DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0044
PYRAMIDS OF GIZEII.
19
beyond it, to the westward, was the ever-flowing river,
with the Pyramids of Gizeh, Saccara, and Dashoor, on
the distant mountains of the interminable desert. These
various objects, grand and beautiful in themselves, were
greatly enhanced by the fine climate and picturesque
costume of the East; and many of them were of the
greatest interest, from the reflections to which they
gave rise. They were the mysterious records, enduring
for countless ages, of mighty generations long since
passed away, whose names and histories are now un-
known, and whose very existence, excepting for the
testimony of these unrivalled monuments, would have
been lost and forgotten in the obscurity of the remotest
times.
19th.-—I signed a contract for the boat at the consul's
office, and concluded my arrangements for the journey
into Upper Egypt.
21st.—I left Cairo at eleven o'clock, with Mr. Hill,
and arrived at the Pyramids about four, by a very
circuitous road, on account of the waters yet remain-
ing from the inundation. The country was rich beyond
description: when the waters subsided, the surface merely
required hoeing to prepare it for seed. The dykes
were of considerable extent; and the Arabs were busily
employed in taking quantities of fish, in large pools, left
by the inundation. After dinner I went with Mr. Caviglia
to the Great Pyramid, which, as well as the Second,
Third, and smaller Pyramids, were in the condition before
described; excepting that, at the two largest, some of the
rubbish had been cleared out from the passages. We
19
beyond it, to the westward, was the ever-flowing river,
with the Pyramids of Gizeh, Saccara, and Dashoor, on
the distant mountains of the interminable desert. These
various objects, grand and beautiful in themselves, were
greatly enhanced by the fine climate and picturesque
costume of the East; and many of them were of the
greatest interest, from the reflections to which they
gave rise. They were the mysterious records, enduring
for countless ages, of mighty generations long since
passed away, whose names and histories are now un-
known, and whose very existence, excepting for the
testimony of these unrivalled monuments, would have
been lost and forgotten in the obscurity of the remotest
times.
19th.-—I signed a contract for the boat at the consul's
office, and concluded my arrangements for the journey
into Upper Egypt.
21st.—I left Cairo at eleven o'clock, with Mr. Hill,
and arrived at the Pyramids about four, by a very
circuitous road, on account of the waters yet remain-
ing from the inundation. The country was rich beyond
description: when the waters subsided, the surface merely
required hoeing to prepare it for seed. The dykes
were of considerable extent; and the Arabs were busily
employed in taking quantities of fish, in large pools, left
by the inundation. After dinner I went with Mr. Caviglia
to the Great Pyramid, which, as well as the Second,
Third, and smaller Pyramids, were in the condition before
described; excepting that, at the two largest, some of the
rubbish had been cleared out from the passages. We