PYRAMID OF CHEOPS.

83

raised. Even then the imagination is disposed to transform them into mountains, and ascribe their production to Divine agency, rather than to rouse itself to the conception of so unparalleled an effort of human power.

The Pyramids of Ghizeh stand on a rock in the edge of the Desert, but close to the Valley of the Nile, above which their base may be elevated 150 feet or more. This rock rises abruptly from the plain, which for some fifty or sixty rods towards the Nile is covered with drifting sand, and it is ascended by stone steps. Half way up the cliff some tents are pitched for the accommodation of travellers. When these are insufficient, some ancient tombs, excavated in the rock near by, are occupied as lodging places.

The largest of the Pyramids, called that of Cheops, is 732 feet square, and 474 in height.* It covers a little less than thirteen acres of ground, and is composed of 202 tiers of square blocks of limestone, varying in thickness from less than two to four feet. Each ascending series recedes about two feet from the exterior side of the one below it, the whole forming a succession of terraces. These are the steps by which the ascent of the Pyramid is made. It is very laborious, but practicable to persons of common strength, and perfectly safe. Many of the stones are displaced or broken along the sides of the Pyramids, but at the angles they are nearly entire, and there the ascent is most easily made. There is a level area of about thirty feet square upon the top, made, it is presumed, by displacing several layers of stone which belonged to this structure in its entire state, and gave completeness to its pyramidal form. Here ambitious travellers have inscribed their names. They are from all civilized nations, the propensity to outlive the present being universal. The multitude of names already inscribed threatens posterity with exclusion from this pinnacle of fame, unless, indeed, the present incumbents should

* Wilkinson's Thebes, p. 323.

84

INTERIOR OF THE PYRAMID.

be compelled to give way before an equitable principle of

rotation.

This Pyramid, when seen at only a small distance, appears to be entire; but an immense mass of rubbish at its base testifies to the successful inroads of time. The cement employed in the building still appears between the courses of stone, and is extremely hard.

There is an entrance into the interior at the height of sixteen courses. It is on the north side, a short distance from the middle. The entrance is surmounted by a sort of arch, made by two large stones, which rest against each other at the top, and form an acute angle. The passage is about three feet square, lined beautifully with polished red granite. We entered it with guides and lights. It descends at an angle of about twenty-seven degrees, and is, in a right line, about 100 feet long. Here we turned abruptly to the right, and, after ascending a short distance, came to a nearly perpendicular rise of eight or ten feet. This being with some effort surmounted, there is another ascending passage about 100 feet long. It is very laborious; the feet slide at almost every step, though incisions are made in the stone to aid them. This passage conducted us to an open space or small room, from which a narrow passage, called the well, leads to depths below. This we did not attempt. It was straight and difficult. We continued to advance in the same direction as before, through a passage more narrow and laborious, till we arrived at a room five paces long by four wide, arched with long flat stones, which meet over the middle in an acute angle. Ascending thence by holes cut for the feet in either side of the narrow, nearly perpendicular ascent, which I found more practicable than a steep inclined plane on the left, we went through another long passage 125 feet, which ends in another large room called the "King's Chamber," about twelve paces long by six wide, and I conjectured twenty

DANGERS OF EXPLORATION.

85

'feet high. It is lined with large masses of red granite, reaching the whole length of the room, and highly polished. The ceiling is formed of long flat stones extending also from side to side. A small passage leads from this chamber to one above, which we did not attempt to reach. There is in the King's Chamber a sarcophagus of red granite, partly imbedded in the floor. It is between seven and eight feet long by a little more than three in depth and width, and has

no cover.

Some smaller passages exist, which we did not explore. The air was bad and the heat excessive. It was difficult to keep upon the feet, and the passages were so low as to demand a most uncomfortable stooping-almost a creeping posture. I returned to the open air after perhaps half an hour's absence, rejoicing to see the light of day, and to have accomplished an adventure to most persons easy enough, but in my state of health not to be encountered without some anxiety. The pleasure felt on the completion of such an enterprise is likely to be enhanced by reflections which may even occur during its prosecution, on the contingencies to which it must always be in some measure exposed. What would have been the consequences of the extinction of our torches in the dreary caverns of this vast tomb? Would it have been possible to find our way in the dark through the labyrinth of low, intricate, and unending passages by which we had entered? We had left our barbarian escort at the mouth of the tomb, in a hot passion. They insisted, one and all, upon accompanying us into the interior of the Pyramid, and it was only by the most positive threats, and even demonstrations of violence, that we saved ourselves from being suffocated by the presence of a score of filthy savages, each corrupting the confined air with his burning torch and reeking breath. How easy for them to take summary revenge upon us by placing a few stones in the mouth of the narrow passage? There was probably

VOL. I.-H