DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1350#0036
34
A SEASON IN EGYPT.
from its north-eastern end (see PI. xxvi.). Close by
the Mastaba Far'un, on rising up the side of a valley
which runs some way into the desert, faint traces of
two parallel lines of flints may be seen; these run
straight across the plain of table land on which the
pyramids stand, and up the ridge of desert hill. At
the top of the ridge, about ninety feet south of the
road, is the base of a small chamber (A), about five
feet square; this is probably the lower part of a sentry
box, from which to watch the road both ways, as it is
on the nearest high point to the road, which naturally
crosses the ridge at the lowest part. Further on, the
road is lost in modern tracks, but is very plainly seen
before reaching the bit of stone, B. It is here marked
by two parallel ridges of pebbles swept up to either
side; these ridges are generally about 5 ft. wide,
and 1085 inches apart from crest to crest; this width
is slightly more than is usual in the adjoining Oasis
road, but, like that, it is doubtless intended for 50
cubits or 1035 inches. A little way to the north of
the road is a slight hollow, with much limestone and
fossil wood about it; possibly foundations of a
building. The parallel lines bordering the road
come to an end on reaching the first of the regular
way marks (C), a block of limestone with a socket
cut in the top of it to receive a pillar; the form of
this is shown restored in the outline of a 1000 cubit
mark at the top of the plate. These base blocks or
sockets are usually about 20 inches cube, and the
most complete pillar yet found is 27 inches long
and 9 inches square. Of socket C only two-thirds is
left, and that tipped over on the side of a hollow in
which it probably stood originally; many of these
marks have been dug around and disturbed. Socket
D is but a half. Socket E is cracked in two, but
complete. At F is a different arrangement; an
oblong block 307x24-5 inches, and 18 high, has in
its upper face a socket 230Xii-3. This seems to
have been for holding a stela, a cubit wide and half
a cubit thick (20-6 x 10-3) such as we shall see later
on. A fragment, perhaps of this stela, is lying about
ISO feet to the N.E. This form is restored at the
top of the plate, as the " schcenus mark." There is a
pit close to it on the N.N.E., and another about 45
feet to the E.; these pits are about 15 feet wide, and
apparently the result of digging. At G is a piece of
a pillar, 8 x 8'8 inches, and 27 long, but broken. At
H is a socket broken into two equal parts, which are
now separated 40 inches. J is a fragment of a pillar
about 9 inches cube, and some scraps. At K, out of
the road line, is a socket 16 inches wide, and 6 high,
with a piece of a pillar beside it, 87 x 87 x 18 inches.
This is probably not yet put in position, as we shall
see some duplicate blocks further on. At L is a bit
of a pillar 9x7x16, and some scraps of stone at M.
The road here is bent to the west, to run round the
base of a low rise. At N. is a socket, 18 inches
square and 9 high, and a stone which may be part
of pillar. At O, close to it, is another socket, part
lost, but still showing it to be 23 inches square and
19 high, one of the largest of all. Probably this was
not yet placed in position. Some way to the S.W.
of these are two flat slabs of limestone, much
weathered; and the ground is all dug over. P is a
socket, broken in two, but complete. At Q is a
well preserved socket-block, 21 square at base and
18 at top, 19 inches high, and the socket in it 10
inches square. This is the first stone I saw, and
beside it is a human'skull and a few bones; perhaps
some wayfarer perished of thirst here in sight of his
journey's end, or more likely he was murdered.
After a socket at R, upright and complete, 13 inches
high, we come to the most interesting stone, a stela;
originally it stood on its base block as in the restora-
tion of a "schcenus mark"; now it lies by its side,
the stela 204 wide, and 35 inches high, but broken
at its lower end. The base block has no socket in it.
I turned the stela over in hopes of finding some
inscription; but the sand blasts of the desert have
ploughed off its faces in hollow scoops all over, so
that no trace of letters or figuring can be seen.
Possibly some other such stela, further on in this
road, might have been early overthrown face down-
ward, and so be preserved. At T and U are two
sockets. Lastly at V is a part of a pillar 8 inches
square and 17 long. I went about half a mile
further, and looked on ahead some distance, but saw
nothing but a scrap of fossil wood. Here there is
certainly a great break in the line of marks, and
possibly no more were placed. To the east of the
rise, by L, M, is a hollow with blocks of limestone
about it, and pieces of red pottery; evidently a guard
house, but strangely far from the road. Three faint
paths leading from it in different directions may be
descried.
54. It is evident, on looking at the map, that
these way-marks are at regular intervals; J, L, N,
P, Q are at equal distances apart, and Q, R, S, T
are at half such intervals. These intervals we must
determine from the plan, which is produced by
triangulation to the pyramids; hence we cannot
be certain of them with any great accuracy; only
in one part, F to J, was a continuous measurement
made with the steel tape, but that sufficed to show
that no very close exactitude was to be sought for.
