The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-20
THE TOP OF THE GREAT PYRAMID.

The top of the pyramid is scrubbed and scratch
ed over with the names of the travellers considera-
bly, more than an average proportion of which are
Frenchmen. We English have received the char
acter Tor perhaps have given il to ourselves for
an affectation of humility is one Of the features of
our pride) of being scribbesome people. But
not altogether, think, with Justice; for at least,
among the higher classes, II strikes me that the
French are more open to the lmputaton than
ourselves. So essential did M Chateaubriand con-
slder il that his should be inscribed upon the
top Of the pyramid that not being able TO make
the ascent himself, he commissioned friend TO do
it for him. And we meet with the names of La
martne and Laborde, land worthy names they are,)
scrawled upon the doors Of converts, and cut even
on the cedars Of Lebanon, TO the horror Of
modest English travellers, one Of whom, Lord
Lindsay, says, would as soon cut my name on
the wall Of a church," and Mr.. Warburton ex-
presses the same sentiment in a rather queerer
form. 81 would as soon, =" he says, "have thought
Of carving my name on the skin Of the venerable
village Sheik" And yet methinks both Lord
Lndsay's and Mr. WarburtOn's are names that
would not disgrace even the cedars Of Lebanon. We
were now Joined on the summit by several other
Arabs who forthwith began display their stores Of
worthless curlostes, which travellers are in the
habit Of buying for the abstract sake Of doing busi
ness on the top Of the Great Pyramid One Of them
kept repeating at regular intervals the following
sentencc:--''One Arab,-top Bezoni's Pyramid
FIVE minutes 4" "Did he" said on the first recital,
thinking he was telling me a story, very quick
work II was, and active fellow he must have
been" Presently II came again, zone Arab,--top
Belzons pyramid five minutes" $50 you have
Just told me ;" replied l. zone Arab,-top Bezoni's
pyramid, five minutes" "Wil you hold your
| chattering tongue. You have told me that twice
| already" Again il came, but this time, with
| addition, zone Arab,-top Belzoni's pyramid
FIVE minutes,--one shilling" This explained the
matter He was the tone Arab, ;" and il was not
a narration, but a proposition. He, the said Zone
Arab, for the sum Of one shilling English money,
or five piastres Egyptian, covenaned to ascend to
the top Of the pyramid Of Cephrenes alias Of Sen
suphis, alias Of Belzoni, in the space Of FIVE min
utes. So the bargain struck, and off ne set,
| and in the course Of few minutes seen, like a
fly, creeping up the sides Of the pyramid. The as
cent Of this pyramid used TO be an affair Of some
difficulty, owing to the overhangng casing at the
top, and some travellers have taken great credit TO
themselves for accomplishing it. But has recently
been very much facilitated by the cutting Of notches
in the smooth casing stones, so that Il requires no
thing more than steady head which IL not one o.
my accomplishments, or ! should have certainly
attempted it. In the mean time an Indian officer
who had joined us on the top, had been trying thu
experiment of throwing a stone from the summit 50
as 10 clear the base, which has been stated to bt
impossible. but which, however was with suita
BILE stone, accomplished in the present instance
Presently the Arab returned, having performed thu
feat within the stipulated time, to receive the pro
missed reward How practice in any thing make
perfect Pyramid climbing is the trade Of thes
men. Like the guides Of some Alpine mountain
they live at the foot and watch day by day to con
y duct travellers to its summit, and into the caver
upon its side.