The great pyramid passages and chambers

LETTER XVI.

Tents at the Great Pyramid of Gizeh. Wednesday, 7th July, 1909.

DEAR BRETHREN,—Jack and I are now in our tents at the Great Pyramid. We arrived last night at 7 o'clock, and found them erected much as I had left them nearly a fortnight ago. Abdul Salam Faid was glad to welcome me back, and to be introduced to Jack, but was disappointed at not seeing Stanley. He appears to have taken a great fancy for him, and is sorry to learn of his illness. We told him that we hoped that Stanley would be well enough by the end of the week to return to the Pyramid. Mr. Faid raised his hand and exclaimed: “‘ We will pray to the Great God that he will get well and be able to come.”

426 I took Jack over to see Mr. Covington, who has not yet started on his westward journey; but not finding him in his tent, we walked over to the casing-stones which I showed to Jack. Being about nine o'clock, and the moon not having risen, it was quite dark. We had therefore to take a candle which was protected from the breeze by a glass globe, and by this feeble light Jack saw those wonderful casing-stones, gleaming out whitely from the surrounding gloom, the solitary survivors of the thousands which at one time encased this *‘ Miracle in Stone ’’—Plate CII.

427 Iam very glad indeed to get back to the Pyramid, and Jack says he too is glad to be here, for although we enjoyed our visit to Jerusalem, we did not feel quite safe there but were always afraid we might become ill. As precautionary measures against malaria we took quinine morning and evening while in Palestine, but at the Pyramid we do not think this necessary.

428 Just now (12 noon) the temperature in the shade (in my tent, which has a double roof, quite shutting out the sun’s rays) is 91°F. Though it is warm, itis not unbearable, as a fresh wind is blowing from the north. There were some light clouds in the sky this morning at nine o'clock. When John was here, few clouds were visible, although during the fortnight before he arrived I saw a number of dark clouds every day. Some of these were dense enough to obscure for several minutes at a time, even the strong Egyptian sunlight; so much so, that on several occasions while photographing the casingstones of the Great Pyramid, I had to wait until a cloud passed away in order to get the desired light and shade. I have seen no rain, however,all the time I have been here.

429 Jack and I have been in the Great Pyramid to-day, measuring the masonry of the east wall of the First Ascending Passage. We found it difficult work, and very tiring. In some places it is almost impossible to locate the joints between the stones, and these joints run in different directions. The system of masonry of this passage is very peculiar, quite unlike any of the other passages. We shall endeavour to make a draw-

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