Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-11-29
IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES IN F.
GYpT

Egypt, have been received aud publish
ed at Berlin. We give me interesting
account Of the exploration of the Lady
rinth oil Meris from extracts OF Probes
sor Lepsius' letters, published under the
autaority OF The Piussisn government.
Inc admir- able work aud lee ures OF Mr..
Giiddon on the antiquities OF Egypt have
awakened so much curiosity on the SUBJ
Ject IN the mindsof many Of our readers,
that they can not fall to be interested
with what follows
Os rHR Ruins OF The LABYRrNrH,)
June 20, Is43.
For SEINE weeks past we have had our
camp pitched on the ruins OF tie Lady,
rinth. write to Cairo. for the purpose
OF communicating 10 you by the packet
which sails from Ale xandria on the 9th,
the first Intelligence Of the definite dis
covery and examination OF the real Lab
yrinlh of the Meris PYRAMID. Il was
impossible, even on the first superficial
inspection, TO doubt taat we had the
Labyrinth before US, and beneath our
feet, though early travellers have
scarcely mentioned these structural re-
mains, We ut once discernet some
hundreds of chambers rendered plainly
percepti6le by their walls. When you
shall have an opportunity Of seeing the
plan drawn by Herr Eerbkam The arch
iiecr who has devoted great labor 10
his task, you will be astonished TO per.
ceive how much still remains Of these
remarkable edifices. Former descrip-
tons, even those Of Jomard and Cour-
telle, do not correspond with the locali.
ties as we fonnd them ON the spot; and
my confidence 10 the representations of
Perring, Col. Vyse's able architect, is
greatly diminished on account of his
sketches of these ruins. All thut is in
best preservation, the part lying to the
west of the chasm Bahr Sherkie, Is o.
mitted, neither has Mr.. Perring given
the original circumference Of the whole.
The chasm Bdhr Sherkie seems To have
been the principal stumbling block TO
previous travellers; but we easily pas
sed it by placing across it two poles.
aod so forming sort Of bridge.
The principal result Of our explora.
ton Is the monumental evidence Of the
name Meris-the confirmation Of the
actual construction OF the Labyrinth for
palace and the Pyramid for tomb
We have here also the confirmation Of
the account OF Maneihon, who placed
Meris in the 18th dynasty, and not the
18th, as has been supposed. With this
letter send you Treatise on the struc-
iure Of tbs Pyramids which wrote at
Cairo, when recovering from a severe
attack Of illness. | am also forming a
collection of the stones found in the
Labyrinth. They will interest you on
account Of the prevalence OF black min
erals, as you doubt the existence OF ba.
salts OF the proper olive kind. | have
likewise collected some specimens OF the
innumerable kinds of pottery, frag-
ments OF which have been employed in
covering and facing the chambers of
the Labyrinth. The same sort Of fac
ing with she'll or thin pieces of stone or
sile--or what may be called ostracious
s-ructure-we had previously observed
IN the ruins Of Memphis Oar drawing
OF the ruins of Memphis, also the work
{ Erbkan, exhibits the groundj plum
{ that splendid structure. We live al
together here in the greatest harmony
enjoying excellent health. We submit
TO the various unavoidable plaques indi-
genous to this land Of Egypt, and Of
which we have already had so slight ex-
perience, but we have passed through
them with spirits undcpressed, and tenn
Pers unruliled.s
la another letter from Professor Lep-
sius, Of the same date at the above, he
writes as follows:
Since the 23rI OF May, our camp has
been pitched near the southern foot of
the Pyramid of Meris. This said Meris
reigned from 2l94 to 2l5I, before our
era, and was the last King of the Egyp.
tao empire before the conquest Of the
Hyksos. The Labyrinth, and more es.
pccially the Lake Meris, are testimonies
Of his power, Of his love Of grandeur,
and his Proneness to great undertakings
for the general benefit OF the country -
ContempOraneous with our arrival al
FayOum, NJ Linant, the French archi,
tect IN the service Of the pasha, who de.
woes hinsslf chiefly to hydraulic works,
made the highly interesting discovery
that the ancient Lake Meris, which has
hitherto been an object Of anxious re.
search with the learned, no longer exists
the water having been nearly all car
Iied of by some channel, while there
remalns only portion Of the gigantic
dam by which It was kept b0ck. 1hro'-
GOT the whole provinces no lake is 10 BE-
found, except Berket ei Kerun, which
lies 10 the northwest; therefore il would
be a remarkable instance Of iaiudicioOs
criticism. 10 refer il 10 The descriptions
Of the ancIents; since II has neither