A SEASON IN EGYPT.
from its north-eastern end (see PI. xxvi.). Close by
the Mastaba Far'un, on rising up the side of a valley
which runs some way into the desert, faint traces of
two parallel lines of flints may be seen; these run
straight across the plain of table land on which the
pyramids stand, and up the ridge of desert hill. At
the top of the ridge, about ninety feet south of the
road, is the base of a small chamber (A), about five
feet square; this is probably the lower part of a sentry
box, from which to watch the road both ways, as it is
on the nearest high point to the road, which naturally
crosses the ridge at the lowest part. Further on, the
road is lost in modern tracks, but is very plainly seen
before reaching the bit of stone, B. It is here marked
by two parallel ridges of pebbles swept up to either
side; these ridges are generally about 5 ft. wide,
and 1085 inches apart from crest to crest; this width
is slightly more than is usual in the adjoining Oasis
road, but, like that, it is doubtless intended for 50
cubits or 1035 inches. A little way to the north of
the road is a slight hollow, with much limestone and
fossil wood about it; possibly foundations of a
building. The parallel lines bordering the road
come to an end on reaching the first of the regular
way marks (C), a block of limestone with a socket
cut in the top of it to receive a pillar; the form of
this is shown restored in the outline of a 1000 cubit
mark at the top of the plate. These base blocks or
sockets are usually about 20 inches cube, and the
most complete pillar yet found is 27 inches long
and 9 inches square. Of socket C only two-thirds is
left, and that tipped over on the side of a hollow in
which it probably stood originally; many of these
marks have been dug around and disturbed. Socket
D is but a half. Socket E is cracked in two, but
complete. At F is a different arrangement; an
oblong block 307x24-5 inches, and 18 high, has in
its upper face a socket 230Xii-3. This seems to
have been for holding a stela, a cubit wide and half
a cubit thick (20-6 x 10-3) such as we shall see later
on. A fragment, perhaps of this stela, is lying about
ISO feet to the N.E. This form is restored at the
top of the plate, as the " schcenus mark." There is a
pit close to it on the N.N.E., and another about 45
feet to the E.; these pits are about 15 feet wide, and
apparently the result of digging. At G is a piece of
a pillar, 8 x 8'8 inches, and 27 long, but broken. At
H is a socket broken into two equal parts, which are
now separated 40 inches. J is a fragment of a pillar
about 9 inches cube, and some scraps. At K, out of
the road line, is a socket 16 inches wide, and 6 high,
with a piece of a pillar beside it, 87 x 87 x 18 inches.
This is probably not yet put in position, as we shall
see some duplicate blocks further on. At L is a bit
of a pillar 9x7x16, and some scraps of stone at M.
The road here is bent to the west, to run round the
base of a low rise. At N. is a socket, 18 inches
square and 9 high, and a stone which may be part
of pillar. At O, close to it, is another socket, part
lost, but still showing it to be 23 inches square and
19 high, one of the largest of all. Probably this was
not yet placed in position. Some way to the S.W.
of these are two flat slabs of limestone, much
weathered; and the ground is all dug over. P is a
socket, broken in two, but complete. At Q is a
well preserved socket-block, 21 square at base and
18 at top, 19 inches high, and the socket in it 10
inches square. This is the first stone I saw, and
beside it is a human'skull and a few bones; perhaps
some wayfarer perished of thirst here in sight of his
journey's end, or more likely he was murdered.
After a socket at R, upright and complete, 13 inches
high, we come to the most interesting stone, a stela;
originally it stood on its base block as in the restora-
tion of a "schcenus mark"; now it lies by its side,
the stela 204 wide, and 35 inches high, but broken
at its lower end. The base block has no socket in it.
I turned the stela over in hopes of finding some
inscription; but the sand blasts of the desert have
ploughed off its faces in hollow scoops all over, so
that no trace of letters or figuring can be seen.
Possibly some other such stela, further on in this
road, might have been early overthrown face down-
ward, and so be preserved. At T and U are two
sockets. Lastly at V is a part of a pillar 8 inches
square and 17 long. I went about half a mile
further, and looked on ahead some distance, but saw
nothing but a scrap of fossil wood. Here there is
certainly a great break in the line of marks, and
possibly no more were placed. To the east of the
rise, by L, M, is a hollow with blocks of limestone
about it, and pieces of red pottery; evidently a guard
house, but strangely far from the road. Three faint
paths leading from it in different directions may be
descried.
54. It is evident, on looking at the map, that
these way-marks are at regular intervals; J, L, N,
P, Q are at equal distances apart, and Q, R, S, T
are at half such intervals. These intervals we must
determine from the plan, which is produced by
triangulation to the pyramids; hence we cannot
be certain of them with any great accuracy; only
in one part, F to J, was a continuous measurement
made with the steel tape, but that sufficed to show
that no very close exactitude was to be sought for.