New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-22
FROM NETWORK TO NINEvEH.
OUR vIsiT TO THE PYRAMIDS AND MEMPHIS.
vHar We SAW, AND WHAT HAPPENED
OK TIE NILE, EEAR 8EyisovEY,
Trn.KxdsV Nov % I-Sf

OK THE NILE, EEAR SENiSoTEP,
THURSDAY, Nov. 20, 1851.
Day before yesterday was one OF The most
memorable DAYS Of MY life. | visited the Pyra-
mjss and Memphis-not the mounds Of the sup
nosed Meuuhis. which the world believed lost
forever. but the real Memphis, with Its streets,
nalacss and temples, exhumed from the devour-
ing sands and fresh as when first erected. This
discovery-not even second 10 that OF Nmeveh-
viii surprise YOU, who have scarcely yet re-
cejved the first faint rumors Of II. You may
then nudge how it impressed ne, VINO, TWO days
aeo.was no less ignorant. Blu, the experience
NJ the entire dav was Of 50 unusual a character
that must give you It's history IN detail, and en-
treat your patience with regard TO Memphis
until reach II IN the regular course Of events.
On awaLirp before sunrise at Gizeh, we found
our donkeys in readiness, and | bestrode the
sane faithful little gray who had for three days
carried NE through the bazaars OF Cairo. We
left orders for the rals to 90 on with the Cl,opa-
ira 10 Bedracheyn, village near the supposed
site Of Memphis. and taking Achmet with US,
rode off gsily among the mud novels and under
the date-trees Of Gizeh, on our way TO the Pyra-
}mds. Near the extremity Of the village, we en-
tered one Of the large chicken-hatchlng estab-
lishrents for which the place IS famed, but
found II en- pity. We disturbed numerous fam
ilv couched together on the clay floor, crept on
our hands and knees through two small holes
and inspected sundry ovens covered with layer
OF chaf and redolent of mild, moist heat and a
feathery smell. The owner informed US that for
the first four or five days the eggs were exposed
to smoke as wei as heat, and that when the
birds began to pick the shell, which generally
took place in fifteen days, they were placed In
another oven and carefully acc0uched.
Tie rising sun shone redly on the Pyram dS
as We rode out on the broad harvest land OF the
Nile. TIE black, unctuous loan was SUI TOO
II DIST from the inundation to be plowed, except
IN spots. here and there, but even where the
water had scarce evaporaied. millions OF germs
were rushing their slender blades mp TO the sun
shine In this prolific soil, the growth OF grain
IS visible from day TO day. The Fellahs were at
work on All sides preparing for planting, and
The unpainly builal0es drew their long plows
slowly through the soil When freshly turned,
the earth has rch, soft luster, like dark brown
velvet, beside which, the fields Of young wheat
beans and leniiis, glitter with the most 5nl-
liant green. The arks sang in the air and tlocks
Of white pigeons clustered ike blossoms on
the tops of the sycanores. Here, 10 November
it was the freshest and most auimaung picture
Of spring The direct road to the Pyramids
was impossible, on account Of the water, and We
rode along the top OF dyke, intersected by ca
nails. 10 the edge Of the Llbyan Desert-a dis
lance Of nearly ten miles The ruptures IN the
d,ke obliged US occasionally to dismount, and
az the last canal, which cuts of the advancing
sands from the bounieous plain on the other
SIDE our donkeys were made to swim, while
we were carried across on the shoulders of two
naked Arabs. They had run out in advance to
meet us, bailing US with many English and
French phrases, and half a dozen boys, with
earthen bottles which they had Just filled iroln
the shiny canal, crowded after them, insisting
IN very good English that we should drink at
once. and take them with AS to the Pyramids
Our donkeys' hoofs now sank deep in the
Libyan sands, and we looked up to the great
stone.piles OF Cheops, Cephrenes and Mycerinus,
not more than half mile distant Our sun
rise view of the Pyramids on leaving Gizeh,
was sufficient, had gone no further, and ap-
preached them, without violent emotion, but
with a quiet feeling of the mos, perfec; salts
faction. The form of the pyramid is so simple
and complete, that nothing Is left to the imagi.
nation, Those vas, yellowish-gray masses,
whose feet are wrapped in the silen. sand, and
whose tops lean against the serene blue heaven,
enter the mind and remain in the memory with
no shock OF surprise, no stir OF unexpected adj
miration. The impression they give and leave
Is calm, grand and enduring as themselves.
The sun glared hot on the sand as we toiled
NJ the ascent 10 the base OF Cheops, whose sharp
corners were now broken into zigzags by the
ayers Of stone. As we dismounted in his
shadow at the foot Of the path which leads up
TO Tie entrance, on the northern side, dozen
Arabs besetus. They belonged to the regular
head who have the Pyramids IN charge, and are
70 renowned for their impudence that i. Is Gus
lomary TO employ the anissary Of some Coasu-
ate IN Cairo, as a protection Before leaving
Olzeh gave Achmet my sabre, which thought
would be sufficient show 20 secure Us from
their opportunities However, when We had
mounted 10 The entrance an1 were preparing 10
climb 10 the summit they demanded a dollarfron
each Tor their company on the way. This was
lust double the usual fee and We fatty refused
the demand hy friend in the meantise had be-
come so eiddy from the iewsteps he had mounted
that he decided 10 return, and ordered Achnst
who knew the way to 60 on with me, au5 leave
the Arabs 10 their hONiings Their leader IN
Stantly sprang before BIN, and attempted u force
him back. This was ZOO much Tor Achme,, who
thrust the man aside, whereup0n b. was IN
siantiy besei by three or four and received ssye.
ral hard blows. The struggle took place iust On
the verge of the stones. and he was 9raaer.
enough 70 drag his ASSISTANTS into the open space
before the entrance Of The Pyramid Ny friend
sprang toward the group with his cane, an /