The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-04-28


mad at them, as many travellers do. but
treat them with the gentle pity due to
fellow-creatures trained in bad school.
The ascent of the great pyramid at
Gheezeh is difficult, chiefly because of
the long steps one has to take in climb
ing some parts of it, mot unfreuuently
the blocks of stone are three feet high,
and the ledge on which you stand not
more than six inches wide) and because
one who has not steady nerves is apt to
grow giddy in looking down from so
great height. Persons disposed to YER
tigo, and those who are easily panic
struck should not attempt it. But one
IN good health, and free from the strange
propensity to jump off, to which some
say they are subject, might safely make
the ascent without the assistance of anv
guides. Rich is the reward of one who
has reached the summit What seems to
be point in the distance is really a sur
face of uneven blocks some thirty feet
square, affording room enough for a large
party to stand together l have before
me Warmers Winter on the Nile, and
he gives this admirable description of the
view from the top: All that is charac-
terlstic IN Egypt is in sight to the west,
the Libyan hills and the limitless stretch
OF yellow desert sand; to the north,
desert also and the ruined Pyramid of
Abooruash; to the south, that long ne
cropolis Of the desert marked by the
pyramids of Aboseer, Sakkarah, and Da-
shoor; on the east, the Nile and its broad
meadows widening into the dim delta,
the city of Cairo under the Mokattam
hills, and the gray desert beyond. Egypt
is ribbon Of green between two deserts.
Canals and lines of trees stripe the green
of the foreground; white sails flicker
along the river, winging their way to
Nubia; the citadel and the mosque Shine
in the sun.
After descending, we accomplished the
more fatiguing task of creeping through
the long, slanting, slippery, crooked tun-
nels which lead through the interior of
the Pyramid to the kings chamber, and
the empty sarcophagus of Cheops' and
emerged from the hot, sitting air covered
with dust and dripping with perspira-
non. 1t makes one shudder to think Of
such tomb, in the blackness of darkness
the very passages to it made purposely
the entrance hermeticallv
sealed, and the whole structure once COW
cred with smooth surface of polished
stone, concealing and masking ali within.
How horrible the isolation, with myriads
of tons of stone above the coffin lid
cannot find time now to describe our
visit on subsequent day to the tombs of
the sacred bulls at Sakkarah, nor to the
Step Pyramid, as it is called, believed
to be the oldest structure III the world.
L wish ! could give you my impress
SONS OF that marvellous monster. the
Sphinx, with its body stretched out for
sixty feet, and its colossal face nine yards
long, yet wearing a smile of ineffable
calm with Just touch of irony in it.
Before those stony eyes the sun has risen
for more than four thousand years, and
Lhe generations of men have followed each
other IN endless procession down to the
realms of death And there in the
greatest metropolis of the world. it lies
patiently, as if waiting for the resurrec-
lion.
A few days ago we were disturbed by
vague rumors that there had been a gen
eral disturbance between the Christians
and Mohammedans of Smyrna, Damascus.
md Jerusalem with some blood-shed. We
thought 1t possible that we might after
all be prevented from going to Palestine.
What disappointment it would have
been We read Of the Moses of the olden
lime who was not permitted to enter the
promised land, though he came so nearit.
would not like to initiate my great an
'estor, at least, in this respect. But there
las been no confirmation Of the rumor.
md | doubt not it was a caaard. Our
Dragoman is engaged; our tents have
oeen sent on in advance to Jaffa. and we
expect to take them with us ard live in
hem during our entire tour through
to Damascus. We set off To-
morrow morning. M. D. H.
--EvANGELGzAT1oN IN Nor /
iANDY-M. Monchatro, pasteur of the Reformed
huTch at Blbeuf, near Rouen, recently delivered .
IN address in the French church of Bavswater
IN the work Of evangelization in his own field
ma IN the adjacent department of the Eure
lie dwelt on the gradual but sure progress that
he Gospel IS making in that part Of France
A' hlDeut the Protestant schools have assumed .
uch an Importance that the French govern
nent has gwen its official sanction TO the work
AZ Evreux the Societe Central of Paris and the
authorities of the Reformed church have placed
stated pasteur, who is faithfully carrying on