faction of entering the great pyramid of Cephrenes, which had been closed up for so many centuries, that it remained an uncertainty whether any interior chambers did or did not exist in it. Mr. Belzoni found several chambers, in the largest of which was a sarcophagus of granite, containing a few bones, which were at first thought to be human, but which afterwards proved to be those of a cow.

Mr. Belzoni continued his indefatigable labours in quest of Egyptian antiquities, and had discovered the fragments of many colossal statues, as well as the remains of numerous standing and sitting lion-headed statues of smaller dimensions, all of which appeared to be ruins belonging to the most magnificent temple of any on the west side of Thebes, when his researches were abruptly terminated by an attempt on his life, on the part, as he supposed, (and apparently with too much reason,) of the French agents in Egypt. Convinced, from various circumstances, that he could not remain longer in Egypt with any prospect of personal safety, he hastened his departure. Previously, however, to his quitting the country, he made two journeys; the one to the borders of the Red Sea, in search of the ruins of ancient Berenice, the emporium of Indian commerce with Egypt; the other to Elloah (el Wah, the little Oasis), to examine the temple of Jupiter Ammon, supposed to have stood in that neighbourhood, and the remains of which are still extant.

At length, having put an end to all his affairs in Egypt, Mr. Belzoni embarked in the middle of September, 1819, for Europe, with Mrs. Belzoni, who had accompanied him through the greater part of his researches, and who had exhibited the utmost fortitude and perseverance, under circumstances occasionally of severe privation, danger, and suffering. In the first instance, he returned into the bosom of his family, from whom he had been absent for twenty years. To his native city of Padua he presented two lion-headed statues of granite, some of the fruits of his Egyptian toils. These his compatriots placed in the Palezza della Justizia; and proud of the distinction which their fellow-citizen had so

justly attained, they struck a medal in his honour. A present of one of these medals, in gold, to Mr. Belzoni, was accompanied by a letter from the Pedesta of Padua, expressive of the sense which the municipality of the city entertained of his merits.

On his arrival in England, Mr. Belzoni prepared his various manuscripts for publication; and in the year 1820, appeared, "A Narrative of the Operations and recent Discoveries within the Pyramids, Temples, Tombs, and Excavations, in Egypt and Nubia; and of a Journey to the Coast of the Red Sea, in Search of the Ancient Berenice, and another to the Oasis of Jupiter Ammon." In this work, he very judiciously told his story in his own way, and nearly in his own words, having declined all literary assistance beyond that of the individual employed to copy out his manuscript and correct the press. "As I made my discoveries alone," he observes, in the preface," I have been anxious to write my book by myself, though, in so doing, the reader will consider me, and with great propriety, guilty of temerity; but the public will, perhaps, gain in the fidelity of my narrative what it loses in elegance." The literary and scientific world received with great delight and admiration this interesting "Narrative," in which Mr. Belzoni detailed with perspicuity and accuracy all the occurrences which befel him in the prosecution of his discoveries; and described, with great simplicity, the means he employed for effecting his various operations, and the nature of the intercourse he held with the several natives with whom he was brought in contact, as well as the rooted prejudices which he had to combat, and the various difficulties created by the intrigues, the treachery, and the avarice of the Turkish chiefs, and, it is painful to add, the jealousy of certain Europeans.

In the spring of 1821, Mr. Belzoni opened, at the Egyptian Hall, in Piccadilly, an exhibition of the most extraordinary and attractive nature. It represented two of the principal chambers of the magnificent tomb, which had been discovered by him in Beban el Molook. They afforded a perfect ex

ample of the style and details of the whole sepulchre, the one being remarkable for its beauty, the other for its emblematic treasures. These chambers were lighted by lamps, and on entering them from the broad glare of day, the spectator seemed suddenly transported by magical influence to some other region of the earth; for European countenances and dresses, and the modern manners of a London street, were in an instant exchanged for the gloom of an Egyptian burying-place, the swarthy visages and primeval costume of an African people, the grotesque forms of strange deities, and all the symbols of unexplored antiquity. In another part of the hall was a model of the entire excavation, one-sixth the size of the original; together with specimens of Egyptian sculpture, and a case of Egyptian curiosities, containing idols, coins, mummies, scaraboi, lachrymatories, utensils, figures, vases, articles of dress and ornament, and a splendid manuscript of papyrus.

The enterprising spirit of Belzoni was, however, unsatisfied with what he had already achieved, and he meditated the daring attempt of traversing the great breadth of Africa. His design was, first, to reach the extraordinary city of Timbuctoo, (which has never hitherto been visited by any European, on whose veracity dependence could be placed,) and from thence to penetrate through the heart of Africa to Senaar. He then intended to pass through Nubia, and so arrive once more in Egypt, the scene of his memorable discoveries.

