DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0202
APPENDIX.
163
themselves or for other people. But Abel El Ardi assured me,
that he pointed out Campbell's Tomb to M. Caviglia, having for-
merly found it too large to work on his own account. In fact, it
is evident to any person acquainted with the place, that the dis-
covery of these and of similar constructions can only be effected
by partially removing the sand, and can never be the result of
study and reflection.
So much for M. Caviglia's discoveries. And as for his
operations at Campbell's Tomb, it is only necessary to say that
he intended to open the several parts successively, in order to
save expense—a process by which it would have been impossible
to have surveyed and taken plans of this extraordinary edifice ;
and which could have led to no other beneficial result, tban the
paltry acquisition of a few common antiquities : nor is it easy to
imagine the time in which even this imperfect operation would
have been effected, and the sand taken out from so great, a depth
by the common Arab baskets, which were the only means he
employed ; since, even with the help of machinery and of ad-
ditional numbers (allowing for the few days' intermission men-
tioned in my Journal), the place was not finally cleared until the
29th of June.
Having now clearly shewn that I never received from M.
Caviglia the slightest useful information, or assistance (which
indeed was not in his power to afford), but that on the contrary I
had much reason to complain of the ill-judged and feeble manner,
in which he attempted, most unsuccessfully, to carry on the inten-
tions of the firmaun, and particularly also of the time and labour
which he wasted on other trifling objects, I have now most dis-
tinctly and indignantly to deny, that any determination existed
between Colonel Campbell and myself " to dispense with his
services, and to profit in concert by the results of his previous
studies and researches," which, it is falsely stated, he "so freely
imparted ;"—an imputation which can only affect the character of
the persons who have so vainly endeavoured to cast it on Colonel
Campbell and myself. M. Caviglia's dismissal on the 12th of
February, was the consequence of his own unwarrantable
conduct.
The details, which I bave thought it necessary to draw up
respecting the recent discoveries at the Pyramids, will sufliciently
prove that I entertain no silly vanity respecting them, but that
on the other hand I have endeavoured to give full credit to those
gentlemen, by whose skill and perseverance I have been so mate-
rially assisted ; and I here beg to assure M. Caviglia how much 1
163
themselves or for other people. But Abel El Ardi assured me,
that he pointed out Campbell's Tomb to M. Caviglia, having for-
merly found it too large to work on his own account. In fact, it
is evident to any person acquainted with the place, that the dis-
covery of these and of similar constructions can only be effected
by partially removing the sand, and can never be the result of
study and reflection.
So much for M. Caviglia's discoveries. And as for his
operations at Campbell's Tomb, it is only necessary to say that
he intended to open the several parts successively, in order to
save expense—a process by which it would have been impossible
to have surveyed and taken plans of this extraordinary edifice ;
and which could have led to no other beneficial result, tban the
paltry acquisition of a few common antiquities : nor is it easy to
imagine the time in which even this imperfect operation would
have been effected, and the sand taken out from so great, a depth
by the common Arab baskets, which were the only means he
employed ; since, even with the help of machinery and of ad-
ditional numbers (allowing for the few days' intermission men-
tioned in my Journal), the place was not finally cleared until the
29th of June.
Having now clearly shewn that I never received from M.
Caviglia the slightest useful information, or assistance (which
indeed was not in his power to afford), but that on the contrary I
had much reason to complain of the ill-judged and feeble manner,
in which he attempted, most unsuccessfully, to carry on the inten-
tions of the firmaun, and particularly also of the time and labour
which he wasted on other trifling objects, I have now most dis-
tinctly and indignantly to deny, that any determination existed
between Colonel Campbell and myself " to dispense with his
services, and to profit in concert by the results of his previous
studies and researches," which, it is falsely stated, he "so freely
imparted ;"—an imputation which can only affect the character of
the persons who have so vainly endeavoured to cast it on Colonel
Campbell and myself. M. Caviglia's dismissal on the 12th of
February, was the consequence of his own unwarrantable
conduct.
The details, which I bave thought it necessary to draw up
respecting the recent discoveries at the Pyramids, will sufliciently
prove that I entertain no silly vanity respecting them, but that
on the other hand I have endeavoured to give full credit to those
gentlemen, by whose skill and perseverance I have been so mate-
rially assisted ; and I here beg to assure M. Caviglia how much 1