The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-09-18
A Visit to the Pyramids.

scription ofCailo and the EgyPtiah !is
mids is from correspondent OF the n
Y. Journal Of Commerce, written at CRAM
Cairo under date Of Dec. l2, 1861
Yesterday was an eventful day in m,
life. went to the Pyramids and graft
fed the long cherished desire Of gaz'nl
upon these mysterious monument OF pas
greatness. They are situated on tn
West bank of the Nile, about twelve mile
from Cairo, and FIVE or six miles appar
emily from the river ITSELF on the edge 0
the great desert. We left Cairo on don
keys, Just as the sun was rising, q pleas
ant company ofsi gentlemen attcndet
by larger number OF servants, donkey
boys, and guides We met also man,
Arabs on our way who were clamorou
for employment, so that by the time w
reached the neighborhood Of the Pyra
mids we were surrounded by little arm,
Of ragmuilins, or more correctly by naket
men with scarcely rag to cover them
Our route led us upthe East Bank Of thu
Nile mile or two, to Old Cairo. Herr
We crossed the river in very primitive
boats, Immediately above the Island o
Rhoda, on which is built the Nilometer
This, too, is the spot which tradition dc
clares to be the one where Moses was eI
posed among the bulrushcs. The island
is covered with the richest cultivation
and with its orange groves and acacias
and beautiful gardens might remind one
of the luxuries of that old Eastern Court,
when Pharaol's daughter with her maid
ems walked by the rivers side and saw
the ark among the flags, and looked up.
on the weeping babe who was destined
to be the worlds Lawgiver. The little
village on the West bank, where our boats
finally landed us after quite a struggle
with the rapid current seemed to. be q
grain market: large quantities Of corn
and wheat lying exposed in the open air,
in the public thoroughfare. There seems
to be as little fear of ofrobbers in this land
of summary punishment without judge OF
jury, as of rain when the heavens are not
darkencd by clouds. A mans property
is in less danger in Egypt it is said, than
his life. Winding our way through the
mud novels and filthy crowds of this Arab
village, We passed out into beautiful
grove ofpalm trees, and were soon upon
a causeway six or eight feet in height
and twelve or fifteen in width. Fields OF
green wheat and rice and Indian corn,
intenpeSed here and there with groves
of palm, were extending As far as tho eye
could reach up and down the Nile, and
far out was the desert Of sand, beyond
which the everlasting mountains Of rock
were propping up the sky. The fields
of ver,lure appear the richest in the
world, partly doubtless, from the contrast
of illimitable sandy deserts, but more
from the uncqualled fertility Of tho fresh
black loam deposited by the overAowing
of the Nile. The scene is enlivcned, too,
BY innumerable birds of every variety OF
gay plumage, starting up from their rest,
ing places at your approach, not to fy
away from their foes, as with us, (for it is
contrary to Mussulman's religion to de-
stroy these beautiful ornaments Of crea.
ton, but to circle round your head and
welcome your coming. Dikes, canal.
and reservoirs, into which the water is
admitted during the annual overfows ol
the Nile, are on every side, and from
some Of them the laborers are letting out
the bright streams upon their lands
And now, after riding a full hour on q
rapid trot, you seem to be as far Is ever
from the Pyramids. You are certain
when YOU leave the banks Of the Nile
that they are close at hand; but two
hours pass away, and still they arc, al.
most as distant as at first. At the closo
of the third hour from Cairo, we reached
the edge of the desert, and in fifteen min
utes more Twas standing in the shadow
Of the great Pyramid Of Cheops. Th'
first impression wasone Of disappointment
II did not look as large and magni6cen
as nv imagination had pictured it. i
seemed indeed but a small object in th'
midst of the boundless desert, and unde
the deep blue vault Of heaven. But
soon found that its littlcness grow out o
these illimitable objects with which l wa
unwittingly comparingit Several ofou
company began to ascend its sides
climbing up over the mighty stones will
the aid of strong Arabs, accustomed Il
such work. To free myself from the an
noyance of my own guide, who was in
cessantly Cabling of faces which i hat
no desire to know, ! seed him to ascen'
to the top. Away he sprang with light
ness Of deer, passing from stone to ston
with the agility and suppleness of a ca'
never resting for a moment till nc stoo'
upon the apex. 1t was then, whenl sa'
his diminished form, and the spparen
size Of many Of our company scattere'
over the sides Of the immense structure
and looked upon friend standing nea
the base. that l began to comprehen'
something Of its greatness. ] then walk
ed around il, examining the huge block
which lie in their places almost as firml..
as the granite in the mountains, wadlnl
in the deep sand fourteen hundred Tee
before had passed one OF its sides, an
and between i've andsix thousand feet b
the time had reached the point OF dc
parture. Take a hundred New for
churches Of the ordinary width, and al
range them in hollow square twenty-hy
on side, and you would have scarcel
the bacement Of this Pyramid. Tax
another hundred and throw In their mate
rial into the hollow square, and it would nc
be full. Pile on all the stone and br,c
Of Philadelphia and Boston. and you woul
not have raised a structure rs high or
solid as the King Of Old Egypt bnilt her
as his tomb. Understand that It is
solid mas Of stone, with the exception
few narrow passages and two compa,l
stively small rooms .Onel layer OF block
Ih.s kaap removeJ frotn the outer aid