BEAUTIFUL RUINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 30, 6 February 1939, Page 4

BEAUTIFUL RUINS.

INCREDIBLE LUXOR.

LAND OF THE PHARAOHS. TOURIST PROMOTION. (From. Our Own Correspondent^ FIERCER, Saturday. Recently appointed by the Tourist Development Association of Egypt as their Australasian representative, Mr. Leslie Greener is at present spending a month's holiday at Paparata, near Bombay. Mr. Greener, who lias for the last two years been connected with the association in Luxor, Egypt, is an experienced Egyptologist, having previously done six years' research for Chicago Uni'versity.

"Egypt is steeped in antiquity, and the country relies very largely on the tourist industry," said . Mr. Greener in an interview. The Tourist Development Association, which was a body sponsored by the commercial intercuts in the tourist industry, had appointed him as

their representative in Australasia in an endeavour to attract" more, travellers to visit the land of the Pharaohs oil tlie way to Great Britain, and he planned setting up a bureau in Sydney next month.

• Luxor, which was the ancient Thebes of the Pharaohs, was a mass of stupendous and beautiful ruins, Mr. Greener said. Outside the ancient ruins, which dated back two or * three thousand, years, was-a dirty native town, whichhad sprung.up round the four palatial; hotels built for.:the tourist traffic., ;

"Luxor is an incredible place," Mr.j Greener said. "I was there live years and did not see half of it."

Situated on the side of the Nile, it was strikingly lovely, especially when •viewed from a boat in the river. The tall pillars and obelisks, some of. them more than 100 feet of solid carved granite, which had defied the years, blended to perfection. with the green palms and the . golden sands beyond.

■ Mr. Greener is editor of an illustrated; quarterly travel review, "Egypt," most of which he writes himself. An accomplished artist, he designs the covers, all of which are done in the ancient Egyptian style, and are very effective.

The - archaeologist is accompanied by., his "wife, who is also intensely interested jn the study of the ancient Egyptians.'