The great pyramid passages and chambers

kind attentions. Before we finally left, we had, of course, to give Sayd and the cook their bakshish; they were quite satisfied with what they received. We then bade farewell to our tents, and started off for our tramcar at 3-15 p.m., bound for Cairo. Judah accompanied us to take charge of our lighter luggage, our heavy boxes having gone off in the morning on the back of a camel.

599 On the car, we looked back now and again at the fast diminishing pyramids, believing that we should probably not see them again while in the flesh. John said he felt sad at leaving the Great Pyramid where we had spent so many busy days. We had become familiar with the various passages and chambers, and had, if I may so say, developed ‘‘Pyramid’’ muscles. During our first days we were so stiff that we could hardly manage to creep up and down the passages. Latterly, we could go up and down with comparative ease. I could even rum up the uneven floor of the Descending Passage from Al Mamoun’s forced passage to the Entrance. On a former occasion I had seen Sayd running up this passage when returning with the tea things to the tents, and had admired his strength and wondered how he could do it. After fully five weeks of work in these steep passages, I was able to do the same myself. John, on this our last day, had lowered himself under the granite floor of the King’s Chamber, where a few of the granite floor-stones have been raised at the north-west corner, and a hole excavated in the soft lime-stone underneath that part of the granite floor which supports the Coffer—Par. 498. He had also climbed to the top of the Granite Leaf in the Ante-Chamber in order to see the upper surfaces of the Leaf and the two wainscots. Both these feats require no small amount of strength and suppleness.

600 We parted with Judah at the railway station at Cairo, giving him his bakshish and a testimonial. He is very anxious that his name should be remembered in our “book,” just as Ali Gabri’s name was mentioned by Professor C. Piazzi Smyth. He proved to be most useful during our operations in the Great Pyramid, especially in the Well-shaft, holding the rope-ladder, fetching and tying the rope, carrying rods, camera, stand, etc.; but above all, securing and superintending the workmen, and looking after our general interests with the happy result that we received fair treatment from everyone. Although he did not take so much interest in our measuring operations, which were not so much his “ business” as ours, he has nevertheless observed that our work at the Great Pyramid is not without some purpose. He enquired one day when we were working down in the Descending Passage, what this passage was for. We explained that it symbolized the ‘poor groaning creation’’ on its way to destruction represented in the Pit. He evidently agreed that the symbol was apt, for ever after, when going down this passage, we could hear him groaning and sighing to himself. He wanted to make the illustration as realistic as possible. It was only his little joke. On another occasion he very particularly asked what we called those passages leading to the Queen’s Chamber and to the Pit. We told him that these were ‘ Horizontal” passages. He repeated the word several times, then finally said ‘I know him.” He also made a mental note of the Girdles in the First Ascending Passage, their position, and the wonderful uniformity of the masonry of the three upper and more important ones. He took special note of the Granite Plug blocking the entrance to the First Ascending Passage, and also of the Ramps running the whole length of the Grand Gallery. He particularly enquired about the size of the King’s Chamber, and on

300