Howard-Vyse, Richard William Howard: Operations carried on at the Pyramids of Gizeh in 1837: with an account of a voyage into upper Egypt, and Appendix (Band 2) (London, 1841)

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appendix.

ABDULLAH BEN TOULOUN

Calls the Pyramids and the Nile two of the wonders of the
world, and says, that a serpent of gold was found in the Great
Pyramid, hearing in his mouth a silver tahlet, with an inscription;
and that another inscription expressed, " I have built it, and
covered it with dressed leather, and with striped cloth of Yemen,
and afterwards with brocade : let those who think they have the
power, cover it with mats." In consequence of this inscription,
the Caliph Mamoon is said to have intended to cover it with
mats, but found that the revenues of Egypt would not pay the
expense.

TOHFAT ALAJAIB,

By Ebn Athir Aljazari, MS. 7497, and Tohfat Alkind,
MS. 7034, British Museum.

The Pyramids of Gizeh are described to be of enormous size,
and to have been constructed with large blocks of granite, kept
together by bars of iron, fastened with melted lead. They were
one hundred cubits high, and as many square.

The western Pyramid is said to contain in thirty chambers,
arms and treasures of various kinds; the eastern, plans of the
stars, and historical and prophetic records ; and the Third to be
the cemetery of the priests, and to have been inscribed with
figures, carrying on the different trades and sciences. The
guardian spirits are also mentioned; and the tradition of the
operations performed by the Caliph Al Mamoon.

THE HISTORY OF THE MARVELLOUS THINGS
IN EGYPT,

By Murtedi, an Arabian Author, translated into French by M.
Vathir, Arabian Professor to the King of France. The date
of the original MS. is not mentioned.

The author repeats the well-known tradition, that the Pyramids
were built by Surid before the flood; and also the account of the