Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-03-13
Exploring the Pyramids.
FROM "TRAvELs IN EUROPE AND THE EAST 4
IRFNFUS.

OF nuge neWn stone, 80 nicely ntted tnaC one
joints can scarcely be dscerned. Over this
platform, but two feet within the outer edge,
put on another layer, and another, leaving but a
single narrow passage into few small chamber
in the far interior Of this immense mass, that
rises by gradully diminishing layers as it as
cends, till it reaches an apex twice the height
Of the loftiest church spire in New York, and
you have some idea of the outer dimensions of
the Great Pyramid. As at the first sight of
every long expected wonder, we are not instantly
overwhelmed with the magnitude of the pile
1t takes some time to adjust ones mind to the
object; and probably not one man in thousand
would believe that this pyramid covers five, much
less that it covers ten, and even twelve or thir-
teen acres of earth. But it is even so. And as
greatness and mystery are elements of the high
est sublimity, we are excited the longer we con-
template these mighty structures, and strive to
get them fairly within the grasp of the mind
They grow every moment we look at them
They begin to take US in, and we feel ourselves
gradually absorbed by the grandeur of the
monument that forbids, yet invites us to enter
its mysterious portals.
We must have these rascally Arabs go with
us, or we shall neither find our way in nor out,
and no one wishes to make for himself living
tomb among the sepulchres of the Pharoahs-
Achment had brought supply of candies,
which were now lighted, and one Arab was en-
gagcd as an escort to each traveller. employ
ed two of the fellows, one to go before and the
other behind me, and found the good Of it be-
fore completing the tour. The entrance is about
forty feet above the foundation, but the sand is
drifted up to the mouth, so that we stand be-
fore the two huge blocks that from pointed
arch and look down into the abyss which we
are to explore. The passage is worn so smooth
that We could not walk down the slippery blocks
of stone, at an angle of twenty seven degrees,
but for the foot-holes that have been cut for our
aid. Sliding and creeping down eighty feet we
came to the passage that has been opened into a
chamber under ground and nearly in line with
the apex of the pyramid. This passage has
been closed, and we now commenced the ascent
to the great gallery. The passage up was ia.
tiguing, and the more so from the incessant
clamor of the fellows who pulled me along up,
continually extoling my generosity and wealth,
which they hoped came to the end of their
work The heat is very oppressive. No circu
lation Of air is had and some of the party aban-
doned further progress for fear of being suf-
focated. At the foot of the great gallery is the
opening of passage which leads down to the
subterranean chamber. We pass it, and press
onward and upward by the inclined plane one
hundred and fifty eight feet, where we came to
horizontal avenue which was once barred
against the footsteps of forbidden mortals by
four granite portcullises, which moved il
grooves of stone. The art and violence of the
invader have broken them down. and we pursue
our way, and soon stand in the grand apart
ment of the pyramid of of Cheops, the Cham
ber of tina King, his mighty and ebony bed
chamber, whese he thought to lie undisturbeC
forever 1t is of red granite. The solid walls
of massive blocks, have no inscriptions, NJ
hieroglyphics, and inclose nothing in thei
Egyptian darkness and solitude but the grea
sarcophagus, from which the body of the kin
has been removed. 1t is not impressive fror
its vastness being only thirty-four feet long, an
seventeen broad and so profound is the darl
ness that the few candles only serve to max
the darkness visible, and give us no idea of tt
, extent of the apartment. We held the light
up to the walls and searched every corner, b,
met nothing of the least interest, except tt
sarcophagus, seven feet four inches long, ar
three feet broad. Small tubes or holes in I'll
side walls led up through the pyramid to tt
outer surface, and above the kings chamb
are four small cavities, not more than three
four feet high, left, it may be, for the secreti
of treasures, as it Was easy to render them i
accessible even to those who should penetra
! larger apartments. They are represented by t
four black marks.
:, Glad to got out of the sitting heat of IL
gloomy chamber, we returned by the great g
d lery, and with my guide struck off by the h
J. izontal avenue to the Queens Chamber.
is friends had already seen enough of the interi
and declined the excursion, so that found n
sr self with the two Arabs in the departm,
D. alone. They shouted with all their might
" they came to the entrance, that might h
q. the dead sound given back from the walls
le This is much smaller chamber than tho 9th
to and rooted with long granite slabs, which
4 against each other, and from an angle ab
or twenty feet from the floor In the east en-,
,r it is niche where the Arabs have broken
;, stones in search of treasure and Wilkin
ro thinks that if the pit where the kings BODY
NJ deposited does exist in any Of these room
should be looked for beneath this Mich,
;s Streaming, or rather steaming with perspira
;,o fastened out and down the inclined pass
,er rather carried than led by the Arabs, who
be their dirty arms around me with DISCUS
ed familiarity; and in hopes of better pay
red their services, declared they never did see so
ch a gentleman. Before we emerged into
art light of day they begged that | would pay
lad now whatever designed, for if their sh
tile should see them receiving anything he w
by take it away, leaving them only small pa
in it for their own, gave them about half a
lar, which, for rarity in the East, was s
of factory, and they lavished their praises upo