Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-03-01

trinkets, coins, Scarubs, rides to
'sSphincus" etc, in such numbers that
one could neither hear. see nor think
If could have heard basso profundo
or even a baritone 1 might have been
tempted to purchase something or have
been more inclined to dole out bak-
shish. This terrible annoyance pre-
vented me from making useful exam
nations and it was not until l passed
over to the restaurant. where these
people are excluded, that l could gaze
at the wonderful structure with any
satisfaction.
The first thing that l noticed was
that the four pyramids were in line
and at a right angle with the abrupt
front of the Libyan hill. The next was
that the apics of all were on the same
level or horizontal line; that the diff
ferences in height related to their
bases and not to their tops. Cheops is,
in fact, slightly lower in altitude owing
to the loss OF it's apex, while those of
Chephren and Mycrenius are intact.
The fourth one on the top and back
end of the line is so small that it is
not usually mentioned. According to
Maspero's plan there are three of these
little pyramids. all in transverse line.
The north one is in line with the great
ones.
The next thing that attracted my at
tention was that the varying thick
neSSeS in the courses of stone in the
pyramids correspondent with the strata
of the Libyan hills. l was too far away
to determine this with certainty, but
from where / stood the weather. beaten
strata of the hills seemed to come
around through the pyramids with
mathematical accuracy. The sand from
the Libyan desert has blown over so
that the lower strata of the hills and
those of the pyramid bases were not
observable, and this sand drift inter
fereS sadly with an understanding OF
the original structure of the Sphinx
and its temple, but there is enough to
show that the Libyan hills at some re-
mote period formed shore line for
some body of water, and that a narrow
tongue, with steep faces, ran out from
the hills into the valley at the same
level as the hilltop, leaving a small bay
or cove on the south side. in which
was an island and the Sphinx block
sunken rock 1t may be that the ridge
was cut by water action, so that it
formed a line of island points which
were afterward dressed into pyramids.
as the distances between them are I'M
equal
The next thing worthy of considera-
ton is that the ancient Egyptians were
skilled in working rocks in stu The
weather-beaten and sand-blasted
Sphinx confirms this and adds the tes-
timony of one rock to their skill in
this direction while the Apis and other
tombs at Sakkara add additional
proofs, and it enforces the probability
of the suggested mode of constructing
pyramids. which is that in making
them they began at the top and as
they went down quarried the mate
rails at the levels where they were
used
1t will be seen at a glance that this
mode of construction disposes of many
of the transportation problems and of
the supposed tremendous lifting APP
paratus required for elevating the
stones
| This explanation will be objected to
because of interior passages and gran
/ ite-lined chambers / had intended to
Inspect the interior. but when l came
| to the opening one of the guards said-
"Ycu cannot so in, sir; you are too
large a man" So on account of my
| size (height feet. weight 265), 1 was
refused admittance. and. per conse-
auence. have to depend on others
who did not have in mind the manner
At general construction fo- the wSoles