DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0052
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEH.
39
Third Pyramid. — Interior.
-■ Clearing the Pavement.
Fourth Pyramid.—Entrance.
Fifth Pyramid. — Entrance.
A small brass or bronze head of an arrow, apparently-
votive, was found upon the pavement, near the centre of
the northern front of the Third Pyramid. The excavation
in the Fourth Pyramid was given up, and the people were
employed in removing the sand and stones on the exterior
of the northern front in search of an entrance, which was
supposed to be similar to that of the Fifth. Some of the
sand having been taken out of the passage in the latter
Pyramid, we tried, but without success, to enter it. In
the afternoon, we repeated the attempt. I was followed
by Mr. Hill, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Mash, Jack, and Goodman.
The passage inclined at about an angle of 27°; and the
sand yet remained within two feet of the top; where the
Part, that had been forced, was so extremely narrow,
that we were obliged to enter sideways. The stones ap-
peared to have been cut away by a chisel, which, consider-
mg their hardness and the length of the passage, must have
been a tedious operation. After sliding down about
thirty feet, the space between the stones and the wall would
not admit of our proceeding. It was of course intensely
bot, and we were obliged to be drawn up by a rope. In the
evening, when more of the sand had been taken out, we suc-
ceeded better, and found at the bottom of the inclined
passage a portcullis of granite, a good deal corroded by
moisture, and by the effects of the sand. It must have
been conveyed down the entrance obliquely. A hole had
been made in it towards the top, and two others at the
corners of the ceiling, apparently for the purpose of lifting
39
Third Pyramid. — Interior.
-■ Clearing the Pavement.
Fourth Pyramid.—Entrance.
Fifth Pyramid. — Entrance.
A small brass or bronze head of an arrow, apparently-
votive, was found upon the pavement, near the centre of
the northern front of the Third Pyramid. The excavation
in the Fourth Pyramid was given up, and the people were
employed in removing the sand and stones on the exterior
of the northern front in search of an entrance, which was
supposed to be similar to that of the Fifth. Some of the
sand having been taken out of the passage in the latter
Pyramid, we tried, but without success, to enter it. In
the afternoon, we repeated the attempt. I was followed
by Mr. Hill, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Mash, Jack, and Goodman.
The passage inclined at about an angle of 27°; and the
sand yet remained within two feet of the top; where the
Part, that had been forced, was so extremely narrow,
that we were obliged to enter sideways. The stones ap-
peared to have been cut away by a chisel, which, consider-
mg their hardness and the length of the passage, must have
been a tedious operation. After sliding down about
thirty feet, the space between the stones and the wall would
not admit of our proceeding. It was of course intensely
bot, and we were obliged to be drawn up by a rope. In the
evening, when more of the sand had been taken out, we suc-
ceeded better, and found at the bottom of the inclined
passage a portcullis of granite, a good deal corroded by
moisture, and by the effects of the sand. It must have
been conveyed down the entrance obliquely. A hole had
been made in it towards the top, and two others at the
corners of the ceiling, apparently for the purpose of lifting