New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-22

zane m rOtocy ever went up the Pyramid SO
fat ~ While the others aided here you must
civ, Us backshish every body gives us dollar
here svonly answer was, to get NJ aAo be
gin climbing. and they Did not cease pulling ana
pushinq till they LEFT ne breathless on the sum
nit. The whole ascent did not occupy more
than ten minutes.
The view from Cheops has been oiien de-
serted lcanno; say that Increased ny 1npies-
sion of the majesty and grandeur Of the pyramid
for that was already complete. My eyes wan
dered of from the courses Of granite, broadening
away below my feet, to contemplate the glorious
green of the Nile-plain, barred with palm-trees
and divided BY the cleaning flood OF the ancient
river: the miniarets of Cairo the purple walls
Of the far Arabian mountains the pyramid
oroups Of Sahara and DashooT, overlooking
vanished Memphis in the South and the ard
yellow waves ofthe Libyan Desert, which rolled
nrbroken to the western sky. The clear, open
heaven above, which seemed to radiate light
from its entire concave clasped IN its embrace
and barmouized the different features OF this
wonderful landscape. There was too much
warmth and bIilliance for desoaton. Every
thing was alive and real; the Pyramids were
not ruins. and the dead Pharaohs, the worship
ners of Athor and Apis, did not once enter my
mind.
Ny Wild attendants did not long allow me to
ENJOY the view quietly To escape from their
uncertainties for backshish,I gave them two pas
tres in copper coin, which instantly turned their
batteries into the most bitter complaints. 1t
,yas insulting to give so little, and they preferred
having none if / would not give dollar,
o.ioft take the money back. | took It without
more ado. and put 1t INTO my pocket. This
rather surprised them, and first one and then
another came to ne and begged to have It again,
on his own private account. | threw the CONS
hiah INTO the air, and as they clattered down on
the stones. there ensued such scramble as
would have sent any but Arabs over the edge OF
! he Pyramid We then commenced the descent
two SEEING my hands before and dragging
ne headlong after them. We went straight
.ovn the side, sliding and leaping from stone to
stone without stopping to take BREATH and
reached the base IN five OF SIX minutes | vas
so excited rom the previous assault, that
neither felt iatigued or giddiness % the way up
and down, and was not aware how violent had
been The ixertion. But when touched the
level sand all my strength vanished IN an instant
I could scarcely see or speak, and was forced to
lie down Ton a considerable time, before II was
possible to sit upright on my donkey. Even
now, after the lapse Of two days. move with as
much difficulty as a rheumatic patient. feel
the Pyramid in my bones, and assuredly shall not
soon forget It.
The Arabs, who at first had threatened 70 kill
| Achmet, now came forward aud kissed his hands,
| humbly Cntre ating pardon. But his pride had
| been too severely touched by the blows he had
received, md he repulsed them, splitting upon
tie ground, as the strongest mark OF contempt
! We considered it due to him, to ourselves and to
! other travellers after US, 10 represent the matter
| 10 the Sheik ofthe Pyramids, who lives in a vii
lsge called Konayseh, mile distant, and ordered
! Achmet 10 conduct us thther. We first rode
along the base the Pyramid OF Cephrenes, and
! down the sand.drfts to the majestic head OF the
! Sphinx. ! shall not now attempt to describe
this enormous relic OF Egyptian art. There IS
rothing like II in the world Strangely and
powerfully as 1t affected me, do not yet com
prehend it, and shall not, until after have seen
! Thebes
|
sheik was absent IN Cairo, but were received by
his son, who, after spelling out few words of
nv Arabic passport and hearing Achmet's rela-
! ton Of the affair, courteously invited us to his
house. We rode between the mud huts to a
small courtyard, where we dismounted car
net was spread on the ground under a canopy of
palm.leayes, and the place OF honor was. given to
US. the young shelk seating himself OH the edge,
while our donkey-drivers, water-boys and num-
Der of villagers stood respectfully around. 4
messenger was instantly dispatched 10 the PyTa-
mids, and In the meantime we lighted the pipe
Of peace The sheik promised to Judge the
guilty parties and punish them IN our presence.
! Coffee was ordered, but as the unlucky youth
returned and indiscreetly cried out Ma fsesht'
| there is none , the sheik took MIN by the neck
! and run him out OF the courtyard, threatening
him with all manner of penalties unless be
brought it.
We found ourselves considered IN the light of
Judges, and thought inyoluntarily Of the chill
5ren play ing Cadi, II the Forty Thieves But
10 play our Cadi with the necessary gravity OF
countenance was a difficult matter. Il was
rather embarrassing 10 SIT cross-legged so long,
and to look so severe. Ny face yas Of the
color of boiled lobster. from the sun, and IN
order to protect my eyes, | had taken on my era.
yat AM bound 1t around the red tafbouch Ny
| friend had swathoj his felt la, IL ike manner,
and when the sheik looked AZ Is rom time TO
time. h4le Achmet spoke Of our friendship with
all the Consuls n Cairo, II vas almost too much
TO ENJOY quietly. Aoweger, the shsik, who
/ woe red cap ami a single cotton garment,
treated Is with much respect. His serene i'm
! partial deneanOr, as he heard the testimony Of
| tle various witnesses who were called up, was
most admirable After half al hours delay, the