The only Nubian manufactures are a coarse wool len and cotton cloth, made by the women on small looms ; mats for bedding, formed of the palm leaves ; and earthern bowls and plates, neatly made by the hand alone.
The Nubians are rather of lower stature than the Egyptians, but are muscular and well made, with fine animated features ; but in some of the rocky districts, where food is scanty, they arc thin meagre figures, al most like walking skeletons. They wear no mustachios, and thc beard only under the chin. The women also are well formed ; and, though not handsome, have gene rally sweet countenances and pleasing manners : but they are broken down by early and continual toil. They are more virtuous than any females in these eastern parts of Africa. No public women, so common in Egypt and other adjoining countries, are allowed in Nubia, except at Derr ; and there they are not natives, but emancipated slaves, who betake themselves to this vile profession to gain a subsistence. The Nubians purchase their wives from the parents, generally at the price of 36 piastres. When they intermarry with the Ababde Arabs in their neighbourhood, they pay to the father of the bride six camels, and he returns three of them as the common property of the new married couple. In case of a di vorce, half the value of these three goes back to the wi fe.
If onc Nubian kill another, lie must pay the debt of blood to the family of the deceased, and a fine to the governor of six camels, a cow, and seven sheep. Every wound inflicted by one person on another has its stated fine, according to the part of the body injured. Among the amusements of these people chess is common, and some other games. They play very. melodious airs on an instrument resembling the Egyptian tamboura ; and the girls are fond of singing.
The whole population of Nubia from Assouan to thc frontiers Dongola, a tract of country along thc banks of the Nile, about 500 miles long, and half a mile at an average in breadth, is estimated only at 100,000.
The Nubians have no inclination for mercantile pur suits. They are strongly attached to their native soil ; and, cxccpt those who travel to Egypt, seldom go be yond the precincts of their village. Considerable num
bers go to Cairo, where they generally act as porters, and are preferred to the Egyptians on account of their honesty ; but after a few years they return to their na tive spot with the little property which they have rea lized. They are a bolder and more independent race than the Egyptians ; and in the skirmishes which fre quently take place among neighbouring villages, even the women join in the battle, chiefly making use of slings. They are remarkable for a great degree of cu riosity ; but are generally hospitable towards strangers, and may be considered altogether as a people of honest and kindly dispositions. They are all Alohammedans in religion ; hut, excepting those who have been in Egypt, they are completely ignorant of its tenets.
There are numerous remains of Egyptian antiquities in Nubia, but the most distinguished is the large temple of Ebsambal, or Ypsambul, about a day and a half's journey below the second cataract ; and which was first laid open by M. Belzoni, in August, 1817. This temple is cut out of the solid rock, and is in complete preserva tion. Its front is very magnificent, being 117 feet wide, and 86 feet high. The door is about 20 feet in height ; and the pronaos, or first chamber, is 57 feet long, and 52 wide, having the roof supported by two rows of pil lars, on each side of which is carved a figure about 30 feet high. The second hall is 22 feet high, 25 long, and 37 widc ; the third is 37 feet wide; and the sanctuary is 23 feet by 12. There are in one of the recesses of the rock four sitting colossal figures, the largest in Egypt, except the great sphinx at the pyramids, to which tlaey bear a proportion of two-thirds. They mea sure 25 feet across the shoulders, 154 from the shoulders to the elbow, and 51 feet in height, exclusive of the caps, which are 14 feet. The face is 7 feet long, the beard 54. and the ear 3,1. See Murray's History of Discoveries in Africa ; L-gh's Travels in Egypt ; Bel zoni's Researches in Egypt ; Builthardt's Travels in Nubia. (q)