Beaufort, Emily Anne: Egyptian sepulchres and Syrian shrines: including some stay in the Lebanon, at Palmyra and in Western Turkey ; in 2 vol. (Band 1) (London, 1862)

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CHAP. VI.

A MODERN EXODUS

IN HASTE.

" Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies' pyramises are very
goodly things: without contradiction I have heard that."

Shakspeabe.

A S we knew we should not have much time at our

XX disposal for sight-seeing when once we had
reached Cairo, we determined to visit the Pyramids from
Crheezeh, this being a quieter and shorter ride than
from the city. The heat was becoming greater every
day, and those who wish to examine them in any
degree of comfort, or see the view in bright tints,
should leave their dahabieh before sunrise, taking
breakfast with them : we did not start till 9 A.M., and
only reached the Pyramids towards midday, when all
the beauty of colouring had faded into the hot white
glare, which is as painful as it is ugly. The path was
for some way fresh with pleasant verdure, and crowded
with Arabs, laden camels and donkeys ; then at last we
emerged on the dry loose sands, and had neither thoughts
nor eyes for anything but the Pyramids. Their appear-
ance, however, is very disappointing as one approaches
them—I was not at all prejjared to find how much so :
the deception caused by every line sloping away from
the eye is inconceivably great, and not even a column
raised beside them would correct the natural error,
since the pyramidal form would still give the idea of
VOL. i. I