DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12664#0060
THE PYRAMIDS.
53
put myself under its protection. I hoisted it with
my ownhands,but the rascally Turks paid no regard
to its broad folds. The majesty of England did not
suffer, however, in my hands, and Paul and I spent
more than an hour in running from one officer to
another, before we could procure the necessary or-
der for the release of the boat. Leaving this with
the rais, and the flag still flying, I went on to Rho-
da, and spent the day there in decidedly the pret-
tiest spot about Cairo. At the head of this island'
is the celebrated Nilometer, which, for no one
knows how long, has marked the annual rise and
fall of the Nile.
I had been ten days in Cairo without going to
the pyramids. I had seen them almost every day,
but my doctor, who was to accompany me, had de-
layed my visit. He was obliged to leave Cairo,
however, before I was ready to do the same ; and
as soon as he was off, like a schoolboy when the
master is out of sight, I took advantage of his ab-
sence. My old friend from Alexandria had prom-
ised to go with me to the pyramids, and joining me
at Old Cairo, we crossed over to Ghizeh. Almost
from the gates of Cairo, the pyramids are constant-
ly in sight, and after crossing the ferry, we at first
rode directly towards them ; but the waters were
yet so high that we were obliged to diverge from
the straight road. In about an hour we separated,
my guide taking one route, and my friend's an-
other. With my eyes constantly fixed on the pyr-
amids, I was not aware of our separation until I
e 2
53
put myself under its protection. I hoisted it with
my ownhands,but the rascally Turks paid no regard
to its broad folds. The majesty of England did not
suffer, however, in my hands, and Paul and I spent
more than an hour in running from one officer to
another, before we could procure the necessary or-
der for the release of the boat. Leaving this with
the rais, and the flag still flying, I went on to Rho-
da, and spent the day there in decidedly the pret-
tiest spot about Cairo. At the head of this island'
is the celebrated Nilometer, which, for no one
knows how long, has marked the annual rise and
fall of the Nile.
I had been ten days in Cairo without going to
the pyramids. I had seen them almost every day,
but my doctor, who was to accompany me, had de-
layed my visit. He was obliged to leave Cairo,
however, before I was ready to do the same ; and
as soon as he was off, like a schoolboy when the
master is out of sight, I took advantage of his ab-
sence. My old friend from Alexandria had prom-
ised to go with me to the pyramids, and joining me
at Old Cairo, we crossed over to Ghizeh. Almost
from the gates of Cairo, the pyramids are constant-
ly in sight, and after crossing the ferry, we at first
rode directly towards them ; but the waters were
yet so high that we were obliged to diverge from
the straight road. In about an hour we separated,
my guide taking one route, and my friend's an-
other. With my eyes constantly fixed on the pyr-
amids, I was not aware of our separation until I
e 2