With this view, Mr. Belzoni once more embarked from England for Gibraltar, in the latter end of 1822. From Gibraltar he crossed to Tangier, and on application to Sidi Benzelul, the Moorish prime-minister, received an invitation, couched in very gracious terms, from the Emperor of Morocco, to visit Fez, his capital. As soon as he arrived, which was in April, 1823, he was introduced to the Emperor, and obtained his Majesty's leave to join a caravan, which was to set off in a month for Timbuctoo. Unfortunately, however, owing, as Mr. Belzoni stated in a letter to a friend in England, "not to the Moors, but to the intrigues of some persons in office, who

availed themselves of the occasional authority given to them by their superiors, to vent their spleen on an unprotected individual, who refused to stoop and pay court to them;" this royal permission was subsequently revoked, on the pretext that the country was in a convulsed state; and the Emperor would not allow Mr. Belzoni to proceed, but remanded him to Tangier. That this was not attributable to any fault committed by Mr. Belzoni is evident from a letter, which was written in Arabic by Sidi Benzelul, to the Moorish consul at Gibraltar, speaking in the highest terms of the prudence of Mr. Belzoni's conduct, and expressing surprise and shame at the change in the Emperor's intentions.

Thus unexpectedly rebuffed, after having employed five months in the affair, and after having expended the sum of a thousand pounds out of his own pocket in the expences of his voyage, his journey to and from Fez, and his residence there, with the necessary presents to the Emperor, his ministers, and attendants, Mr. Belzoni returned to Gibraltar, determined, if possible, not to abandon his object. From Gibraltar he proceeded in the first instance to Madeira, with the intention to embark for Santa Cruz, a Moorish sea-port, a little to the southward of Morocco, and from thence to cross the great desert in his way to Timbuctoo. From Madeira, however, he went to Teneriffe, and thence to Cape Coast Castle. Here he resolved upon taking a northern direction, from the kingdom of Benin straight to Haussa. Benin is seated near the river of that name, in latitude 3° 40′ north; and the route which Belzoni intended to pursue was over a tract of land entirely unknown. It was his hope that he might fall in with the Niger on the east of Haussa, previous to his reaching the capital of that kingdom.

On his voyage to Cape Coast Castle he had met with Captain Filmore, who, in consequence of the death of Sir R. Mends, assumed the command of the squadron on the African coast, and behaved to Mr. Belzoni with the greatest kindness. In October, 1823, he left Cape Coast in his Majesty's gunbrig Swinger, and arrived, on the 30th of the same month, off

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the bar of Benin River. Here he went on board the brig Castor, lying at Bobee, and remained the welcome guest of Mr. Fell, the supercargo of that vessel, until Mr. Houtson, an English merchant, to whom Mr. Belzoni had letters of introduction, had settled some urgent commercial affairs; availing himself, however, of an opportunity in the interim of paying a short visit to Warra, a town about a hundred and twenty miles in the interior, the residence of the King of Warra.

It was on the 23d of November, 1823, that Mr. Belzoni and Mr. Houtson left Bobee in a Fantee canoe, belonging to the latter. At parting, Mr. Belzoni seemed a little agitated; particularly when the crew, to each of whom he had made a present, gave him three loud cheers on his stepping out of the vessel. "God bless you, my fine fellows, and send you a happy sight of your country and friends!" was his answer. On the 24th they reached Gato, a distance of sixty-five miles. The 25th, Mr. Belzoni employed in reducing and repacking his trunks and apparel, preparatory to his contemplated journey. He seemed in good spirits, although rather weakly, in consequence of a slight bilious attack he experienced at Bobee. On the morning of the 26th he departed for Benin, distant forty-five miles, and arrived there the same evening. The mode of travelling is in a hammock slung to a long pole, and carried on men's shoulders at the rate of four miles an hour. During the journey Mr. Belzoni complained of a troublesome diarrhoea. On the morning of the 27th, however, he still seemed in good spirits. Mr. Houtson waited on the King, and explained to him the objects of Mr. Belzoni's journey. He represented him as an Indian or Malay, who had resided long in England, and was now on his way to his own country; but who had friends at Houssa, and who therefore requested his Majesty's messengers and protection to that place. Though much jealousy was exhibited on the part of the King and his nobles on the subject, their objections were at length removed; and it was arranged that the King's messenger, with the boatswain of Mr. Houtson's factory, and