The great pyramid passages and chambers

terraces, is evident, because the beginning of the rock-cut portion of the Descending Passage is distinctly on a higher level than the rock under the pavement at the outside base of the Pyramid ; while our measurements of the length of the Well-shaft show that the rock-cut portion of that shaft begins on a still higher level—Plate IX.

550 Our thought with regard to the Grotto is that, while the ancient builders were engaged in this work of levelling the rock surface in terraces preparatory to the erection of the Pyramid, they uncovered a large natural cavity or fissure. As the shaft of the Well passed through this cavity (and its peculiar course would lead one to believe that it was diverted for this purpose), the workmen would be instructed to build a continuation of its four walls with small courses of stone up to the level of the rock.

551 The cavity or fissure would then be filled up to the level of the rock with sand and gravel from the desert, packed in firmly round the four walls of this built continuation of the shaft, and so form a solid foundation for the masonry of the Pyramid. In our photograph of the Grotto (Plate CLI), some of this sand and gravel can be seen adhering to the white plaster of the masonry.'

5952 Curious investigators (probably shortly after Al Mamoun’s time), wondering what could be concealed behind such peculiar little walls, forced their way through the four lowest of the small courses of the south wall. Encountering nothing but sand and gravel, they would soon abandon their task; but, from time to time, later investigators, imbued with the same curiousity, would gradually extend the breach by picking away large quantities of the partly caked sand and gravel, and throwing it down the shaft would completely block up the bottom of the Well. (This thought was first advanced by Col. Coutelle in 1801.) Thus, the lower portion of the four walls of the shaft, built so long ago through the cavity, were again laid bare on their outer surfaces; for the Grotto curves almost completely round the Well-shaft—Plate CL. Even Professor Flinders Petrie did his share in enlarging what has for long been generally known as the “Grotto.” We discovered, at the bottom of the deep hollow to the west, a basket of the kind regularly used by the Arabs to carry sand, etc.

553 Wedged in at the east edge of the deep hollow in the floor of the Grotto isa large granite stone, which, judging by its broken appearance, is a fragment of a larger block. It has two worked surfaces at right angles to each other, and, most wonderful of all, parts of two large holes drilled through it! The north-east upper corner of this stone may be seen at the lower left-hand corner of our photograph of the GrottoPlate CLI.

554 There are similar granite stones elsewhere in the Great Pyramid. Three lie on the floor of the Descending Passage. One of these, the largest, was discovered by Professor Flinders Petrie, a little below the junction of the First Ascending Passage. It is across the top of this stone, as mentioned before, that the iron grill-door is fixed. It

"Col. Howard Vyse, in his 3rd Vol. of Pyramids of Gtzeh, gives an account of a pyramid (the Northern Brick Pyramid of Dashur) with a base of 350 feet square, resting entirely on a foundation of sand, He writes: The foundation is remarkable. The stony surface of the desert had been made level by a layer of fine sand [the sand and gravel from the desert], confined on all sides by a stone platform, 14 feet 6 inches wide, and 2 feet 9 inches thick, which supported the external casing; and the pyramid was built upon the sand, which was firm and solid. Mr. Perring has met with other instances in Egypt where sand has been thus used; and provided it be retained in its place, it apparently may be

depended upon.” 280