Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-05-25
THE PYRAMIDS.


Leaving the green fields of the val
10y, we ascend directly up a sand hill,
and are upon the Lybian Desert, and
are before the great pyramid.
A nice little hotel stands near by,
and here our halt is made, and we at
once proceed to the pyramid. perhaps
forty rods away.
At this point there are three
OF those extraordinary monuments.
On beyond at the site of old Memphis,
perhaps three or four miles. are six or
eight more of inferior size. For my
own part, was curious to visit this OF
CheOps. which is, say $50 feet square
at its base, and has Il height of 4SO feet,
covering about twelve acres of land. p
As we approach the place Of ascent any
number Of Bedouin Arabs of the desert
are really to assist us in the tremen.
dous climb. For you need to know
that we-the two ladies IS we'll as the
two gentlemen-;sre to 20 w to the
top Of this pyramid IF Chrops and
further, yorl need to know that we had
now Tdist.mced in the Journey from
Cairo all other corners.
The service needed for the ascent of
the pyramid is we'll regulated. The
Sheik of the neiyhboring village has
the custody Of the place, and regulates
the service and collects the fees. It
costs to each person i fee for going up
OF fifty cents, AMI for entering to thu.
interior another fifty cents. Either or
both may be taken ut the option of
the visitor. To each person ascending
two or three Arabs are assigned to
help. The general plan Of helpfulness
would be for an assistant to take hold
of each hand. and standing upon tier
OF stone above, would pull, while the
one standing behind would s'boOst.'
So ':i1e-oo-heave," and up moves the
visitor, to take his widespread look
from the top.
The tiers Of stone constituting the
steps Of the monument are. l should
judge, to be two feet in thickness.
In the main, our route lay along the
northwest angle of the pyramid.
had not gone far before shook off
the Arab :sboosting from behind. lie
gave me fearful s.boost,'' and
punched my cheek.bone against the
rock ahead. Nor had I gone much
farther before I dismissed the man
holding and pulling me by my right
hand. @-a-- - = - - =
was now left with young. 1.-THE
fellow, as springy as u fox. His hand
was small and soft, and I could clasp
1t easily and firmly within my own
Wemust not be rash, but rather
take the journey coolly and easily.
One gentleman making the Journey
the same day had full use of his
three helpers, az the ascent produced
dizziness and threatened him with
vertigo.
At one Of our stoppages my helper
informed me not only that his name
was Mahmod, but that he was doctor.
He desired to know my name and title,
and informed him that was NJ.
Governor, and that was also doctor.
1t was evident that rose at once in
DR.. MahmOd's estimation with these
distinctions. l was now making ascent
with comparative ease. Holding NAH
mod right hand firmly with my left,
he would spring with his bare feet
upon the block before. while I, using
my right hand and arm as brace and
helper, would lift my left foot to the
block and easily raise myself to it. In
this way Icame to tho top without
very great fatigue, though the perspi-
ration poured rs if subjected to Dir.
Hansen highest temperature.
Upon reaching the top there stood
Mr.. Smith and one, Of the young ladies',
who had beaten me in their Journey.
Our resolute and "and-up-and-:,-com
ing party we're now assembled upon
the apex Of cheops, standing upon i
floor twenty feet square. informed
my comrades Of the distinction which,
l had enjoyed in having DR.. Mahmod
IS my assistant. now directed the.
Doctor to make an examination Of my
pulse. to see ifllswas all right. lie did
20, and bid me run out my tongue for
his professional observation. 4 direct.
ed him now to examine each one Of
the party. In like manner he felt the
pulse aud looked It the tongue, and IN.
nounceo each TO ljsSin good condition.
The city below, the green fields he.
fore us, and he arid desert. without q
green thing behind us, were thu
three aubjects of observation. Away.
on upoe the road wee&pied the drove
OF carriages with their loads of visi.
tors. sIns. zasaggeateds that we com.
p]ete our view and make the descent
aud entrance to the interior of the
great vault above, and thus free our.
selves from the dangers and disc0m
forts Of the crowd. This we success.
fully accomplished, although the. Ia.
Dor OF the dissent WaS quite as great
Is that Of the ascent.
The entrance to the Pyramid is Ivy
low paaongr.ways sometimes crawling
on all tours, sometimes descending liz
steps, and sometimes ascending. ii
times tkfs passage 10 ~ lofty sslle,ies,
and then again ~ obscure and cramD-
Cd ways. At length the Kings Chan-
Der IL reached room made of polish.
ID red granite. sixteep feet vida. and
.n5ssTtscv1 = e
SO assst $3.50 ~