Howard-Vyse, Richard William Howard: Operations carried on at the Pyramids of Gizeh in 1837: with an account of a voyage into upper Egypt, and Appendix (Band 1) (London, 1840)

OPERATIONS CARRIED 05sT AT GIZEII.

147

the rock near the north-western angle of the Second
Pyramid ; and afterwards examined the Third, the three
smaller, and the periboli, and boundaries near them. In
the afternoon Mr. Hill came with Paulo, a Maltese, who
was engaged to superintend the boring; they immediately
went with M. Caviglia into the Great Pyramid, and re-
solved to commence operations in the centre of the king's
chamber. But it was found impossible to bore through
the blocks of granite, or to remove them on account of
the closeness of the joints, I therefore directed Paulo on
the following morning to clear out an old excavation at
the north-western corner, and to begin boring at the
depth of six feet four inches below the surface of the
granite blocks, and at the distance of three feet from
the northern, and ten feet nine inches from the western
side of the chamber. A party was employed at the
Second Pyramid. Mr. Hill set up several triangles, to
raise the sand from the fosse at Campbell's tomb, which
would scarcely ever have been got out without the assist-
ance of machinery.

In returning to the tents in the afternoon, I asked
M. Caviglia when he would probably have finished his
excavations at the mummy-pits, and be able to take the
bulk of the people to the pyramids. He said in about
a fortnight, but that he then intended to begin upon
another.4 I remarked, that in that case it was useless
for me to remain any longer, as no discovery could be
made before I should be obliged to return to England.

4 This pit was on the hills beyond the southern dyke, and M. Ca-
viglia informed me that the French had failed in attempting to open it.
It is described 26th March.