Perring, John Shae; 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 3): Appendix (London, 1842)

APPENDIX.

83

the lake), near the spot where the Faioum may be said to begin,
and at the termination of the strip of land, near the other end of
which the Pyramid of Illahoon is built.

The Pyramid of Howara is constructed with crude bricks,
which contain much straw, measure 17A x 8| x 5£, and are laid
in fine gravel. The remains of a stone casing are to be seen
near the base, but it has been entirely removed. On the northern
front is a large chasm, supposed to have been made about the
year 1815 by a M. Jaques Riffaud, in search of an entrance;
and several small buildings have been constructed with the bricks,
which have been taken down.

In the great French work an account is given of the discovery
of an interior apartment, but it appears to want confirmation.

The state of the country, and other causes, prevented a more
exact examination of this monument.

Present Base, about - 300 feet.

Height - - - - 106 feet.

The ruins of extensive buildings (by some people supposed to
have been the famous Labyrinth) are to be seen to the southward
of this Pyramid. They occupy a space of about 800 x 500 feet;
but they were, perhaps, originally of greater extent, as they seem
to have been intersected by the above-mentioned canal. This
space is covered with large fragments of compact limestone,
which bear a high polish, and also with broken columns and
capitals of granite, executed in the best style of Egyptian art.
See "Thebes, and General View of Egypt," p. 355.

In the Plate is a plan of the ruins, and a vertical section of
the Pyramid.

The Governor of Medeenet offered to receive Mr. Perring in
his house, but he preferred the accommodation of a tent. It was
pitched near the house, and owing to the unsettled state of the
country, a guard was constantly necessary.