DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.33567#0047
i3
Soon after this affair had quieted down some of the consuls-general in Cairo, at the instigation of some
resident European archaeologists, made an attempt to have the work of removal suspended until the matter
could be referred to their governments. It appears that by the terms of a convention entered into with
several of the European powers, the Egyptian government agreed to prevent the exportation of any object of
antiquity. No attention had been paid to this convention when the English removed the fallen obelisk; and its
provisions were commonly violated by the consuls and archaeologists themselves in the shipment of articles to
Europe. Besides this, the that gave the Egyptian government existence stipulated that it should not
make treaties with foreign powers, and it is clear that the convention in question was unauthorized. Fearing
that the pressure on the Khedive and his Ministers might become more than they could resist, negotiations
were commenced through a prominent, and at that time powerful, Pacha in Constantinople, whom it had been
my good fortune to befriend, to insure the prompt confirmation of the gift by the Porte, in case of necessity.
To put an end to these annoyances I determined to push the work of removal forward as rapidly as
possible by working night and day, so as to get the obelisk off its pedestal. Every effort was devoted to
this end, and it was accomplished within a month from the day the turning structure arrived.
PREPARATIONS FOR TURNING THE OBELISK.
While the pit was being dug a staging was erected around the obelisk for sheathing it with planks, in
order to protect the hieroglyphs from injury. (Plate vi.) The sheathing was held together by iron bands,
similar to the hoops of a barrel. The top band was heavier than the others, and had a loop at each angle, into
which were shackled four steel wire cables. These were secured to anchors at suitable distances from the base
of the obelisk, and tightened so as to support it until it was secured in the turning structure. The masonry
and concrete piers on which this was to stand were commenced as soon as the pit was dug, and in order to
have them dry quickly hydraulic cement was used. These piers are shown on Plates ii and iii. As soon as
the staging had been removed four long spars were placed in position, opposite the angles of the obelisk, to
form derricks for hoisting the pieces of the turning structure into position. Plate vii illustrates the plan adopted
for supporting the obelisk, the sheathing banded around it, and the hoisting shears with the trunnions sus-
pended to them. For convenience in placing the trunnions on the pillow-blocks, they were hoisted first and
left hanging until the turning structure had been erected.
The machinery and material for removing the obelisk were shipped from New York on the steamer
"Nevada," of the Guion Line, which sailed on October yth, and arrived in Liverpool on October 19th. There
they were transhipped on the steamer "Mariotis," which sailed on October 27th, and arrived at Alexandria
November 11, 1879. Preparations had been made for their prompt disembarkation and transport from the
port, through the town, to the side of the obelisk; and this was completed in four days. The trunnions were
the only pieces that gave trouble, owing to there not being a truck in the city suitable for their transport.
They were, however, placed on the best truck obtainable, which was hauled by Arabs, who wisely selected
the Christian Sabbath for the day to move them, owing to the diminution of traffic on that day.
The Arabs were very noisy and attracted a large and increasing crowd, who followed the procession
through the town. For this an American missionary roundly abused us from a borrowed pulpit, and took
advantage of the occasion to denounce the removal of the obelisk as a work of the Devil. This act of "Chris-
tian charity " was of no consequence, beyond the amusement it afforded the editors and readers of local
newspapers, who seized on it with much eagerness as evidence of the prevailing sentiment of Americans.
In explanation of the missionary's condition of mind on the subject it may be well to state on his own
authority that he wanted the money that was being spent on the removal given to his mission. In connection
with this question of Sunday-work, which was commented on in a rational manner by many friends, it is well
to recall the fact that the Mohammedan and Christian Sabbaths are on different days. It was impossible to
observe both ; and a respect for the opinions of both sects led to the rule that work would be carried on
without intermission, and that the workmen were at liberty to select their own Sunday and observe it in
Soon after this affair had quieted down some of the consuls-general in Cairo, at the instigation of some
resident European archaeologists, made an attempt to have the work of removal suspended until the matter
could be referred to their governments. It appears that by the terms of a convention entered into with
several of the European powers, the Egyptian government agreed to prevent the exportation of any object of
antiquity. No attention had been paid to this convention when the English removed the fallen obelisk; and its
provisions were commonly violated by the consuls and archaeologists themselves in the shipment of articles to
Europe. Besides this, the that gave the Egyptian government existence stipulated that it should not
make treaties with foreign powers, and it is clear that the convention in question was unauthorized. Fearing
that the pressure on the Khedive and his Ministers might become more than they could resist, negotiations
were commenced through a prominent, and at that time powerful, Pacha in Constantinople, whom it had been
my good fortune to befriend, to insure the prompt confirmation of the gift by the Porte, in case of necessity.
To put an end to these annoyances I determined to push the work of removal forward as rapidly as
possible by working night and day, so as to get the obelisk off its pedestal. Every effort was devoted to
this end, and it was accomplished within a month from the day the turning structure arrived.
PREPARATIONS FOR TURNING THE OBELISK.
While the pit was being dug a staging was erected around the obelisk for sheathing it with planks, in
order to protect the hieroglyphs from injury. (Plate vi.) The sheathing was held together by iron bands,
similar to the hoops of a barrel. The top band was heavier than the others, and had a loop at each angle, into
which were shackled four steel wire cables. These were secured to anchors at suitable distances from the base
of the obelisk, and tightened so as to support it until it was secured in the turning structure. The masonry
and concrete piers on which this was to stand were commenced as soon as the pit was dug, and in order to
have them dry quickly hydraulic cement was used. These piers are shown on Plates ii and iii. As soon as
the staging had been removed four long spars were placed in position, opposite the angles of the obelisk, to
form derricks for hoisting the pieces of the turning structure into position. Plate vii illustrates the plan adopted
for supporting the obelisk, the sheathing banded around it, and the hoisting shears with the trunnions sus-
pended to them. For convenience in placing the trunnions on the pillow-blocks, they were hoisted first and
left hanging until the turning structure had been erected.
The machinery and material for removing the obelisk were shipped from New York on the steamer
"Nevada," of the Guion Line, which sailed on October yth, and arrived in Liverpool on October 19th. There
they were transhipped on the steamer "Mariotis," which sailed on October 27th, and arrived at Alexandria
November 11, 1879. Preparations had been made for their prompt disembarkation and transport from the
port, through the town, to the side of the obelisk; and this was completed in four days. The trunnions were
the only pieces that gave trouble, owing to there not being a truck in the city suitable for their transport.
They were, however, placed on the best truck obtainable, which was hauled by Arabs, who wisely selected
the Christian Sabbath for the day to move them, owing to the diminution of traffic on that day.
The Arabs were very noisy and attracted a large and increasing crowd, who followed the procession
through the town. For this an American missionary roundly abused us from a borrowed pulpit, and took
advantage of the occasion to denounce the removal of the obelisk as a work of the Devil. This act of "Chris-
tian charity " was of no consequence, beyond the amusement it afforded the editors and readers of local
newspapers, who seized on it with much eagerness as evidence of the prevailing sentiment of Americans.
In explanation of the missionary's condition of mind on the subject it may be well to state on his own
authority that he wanted the money that was being spent on the removal given to his mission. In connection
with this question of Sunday-work, which was commented on in a rational manner by many friends, it is well
to recall the fact that the Mohammedan and Christian Sabbaths are on different days. It was impossible to
observe both ; and a respect for the opinions of both sects led to the rule that work would be carried on
without intermission, and that the workmen were at liberty to select their own Sunday and observe it in