DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0209
170
APPENDIX.
which are on the north and south side of the " King's Chamber,"
a great number of palm branches, tied together, to the length of
about 120 feet; and which led him to the opinion that there were
other apartments in the interior of this monument. But, having
failed in the attempt to enlarge these small openings, owing to
the want of proper implements for working the granite with
which the chamber is lined, he determined to pierce another
passage in the calcareous stone, of which the body of the pyramid
is formed, beginning at the right-hand side of the entrance to the
chamber, in the hope of striking upon the above small passage in
the calcareous mass to the north.
Having excavated to the distance of about fifteen feet, the
above-named small aperture — the course of which tended at an
angle of about 271° to the westward—was encountered: and
afterwards the labours of the workmen were diligently continued
in the same direction.
But, with a view to come upon the track of the other hole,
which opens into the south side of the King's Chamber, Captain
Caviglia caused another passage to be opened in the calcareous
stone to the south of the "Davison Chamber;" and having
penetrated about twenty feet, without finding the object of his
search, he gave orders to the workmen to continue their labours
in another direction.
After much labour, in 1817, Caviglia exposed to view the
north and east sides of the Andro-Sphinx, which, together with
the base, he discovered, to be so delicately coated with a reddish
coloured composition, that it left him in doubt whether the cover-
ing had originally been of plaster, or paint. In 1820, he, more-
over, discovered the west side of this monument, which he now
found to be placed upon a pedestal, likewise plastered or painted,
and surrounded by a ditch cut in the rock, intended probably for
the circulation of water, which was supplied from a canal in the
neighbourhood, as indicated by a bridge in the embankment, to
the south-east of the trees in the valley.
Whilst engaged in superintending the above works, Captain
Caviglia discovered, in a valley five miles to the north-west of the
Great Pyramid, several houses and tombs, together with a large
cistern, the whole cut from the solid rock, and presenting no
traces of hieroglyphics ; which latter circumstance has given rise
to the opinion, that this valley was peopled by an ancient race, of
whose name and history we are totally ignorant. In the same
valley, Caviglia having observed the traces of a road, which con-
APPENDIX.
which are on the north and south side of the " King's Chamber,"
a great number of palm branches, tied together, to the length of
about 120 feet; and which led him to the opinion that there were
other apartments in the interior of this monument. But, having
failed in the attempt to enlarge these small openings, owing to
the want of proper implements for working the granite with
which the chamber is lined, he determined to pierce another
passage in the calcareous stone, of which the body of the pyramid
is formed, beginning at the right-hand side of the entrance to the
chamber, in the hope of striking upon the above small passage in
the calcareous mass to the north.
Having excavated to the distance of about fifteen feet, the
above-named small aperture — the course of which tended at an
angle of about 271° to the westward—was encountered: and
afterwards the labours of the workmen were diligently continued
in the same direction.
But, with a view to come upon the track of the other hole,
which opens into the south side of the King's Chamber, Captain
Caviglia caused another passage to be opened in the calcareous
stone to the south of the "Davison Chamber;" and having
penetrated about twenty feet, without finding the object of his
search, he gave orders to the workmen to continue their labours
in another direction.
After much labour, in 1817, Caviglia exposed to view the
north and east sides of the Andro-Sphinx, which, together with
the base, he discovered, to be so delicately coated with a reddish
coloured composition, that it left him in doubt whether the cover-
ing had originally been of plaster, or paint. In 1820, he, more-
over, discovered the west side of this monument, which he now
found to be placed upon a pedestal, likewise plastered or painted,
and surrounded by a ditch cut in the rock, intended probably for
the circulation of water, which was supplied from a canal in the
neighbourhood, as indicated by a bridge in the embankment, to
the south-east of the trees in the valley.
Whilst engaged in superintending the above works, Captain
Caviglia discovered, in a valley five miles to the north-west of the
Great Pyramid, several houses and tombs, together with a large
cistern, the whole cut from the solid rock, and presenting no
traces of hieroglyphics ; which latter circumstance has given rise
to the opinion, that this valley was peopled by an ancient race, of
whose name and history we are totally ignorant. In the same
valley, Caviglia having observed the traces of a road, which con-