DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0091
OPERATIONS CARRIED OJv AT GIZEH.
71
went there, and sent for Mr. Andrews, The stones were
removed with great difficulty, particularly a large mass
exactly on the spot where I supposed the entrance to he.
Its removal proved my conjecture to be right; and I con-
sidered that my operations at the Pyramids were at length
successfully concluded. I immediately entered the pass-
age, which was completely open, and, notwithstanding
several large stones, appeared to be accessible for a con-
siderable distance. I then put a guard on the entrance,
and went to the tents to pay off the people.0
As soon as they were dismissed, Mr. Andrews and
myself returned full of expectation to the mysterious en-
trance, impatient to examine what had excited the curi-
osity, and had hitherto been supposed to have eluded the
researches of all explorers, and of which no tradition or
account, antient or modern, was known to exist.7
6 In returning to the Third Pyramid, Abd-El-Ardi informed me of
a subterraneous passage near the Second, which I afterwards cleared out.
This man, probably, was acquainted with many other objects of interest,
both here and at Saccara; but lie did not seem to know of the ruins
represented as being to the northward of Abou Reche; the existence of
which should be ascertained.
7 Since this was written I have been enabled, through the kindness
of the Earl of Mountnorris, to examine the papers of the late Mr. Salt;
and amongst them I found the following extract from a translation by M.
Rurckhardt, of a passage in Edrisi, who wrote in C23, A.H.; which
certainly, as far as it goes, is a contradiction to what I had, before I had
seen it, believed to be the case:—"A few years ago the Red Pyramid,
which is the Third, or smaller one, was opened on its lower skirt, on the
north side; but it is not known who opened it. An alley was found
leading down about twenty draas or more, and on its extremity a narrow
place, that affords room for one person only ; after which a road is
entered of difficult and fatiguing passage, where one creeps along upon
the stomach for above twenty draas more, until an oblong square room
71
went there, and sent for Mr. Andrews, The stones were
removed with great difficulty, particularly a large mass
exactly on the spot where I supposed the entrance to he.
Its removal proved my conjecture to be right; and I con-
sidered that my operations at the Pyramids were at length
successfully concluded. I immediately entered the pass-
age, which was completely open, and, notwithstanding
several large stones, appeared to be accessible for a con-
siderable distance. I then put a guard on the entrance,
and went to the tents to pay off the people.0
As soon as they were dismissed, Mr. Andrews and
myself returned full of expectation to the mysterious en-
trance, impatient to examine what had excited the curi-
osity, and had hitherto been supposed to have eluded the
researches of all explorers, and of which no tradition or
account, antient or modern, was known to exist.7
6 In returning to the Third Pyramid, Abd-El-Ardi informed me of
a subterraneous passage near the Second, which I afterwards cleared out.
This man, probably, was acquainted with many other objects of interest,
both here and at Saccara; but lie did not seem to know of the ruins
represented as being to the northward of Abou Reche; the existence of
which should be ascertained.
7 Since this was written I have been enabled, through the kindness
of the Earl of Mountnorris, to examine the papers of the late Mr. Salt;
and amongst them I found the following extract from a translation by M.
Rurckhardt, of a passage in Edrisi, who wrote in C23, A.H.; which
certainly, as far as it goes, is a contradiction to what I had, before I had
seen it, believed to be the case:—"A few years ago the Red Pyramid,
which is the Third, or smaller one, was opened on its lower skirt, on the
north side; but it is not known who opened it. An alley was found
leading down about twenty draas or more, and on its extremity a narrow
place, that affords room for one person only ; after which a road is
entered of difficult and fatiguing passage, where one creeps along upon
the stomach for above twenty draas more, until an oblong square room