DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0201
162
APPENDIX.
that the original plan had heen altered, probably on account of
the nature of the rock, or of a different level baring been taken
for the base of the edifice. The length of this passage is 18 feet
6 inches; the depth from its floor to the ceiling of the lower in-
clined passage (with which M. Caviglia says it communicates by
a well) is 4 feet 4 inches. Whatever, however, may be the
amount of the discovery, I beg to assure M. Caviglia that due
honour has been done to it by the insertion of his name in Mr.
Perring's plans and admeasurements.
I have already mentioned the supposed Hebrew character be-
neath which M. Caviglia informed me, on the 27th January, 1837,
that a shaft was to be found. Excavations have since proved that
the cutting is the beginning of a doorway, and that, instead of a
shaft, there are the remains of stone quarries.
At the Third Pyramid, M. Caviglia had begun a narrow pas-
sage from the southern end of the upper excavation made by the
Mamelukes, " in the hope," as he says, "of being able to pene-
trate more easily the interior than by searching for an entrance at
the base ;" which proves that, " after years of labour and study,"
he knew no more of the interior of that pyramid than of the
others, as the entrance is considerably below the lower excava-
tion, and as the whole of the apartments are entirely subterraneous.
On the 13th of February, M. Caviglia's passage had only arrived
at the length of six feet,2 notwithstanding the apparent satisfac-
tion with which he mentioned, in his letter of the 17th of January,
the progress he had made, and that he was within sixty feet of the
centre of the pyramid. As I afterwards carried on this work to
the centre, and sunk shafts to the foundation, without finding
any passage or apartment, it is clear that I received from M.
Caviglia no more assistance in the discoveries made at this
pyramid, than in other instances.3
As I did not inquire, I cannot state by whom M. Caviglia was
informed of the two upper shafts, where he was so long and so
unsuccessfully employed in searching for mummies. He most
probably heard of them from the Arabs, who, before the Pasha's
prohibition, were constantly employed in excavating either for
' See Mr. Perring's admeasurements.
3 Mr. Belzoni appears to have made a better guess than any other person as to
the position of the enlrance into the Third Pyramid, by supposing that it was con-
cealed by the blocks of granite that formed the base; the removal of which, he says,
would evidently have brought him to the entrance of the pyramid, but that it re-
quired more money and time than he rould spare.
APPENDIX.
that the original plan had heen altered, probably on account of
the nature of the rock, or of a different level baring been taken
for the base of the edifice. The length of this passage is 18 feet
6 inches; the depth from its floor to the ceiling of the lower in-
clined passage (with which M. Caviglia says it communicates by
a well) is 4 feet 4 inches. Whatever, however, may be the
amount of the discovery, I beg to assure M. Caviglia that due
honour has been done to it by the insertion of his name in Mr.
Perring's plans and admeasurements.
I have already mentioned the supposed Hebrew character be-
neath which M. Caviglia informed me, on the 27th January, 1837,
that a shaft was to be found. Excavations have since proved that
the cutting is the beginning of a doorway, and that, instead of a
shaft, there are the remains of stone quarries.
At the Third Pyramid, M. Caviglia had begun a narrow pas-
sage from the southern end of the upper excavation made by the
Mamelukes, " in the hope," as he says, "of being able to pene-
trate more easily the interior than by searching for an entrance at
the base ;" which proves that, " after years of labour and study,"
he knew no more of the interior of that pyramid than of the
others, as the entrance is considerably below the lower excava-
tion, and as the whole of the apartments are entirely subterraneous.
On the 13th of February, M. Caviglia's passage had only arrived
at the length of six feet,2 notwithstanding the apparent satisfac-
tion with which he mentioned, in his letter of the 17th of January,
the progress he had made, and that he was within sixty feet of the
centre of the pyramid. As I afterwards carried on this work to
the centre, and sunk shafts to the foundation, without finding
any passage or apartment, it is clear that I received from M.
Caviglia no more assistance in the discoveries made at this
pyramid, than in other instances.3
As I did not inquire, I cannot state by whom M. Caviglia was
informed of the two upper shafts, where he was so long and so
unsuccessfully employed in searching for mummies. He most
probably heard of them from the Arabs, who, before the Pasha's
prohibition, were constantly employed in excavating either for
' See Mr. Perring's admeasurements.
3 Mr. Belzoni appears to have made a better guess than any other person as to
the position of the enlrance into the Third Pyramid, by supposing that it was con-
cealed by the blocks of granite that formed the base; the removal of which, he says,
would evidently have brought him to the entrance of the pyramid, but that it re-
quired more money and time than he rould spare.