The great pyramid passages and chambers

407 We crept through this small doorway, and stood upright in a fairly large chamber hollowed out in the solid rock at the side of the stage. From it we noticed, by the light of our candles, that a number of small passages led to other rooms, and having entered, we found that out of these again yet other passages led to still smaller rooms which contained the niches for the dead. All the larger apartments have a stone bench running round the bases of their four walls. These reminded us of the Ramps in the Grand Gallery of the Great Pyramid of Gizeh. In one of the rooms this resemblance is most remarkable, for at its north-west corner a portion of the Ramp is broken away, disclosing an open shaft leading downward to a small subterranean chamber, on three sides of which are the usual niches for the repose of the dead. It put us at once in mind of the north-west corner of the Grand Gallery with its broken Ramp and its Wellshaft. We have always understood that the “ Well” in the Great Pyramid of Gizeh represents Hades, the tomb or death-state ; but now we have a practical demonstration of this common mode of burial in the East, so different from the western practice. Thus our belief in the symbolism of the “‘ Well” in the Pyramid has been strengthened.

408 We have instructed a photographer in Jerusalem, who has done work in connection with the * Palestine Exploration Fund,” to take a photograph of this interesting spot, our own photographic flashlight apparatus having been left behind at the pyramids—Plate XCVIII. It isa pity that the Plate does not show a greater portion of the stone bench on the left.

409 Thus, during our flying visit to Jerusalem, we have observed two interesting things connected with our work at the Great Pyramid of Gizeh, namely: Zechariah’s tomb with its symbolical cap-stone; and this broken Ramp revealing the shaft-tomb, symbolical of the death-state.

Tuesday, 6th July, 8 a.m. Jack and I are now in the train at Port Said, waiting for our departure to Cairo. We expect to arrive there at one o'clock. We had a fairly good passage over from Jaffa, except that we might have been more comfortable; our cabin was at the stern, and the noise of the screw was disagreeable. Our train has now moved off, and there is a pleasantly cool breeze blowing into the carriage. In the East the morning is always the best time to travel.

3 p.m. We have now arrived in Cairo. The train journey was very tiring, and personally I felt quite worn out when we reached our destination. Jack, Iam glad to say, is feeling well. We were escorted down the whole length of the station platform bya squad of hotel porters, each wanting us to go to his particular hotel. They would not take arefusal. It was not until we met our man, Judah, that they were induced to call off.

412 Tasked Judah how he was getting on, and he replied that he was “ very sorry,” and informed me that his little boy has something wrong with his eyes. Judah appears distressed about it, showing that he, at least, appreciates good eyesight. Jack is writing to his father and mother in Jerusalem, telling them that we have arrived safely. We are now going to the post-office, where we expect to find a number of letters awaiting us. I will post this here, for it is difficult to get letters sent from the pyramids. The branch office there is closed during the summer season.

With much love to all, Your loving brother in a far off and very warm land,

P.S.—Jack sends his love. MORTON EDGAR

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