DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0213
172 OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEII.
ing crowbars; but I afterwards broke off tins agree-
ment, as I thought it would probably interfere with the
other works, and lead to quarrels and disputes between
the villages. I requested the Sheiks of Koum el Eswith
and of Cafr el Batram to undertake this operation; they
refused to do so, but offered to superintend the work at
my expense, which, of course I declined. I had great
hopes of success in the excavation above Davison's
Chamber, and, upon the whole, every thing went on
well. In going round to the several works, I met at the
Second Pyramid Prince Piickler Muskau, who called to
take leave before he set out for Upper Egypt. Whilst
he was there, I sent my Arab (Dare) into the pyramid,
to find out, if possible, the entrance by listening to the
blows struck with a large hammer upon different parts
of the pavement; but the solid masonry, with which the
upper part of the subterraneous passage was closed, pre-
vented any favourable result. In a short time we arrived
at the granite blocks in the lower part of the pyramid;
and a vacancy between two of them appeared to be the
entrance closed up with calcareous masonry, particularly
as the adjoining stones to the eastward shewed exactly
like a break, and gave to the granite blocks the appear-
ance of a portal. The rubbish covered the western block,
which, I imagined, broke back in the same manner. As
I concluded that I had at last discovered the entrance,
I sent after the prince, who had gone to his tents. For-
tunately he had not leisure to return, for immediately
afterwards I perceived that the supposed entrance was
filled up with rock; and that the granite was .the revet-
ment mentioned by Herodotus. It has been already
observed that this work had not been properly set out
ing crowbars; but I afterwards broke off tins agree-
ment, as I thought it would probably interfere with the
other works, and lead to quarrels and disputes between
the villages. I requested the Sheiks of Koum el Eswith
and of Cafr el Batram to undertake this operation; they
refused to do so, but offered to superintend the work at
my expense, which, of course I declined. I had great
hopes of success in the excavation above Davison's
Chamber, and, upon the whole, every thing went on
well. In going round to the several works, I met at the
Second Pyramid Prince Piickler Muskau, who called to
take leave before he set out for Upper Egypt. Whilst
he was there, I sent my Arab (Dare) into the pyramid,
to find out, if possible, the entrance by listening to the
blows struck with a large hammer upon different parts
of the pavement; but the solid masonry, with which the
upper part of the subterraneous passage was closed, pre-
vented any favourable result. In a short time we arrived
at the granite blocks in the lower part of the pyramid;
and a vacancy between two of them appeared to be the
entrance closed up with calcareous masonry, particularly
as the adjoining stones to the eastward shewed exactly
like a break, and gave to the granite blocks the appear-
ance of a portal. The rubbish covered the western block,
which, I imagined, broke back in the same manner. As
I concluded that I had at last discovered the entrance,
I sent after the prince, who had gone to his tents. For-
tunately he had not leisure to return, for immediately
afterwards I perceived that the supposed entrance was
filled up with rock; and that the granite was .the revet-
ment mentioned by Herodotus. It has been already
observed that this work had not been properly set out