The great pyramid passages and chambers

north-west angle was difficult in places. John manged to travel cautiously along it without help, but I was glad of Sayd’s assisting hand here and there ; for although Mr Covington, on the occasion of his attempt to clear this north channel, had removed a large quantity of the loose debris along this horizontal course, still sufficient lay there, especially near the channel opening, to make walking somewhat dangerous. Were one to lose his footing, nothing would check a downward rush right to the bottom. So dangerous did it look, that not even our Arab assistant, strong and nimble as he had shown himself to be, would venture to descend eleven courses lower, to investigate for us an opening which our previous inspection through our glasses had shown to be situated there. This opening lies some little distance to the east of the mouth of the King’s Chamber's air-channel, and is situated in the 90th course. We thought it might prove to be the opening of the north air-channel of the Queen’s Chamber, for the outer ends of that chamber’s two air-channels have not yet been located. Professor Flinders Petrie in his work Pyramids and Temples of Gizeh, mentions having observed with his telescope a similar opening on the south side of the Pyramid, but situated in the 85th course. His idea was that this might be the outer end of the Queen's Chamber's south air-channel ; but he says that he was prevented from examining it closely.

350 Travelling into Cairo this morning we were accompanied by Mr Covington, who is in the midst of preparations for a journey westward across the great Sahara Desert, to a place called “Copper City.’ He has been so busy that he has been unable to spare time to aid us in our work. He says he will have ten camels in his caravan. He was pleased to know that we were off on a visit to Jerusalem. Our train started from Cairo at 11 a.m., and we are now nearing Port Said. It is warm, but not unbearably so. We are looking forward to meeting Grace, Jack and Stanley. We sail to-night for Jaffa. I shall post this letter before leaving Port Said.

With much love, Your loving brother, MORTON EDGAR.

(From John). We have arrived at Port Said, and are now on board the Jaffa steamer. We should reach Jaffa to-morrow morning. Grace and Jack had a magnificent voyage, and are feeling and looking well. I shall pass this letter to Grace —John.

We are in a Russian boat, about to sail for Palestine. The weather is glorious. We have had no rain since leaving Liverpool. When we landed yesterday at Port Said, everything looked so white, and the glare of the sun was so strong that I had to wear coloured glasses. It is peculiar to see the ladies here with their faces covered with long black veils which reach to the ground, and with a little brass tube in the middle of their foreheads. They do look odd.—Grace.

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