New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-05-15
From the (Londonl Peoples Journal
SURVEY FROM THE PYRAMID.
By HARRIET mARTINEAU.

HARRIET mARTtNEAU.
CAIRO, February IA, ls47.
| HAVE been so out of the world for the last three
months, that am not qualified TO comment on the
events which have been passingiuit have been
sailing up the Nile far into Nubia, some hundreds
Of miles beyond post Offices and newspapers so
that on my return 10 Cairo, have 10 learn and
think over the news of the world, instead of re-
marking upon IT, But have been taking another
kind of Survey full interesting TO me that OF
the busy living race-a survey of Time instead Of
Circumstance: and it may be well, for once, to
sneak of this,-not only because my own mind is
all ofit but because it is good for us all to have
onr thoughts now and then called oil from present
affairs. and fixed on point of view which com
mands a wider prospect
We are all apt to overrate the importance OF our
own times our own work, our own experience. |
do not speak OF this a fault in us. Ii IS natural
10 the human mind and a good in its effects for
we should hardly put our full strength into our
work or our hearty interest into the events of every
day if we saw how small a proportion anything
presept bears 10 the history OF our race. This
struck me powerfully, the other day, when was
standing on the highest stone OF the top OF the
Great Pyramid of Egypt-The present famine IN
Ireland and irving Winter in England seem,
naturally enough 10 those in full view or eXperl-
ence OF them, the most important events that ever
happened in the world; but it is worth while to
look back TO famines which occurred IN TINS Last
ern part ofthe world several thousands OF years ago
and see IL ANYTHING could be more important than
their causes and their cOnsequences.-Durings sew
eral months past there have been floods IN various
parts OF Europe, sweeping away dwellings and pro
duce and causing the loss of some lives To those
on the spot this event apr IKE the end OF Inc
world-the greatest calamity in the experience OF
man. But looking over from where | stood, there
was place almost within view where great
food rose, and destroyed mighty monarch and all
his host and affected the destiny OF the human
race to the end of tme.-Again, we are VAN OF the
enlightenment of our age we think that our
knowledge is almost all new, and that we are able
to do things by steam, waterpower, electricity the
telescope, the printing press, &c which were never
before dreamed of by man. survey OF the past
from the heart of Egypt may show us whether tins
is true and perhaps sober our views IN regard to
our own attainments and the prospects OF the race
twas for some time taken for granted on the
assertion of scholars who Judged too hastily, that
our globe has been created about 5000 years
that is, about 1000 years before Christ and also
that Man was created at the same time. The
science of geology has proved that the world is
very much older than had been supposed and
that il had lasted long time, inhabited by curious
beasts and fishes, Of kinds that we never see now,
before Man was created-And now, the more we
look into Egyptian history, the more clear II be
comes that we have been mistaken in our judg
mept of the lapse Of centuries and that 5000 years
ago some nations were as busy about their works
OF art their farming manufactures, literature and
PHILOSOPHY as we are now. When any one speaks
n us of 600 years ago we think of Adam and Eve
gardening in Paradise-no such thing having
been thought of as human abodes, or clothing, or
any of the arts of life, transactions OF men nv
ing in society but IL is now believed, with good
reason that the Pyramid on which stood the other
dav was there in its place 5000 years ago and is
certain that the building OF that Pyramid is thing
which could not be done Low. with all our boasts
of our modern resources. We cannot even under
stand how IL was done
This mighty mass of building covers eleven
acres of ground and is built of blocks OF stone so
enormous that IL is inconceivable how. with any
length of time or number OF men, they could have
been brou sht from the quarry and raised 70 their
proper places. IL was once smooth and polished
on the outside and its history was engraved upon
il IN hierogyphc characters. SO the old historians
tell US But now the smooth outside is all gone ;
taken probably, to build other edhces and the
next range Of stone blocks forms set of steps, by
which means got to the top; rough broken and
difficult staircase Of 4sO feet high-the steps being
chiefly from four 10 three feet high. Each OF our
party had three Arabs for assistants-dark brown
men. in turbans or little white caps and loose
shirts and drawers, and who never dream OF being
silent for minute, or of leaving on asking lor
present These Arabs are of different race from
the people who built the Pyramids. and they know
nothing whatever about them, nor can conceive
why we go and examine such monuments. They
can only suppose that We so in search of treasure.
But they Kind TO strangers and faithful 10 their
trust: and felt In very good hands while they
were helping me up and down the outside of this
the largest building in the world. They drew aud
lifted me up the high steps so rs to spare me any
great fatigue. encouraging me with the few words
OF English they had picked up" very good y and
"halfwayr After one particularly diihc0it step
they were in great delight and patted me on the
hack All three CRYING out" All ali good morn
ine-good morning. They were ordered to be
quiet while we were at the top, where we wished
TO look about US undsturbed, and 10 date ana oesin
some letters to our friends; bat with al my inter
est in the scene which spread abroad could no.
bat look on these men with wonder and sorrow tna'
they should be inhabitants of country aboundinS
IN such monuments
The landscape which we overlooked was TINS :
From near the foot OF the Pyramid TO the Northern
horizon stretched the line which divides the SANDY
desert from the fertile plain which extends TO me
Nile The line of separation was wavy, and marked
by a little canal which had sui in II some OF the
water left by the inundation. To the east OF TINS
line, filing up the landscape to the rlyer' and van
shng IN the northern horizon, spread the most Ter
Tile plain in the undiscovered with green crops
dotted with villages Of brown mud houses, over
Swallowed with palms-and marked by liant me
OF csuseway here and there, and by many
threads Of blue water To the East was the Me
about five miles from at the nearest point out
winding away from the isrthest North to the utmost
South Beyond the river spread the beautiful City
OF Cairo; its white citadel browning lofty rock
fnd being itself backed by the rocky nights OF the