The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-11-17
CEPHRENES, THE SECOND
PYRAMID.


PYRAMID.
j or the many wondrous discoveries
made by the Belzoni, perhaps none was
more noteworthy than that of the en-
trance to Cephrenes, the second of the
mighty pyramids Of Ghizs-those huge
structures which for countless sges have
bid defiance to time; vast, solitary and
grand. Seated during his travels at the
foot Of this second pyramid, Belzoni
mused a. TO the probability of there be-
ing an entrance to its interior, arguing
that it Was highly improbable that such
a magnificent structure should have been
reared without containing chambers and
a means OF entrance thereto. He knew
that the first pyramid had been explored,
but every historical account, from those
of Herodotus downward, joined in de-
claring the second pyramid, at whose
foot he mused, to be one huge monumen-
tai blank. But Belzoni was of too in
quiring mind to be satisfied, and, care
fully examining the exterior, he at length
came to the conclusion that there must
be way TO the interior, and set himself
boldly to the discovery. The first step
to be taken was TO obtain permission
from the Bey, and that accorded he col
lected sixty workmen, and set them to
break with their h.tchets through heap
of debris Joined together by the pulver-
lied mortar that had fallen from far up
the side, of the pyramid, snc then been
moistened by the heavy night dews.
A long period of toll then followed,
ending in the discovery Of cavity in the
side, but no means Of entrance. Disap-
pointed but not daunted, Belroni again
surveyed the vast building. and deter
mined to try in another spot, where, af-
ter the labor Of many days, first one and
then another block OF granite IVES un-
covered, and ut last the entrance TO the
pyramid reached-a low passage ehoked
up with fallen stones, vhich required
| arduous toll to draw them out. But in
spite of tue opposition and idleness Of
his Arab laborers, Belsoni persevsred,
till passage large enough to admit one
of the men was cleared, and room sitter,
armed with torch, the traveller stepped
in and began to look for the reward of
his thirty days of incesssnt labor.
His light burned dimly in the gloomy
echoing passage leading to the vast soil
tudes that had not been invaded for per
haps two thousand years, and it wes with
q strange feeling of awe that this enter
prising man passed on, breathing the
dust of vast antiquity. and with lifted
torch trying to pierce the gloom. Pass
age after passage he explored through
the huge rock built structure; peering
an1iously forward lest he should be
plunged unavsres into some deep pit
yawning to engulf him; but he passed on
in safety until he reached s door, evi-
IDENTIFY leading into some great chamber,
and then, stepping boldly forward, he
stood i'll the centre of the huge building,
trying to pierce the darkness around and
gazing wonderfully at this nausoleum of
an antiquity SO great that human history
gives but poor clue TO its age. His
steps echoed upon the stony floor, and
seemed to die sway in strange whisper
ings from tho sides OF the srest tomb as
he eagerly explored it, now With lowered
torch, now with it elevated towards the
roof, and listened again and again to
some sound, to break the death-like still
ness of the place.
The contents proved to be large sar-
cophagus of granite; but far from salts
| fed with this result OF his research, Bel
zoni sought on, and explored passage af
ter passage, and echoing gloomy cham
bers, evidently formed to be the last rest
ing places of the kings of some ancient
dynasty; but the grandeur Of this solemn
temple Of the dead seemed to lie in its
vast solidity and massiveness Of construc-
ton, qualities which have been the ad-
miration Of travellers of every country.
Oppressed at length by the strange stiff
ling air OF the place, Belsoni returned to
the light of day once more, but only to
recruit himself, and then, better provid-
ed with lights. to return through the long
passages, and explore once more the
many chambers, which brought to his
mind visions of the past grandeur of
Egypt, and the scenes thst had been en-
acted upon earth when tho pyramid was
first declared by it's architect complete.