The great pyramid passages and chambers

PLATE LXXX. wrought; in fact, the means employed for placing and cementing the blocks of soft limestone, weighing a dozen or twenty tons each, with such hair-like joints, are almost inconceivable at present ; and the accuracy of the levelling is marvellous.”

339 Before we could complete our work, it became so dark that we could not see to

FRONT ELEVATION (Looxine Sou7w) of tHe ANGLE STONES AND PRESENTLY DILAPIDATED MASONRY OVER THE ONE AND SOLE

VERTICAL LONGITUDINAL SECTION (Looxie Wesr)

ORIGINAL ENTRANCE PASSAGE INTO THE GREAT PYRAMID OF THE UPPER NORTH END OR BEGINNING rrom & PHOTOGRAPH ey PIAZZ| SMYTH OF THE ENTRANGE PASSAGE INTO THE GREAT PYRAMID

read our measurements properly, and our candles would not remain lit because of the wind which is always blowing at the pyramids. Darkness comes on very suddenly in Egypt; there is little or no twilight. In Scotland at this time of the year, it remains light even up to 11 o'clock, but here it is dark at eight, and when the moon is not shining, very dark at nine o'clock. Sometimes, when coming out of the Pyramid after our day’s work, it is so dark that it is with considerable difficulty that we tread our way along the narrow footpath, which leads down from the Entrance along the top of what now remains of the once large rubbish mound.

340 I may here mention that the ancient rubbish mounds which lie at the bases of all four sides of the Great Pyramid, have been much reduced in size of late years. The builders of Mena House Hotel, and others, removed great quantities of the rubbish to make concrete, etc. A narrow strip of the original top of each mound still remains, however, running along against the side of the Pyramid, and forming, therefore, an indication of their original shape and height (between 40 and 50 feet). The one on the

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