came
forward； and； producing a lamp； lit it from his
brazier （for the Amahagger when on a journey nearly
always carried with them a little lighted brazier from
which to provide fire）。 The tinder of this brazier was
made of broken fragments of mummy carefully damped；
and； if the admixture of moisture was properly
managed； this unholy compound would smoulder away for
hours。 As soon as the lamp was lit we entered the
place before which Ayesha had halted。 It turned out to
be a chamber hollowed in the thickness of the wall；
and； from the fact of there still being a massive
stone table in it； I should think that it had probably
served as a living…room； perhaps for one of the door…
keepers of the great temple。
Here we stopped； and after cleaning the place out and
making it as comfortable as circumstances and the
darkness would permit； we ate some cold meat； at least
Leo； Job； and I did； for Ayesha； as I think I have
said elsewhere； never touched anything except cakes of
flour； fruit； and water。 While we were still eating；
the moon； which was at her full； rose above the
mountain…wall； and began to flood the place with
silver。
〃Wot ye why I have brought you here to…night； my
Holly？〃 said Ayesha； leaning her head upon her hand
and watching the great orb as she rose； like some
heavenly queen； above the solemn pillars of the
temple。 〃I brought younay； it is strange； but
knowest thou； Kallikrates； that thou liest at this
moment upon the very spot where thy dead body lay when
I bore thee back to those caves of Ko^r so many years
ago？ It all returns to my mind now。 I can see it； and
horrible is it to my sight！〃 and she shuddered。
Here Leo jumped up and hastily changed his seat。
However the reminiscence might affect Ayesha； it
clearly had few charms for him。
〃I brought you；〃 went on Ayesha； presently； 〃that ye
might look upon the most wonderful sight that ever the
eye of man beheldthe full moon shining over ruined
Ko^r。 When ye have done your eatingI would that I
could teach thee to eat naught but fruit； Kallikrates；
but that will come after thou hast laved in the fire。
Once I； too； ate flesh like a brute beast。 When ye
have done we will go out； and I will show you this
great temple and the god whom men once worshipped
therein。〃
Of course we got up at once； and started。 And here
again my pen fails me。 To give a string of
measurements and details of the various courts of the
temple would only be wearisome； supposing that I had
them； and yet I know not how I am to describe what we
saw； magnificent as it was even in its ruin； almost