The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-05-29
Miscellaneous.
From the Loudoul Peoples Journal.
SURVEY FROM THE PYR-
AMID.
BY HARRIET MARTINEAU.
CAIRo, February IA, ls47.

!" II Ihave been sailing up the Nile, far into
yubia. some hundreds ofmiles beyond post
oHices and newspapers; so that on my return
Cairo. | have to learn and think over the
Avs oftbe world, instead of re marking up
an But | have been taking another kind
fmryey. full as interesting TO me as that of
Ia busv living race--a survey of Time in
cad of circumstance; and il may be well for
noe. TO speak of this,-not only because my
Il avn mind is full oft, but because it ID good
hr Ms all to have our thoughts now and then
called off from present affairs, and fixed on a
noiutofView which commands wider pros
pee.
We are all apt to oVerrate the importance
ofOur own times, our own work, our own
experience. | do not speak of this as fault
us. II is natural to the human mind; and a
rood in les 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 proportion anything present
hears to the history of our race. This struck
me powerfully, the other day, when i was
Standing on the highest stone of the top of
the Great Pyramid of Egypt. The present
famine in Ireland and trying winter in Eng
land seem naturally enough, TO those in full
view or experience ofthem, the most lmpor-
tant events that ever happened in the world:
but it is worth while TO look back to famines
which occurred in this Eastern part of the
world several thousa nds of years ago, and
see if Anything could be more important than
their causes and their consequences. During
several months past, there have been floods
10 various parts of Europe, sweeping away
lrengs and produce, and causing the loss
liOme lives. To those on the spot, this e.
rnt appears like the end Ofthe world-the
.reatest calamity in the experience Of man.
But, looking over from where | stood, there
was place almost within view where grea;
flood rose, and destroyed a mighty monarch
and all his host and affected the destiny Of
the human race TO the end of time.-Again
we are vain of the enlightenment of our age
we think that our knowledge is almost al
news that we are able to do things by steam
water-power, electricity, the telescope, the
printing press, sc. which were never before
dreamed of by man. A survey of the pas
from the heart of EGYPT may show US wheth.
er this 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 whojudged too hastily
that our globe has been created about 600C
years-that is, about 1000 years before
Christi and also that Man was creathd at the
same time. The science ofgeology has prov
ed that the world is We ry much older than has
been supposed: and that it had lasted a Ions
time, inhabited by curious beasts and fishes
ofkiuds that we never see now, before Mar
was created. And now, the more we looE
into Egyptian history, the more clear it be
comes that we have been mistaken in oul
Judgment of the lapse of centuries, and tina
6OOOrears ago, some nations were as busy
about their works ofart, their farming, manu-
mctnres literature and philosophy as we are
now. When any one speaks TO US of 600
Years ago, we think of Adam and Eve gar
lening in Paradise-no such thing having
been thought of as human abedes, or clothing
rany ofthe arts of life, or transactions OF
men living in society: but it iS ROW believed
with good reason, that the Pyramid on whicl
stood the other day was there in its plac
1000 years ago: and it is certain that TIL
building of that Pyramid is a thing whicl
Gould not be done now, with all our boast
Of our modern resources. We cannot eyel
understand how it was done.
This mighty mass ofbuilding covers elev
en- acres ofground, and is built of blocks OF
stone so enormous that it is inconceivablt
how, with any length oftiule, or number oil
men, they could have been brought from th,
quarry and raised to their proper places.
was once smooth and polished on the out
side, and IFS history was engraved upon it il
fIlerogiyPbic characters. So the old histori
ans tell us. But now the smooth outside il
all gone; itaken, probably, to build other edi
Iees; and the next range of stone block
lorms a set of steps, by which means got II
the top; IL rough, broken and difficult stair
ease of4S0 feet high-the steps being chiefly
from four to three feet high. Each of ou
party had three Arabs for assistants-dar
brown men, in turbans or little white caps
ana loose shirts and drawers, and who neve
dream of being silent for a minute, or of leav
ing OF asking for a present. These Arab
are Ola different race from the people VIII,
OuHt the Pyramids, and they know nothin:
Whatever about them, nor can conceive VIII.
we 90 and examine such monuments. The,
eau only suppose that we go in search of
treasure. But they are kind to strangers ant
aithiul TO their trust; and felt in very goot
Iands while they were helping me up ant
'oWn the outside of this-the largest build
lng IN the world. They drew and lifted nj
up 'he high steps so as TO spare me any grea
M!igue, encouraging me with the few word
=" English they had picked up-"very good
ana half waym After one particularly diff
ncuIt step, they were in great delight and pat
led me on the back, all three CRYING out
Al! all good morning--good norning'
Ihey were ordered to be quiet while W,
we're at the top, where we wished to look a
bout us undisturhed, and to date and begir
some letters toour friends; but, with all m,
interest in the scene which spread abroad.
could not but hook Onthese men with won
der and sorrow that they should be iuhabit
ants ola country aboundiugin such tnonu
ments.
The landscape which we overlooked wa
ms From near the foot of the Pyramid tt
me Northern horizon stretched the line which
divides the sandy desert from the fertile plai
extends to the Nile. The line of separation
was Wavy, and marked by little cana