The entrance into the Pyramid is on the north side, and is nearly in the centre, about an equal distance from each angle; being, at the same time, elevated about thirty feet above the base, probably that it might be more difficult for a conqueror to discover it, and less liable to be blocked up with sand. The ascent to it is over a heap of stones and rubbish, that have either fallen from the Pyramid, or been forced out and thrown down in the various efforts made at successive periods to find a passage into the interior. This heap at present rises considerably above the entrance, which is a small orifice not more than three feet and a half square: it is lined above and below, and on either side, with broad flat rocks of red granite, smooth and highly polished. The flags in the bottom of the passage are formed with alternate depressions and elevations, in order to afford a firm footing to the person descending; but this, it is presumed, is a modern operation, because the depressions are not smooth and polished like the rest of the stones.

After advancing nearly a hundred feet into the entrance, which slopes downward at an angle of about twenty-six degrees, the explorer finds an opening on the right-hand, which conducts him up an inclined plane to the queen's chamber, as travellers have agreed to call it,-an apartment seventeen feet long, fourteen feet wide, and twelve feet high to the point on which the roof is suspended. Ascending a similar passage, but somewhat steeper than the first, he perceives another chamber of larger dimensions, being thirtyseven feet two inches long, seventeen feet two inches wide, and about twenty feet in height. This is denominated the king's chamber,-but upon no better authority that we can discover than the caprice of tourists already converted into a local tradition. Its magnificence, however, entitles it in some degree to the distinction which it has obtained. It is lined all round with large slabs of highly-polished granite, reaching from the floor to the ceiling; this last being formed of nine immense, flags which stretch from wall to wall. Towards the west end of the room stands the sarcophagus, which likewise consists of red granite highly polished, but without either sculpture or hieroglyphics. Its length is seven feet six inches, while the depth and width are each three feet three inches. There is no lid, nor was there any

thing found in it except a few fragments of the stone with which the chamber is decorated.

As this room does not reach beyond the centre of the Pyramid, Dr. Richardson suggests the very probable opinion that there are other passages leading to other chambers in communication with it; the entrance to which would, it is very likely, be found by removing some of the granite slabs which serve as wainscoting to the walls. To present to the eye a uniform surface in the interior of an apartment was one of the devices usually employed by an architect in old times when he wished to conceal from an ordinary observer the approach to a secret retreat,-reserving to himself and his employer the knowledge of the particular stone which covered the important orifice, as well as the means of obtaining a ready access.

A third chamber, still higher in the body of the Pyramid than either of the two just mentioned, was discovered by Mr. Davison who about sixty years ago was British consul at Cairo. Having on one of his visits observed a hole in the top of the gallery, he resolved to ascertain the object of it, and whether it led to any apartment which had not yet been described. For this purpose he made seven short ladders in such a manner as to fasten one to another by means of four wooden pins,-the whole set, when joined, being about twenty-six feet in length. When all the parts were put together, the ladder entered enough into the hole to prevent it from sliding on the side of the gallery. He then mounted, and found a passage two feet four inches square, which turned immediately to the right. He entered a little way, with his face on the ground, but was obliged to retire on account of the passage being in a great measure choked with dust and bats' dung, which in some places was near a foot deep. He first thought of clearing a path by throwing the dirt down into the gallery; but, foreseeing that this would be a work of some time, he determined to make another effort to enter, which was attended with more success than the first. He was able to creep in, though with much difficulty, not only on account of the lowness of the passage, but likewise the quantity of dust which he raised. When he had advanced a little way, he discovered what he supposed to be the end of the approach. His surprise was great when he reached it, to find to the right a straight

passage into a long, broad, but low place, which he knew, as well by the length as the direction of the entry he had come in at, to be immediately above the large room. The stones of granite which are at the top of the latter form the bottom of this, but are uneven, being of unequal thickness. The room is four feet longer than the one below; in the latter you see only seven stones, and a half of one on each side of them; but in that above the nine are entire, the two halves resting on the wall at each end. The breadth is equal with that of the room below. The covering of this, as of the other, is of beautiful granite, but it is composed of eight stones instead of nine, the number in the room below. At this stage of the investigation Mr. Davison was joined by some of his attendants, who, being a great deal troubled with the dust and want of air, soon retired. At length, after having measured and examined every part of the chamber, he also descended by the ladder, satisfied that no more could be accomplished without the accession of greater strength and means.*

The same room was entered and explored a few years ago by Mr. Caviglia, to whose enterprising spirit the antiquaries of Egypt are under great obligations, but without adding any thing to our knowledge of its structure or intention. He remarks, that the sides of the chamber were coated with red granite of the finest polish; and he ascertained that the unevenness of the floor was occasioned by its being formed of the individual blocks of syenite which constitute the roof of the chamber below; hence they must be wedged in on the principle of the arch. The bats dung, which in the time of Mr. Davison was a foot in depth, had now increased to a foot. and a half.

But it is extremely doubtful, even after these laborious endeavours, whether we have yet made farther progress in dissecting the structure of the Pyramid than was attained by the Greeks and Romans two thousand years ago; for it is worthy of notice that every recess which has been explored in modern times bears marks of having been examined by former adventurers. We find, besides, that the narrow entrance into the great Pyramid was known to

* Memoirs relating to European and Asiatic Turkey, edited from MS. Journals by Robert Walpole, M. A. p. 354.

Strabo, which he tells us had a stone placed at the mouth of it to be removed at pleasure. The same author likewise, as well as Herodotus, was acquainted with the subterraneous chambers, and Pliny has left a description of the well. It is true that they declined to enter into many particulars which could hardly fail to have met their observation, -an omission which we are justified, at least in the case of Herodotus, in attributing to certain superstitious notions of their sanctity and mysterious uses.

The account given by Mr. Davison of his descent into the well, now alluded to, is so interesting that we cannot withhold from the reader an outline of his proceedings. Conceiving it to be very deep, he provided himself with a large quantity of rope, one end of which he tied round his waist; and letting down a lantern attached to a small cord, he resolutely prepared to follow. With no small difficulty he prevailed on two of his servants and three Arabs to hold the line, the latter assuring him that there were ghosts below, and that he never could hope to return. Taking with him a few sheets of paper, a compass, a measure, and another lighted candle, he commenced the descent, and soon reached the bottom of the first well or shaft. Here he found, on the south side, at the distance of about eight feet from the place where he landed, a second opening, which descended perpendicularly to the depth of five feet only; and at four feet ten inches from the bottom of this he discovered a third shaft, the mouth of which was nearly blocked up with a large stone, leaving an opening barely sufficient to allow a man to pass. Here he dropped down his lantern, not only with the view of ascertaining to what depth he was about to proceed, but also to determine whether the air were pernicious or otherwise. The shaft, however, was so tortuous that the candle soon became invisible; but the consul was not to be discouraged, as nothing less than a journey to the bottom would satisfy his eager curiosity. His main difficulty arose from the superstitious dread of the Arabs, who could hardly be prevailed upon to go down and hold the rope. After many prayers, and threats, and promises of money, and of all the treasure which might be found in the well, the avarice of one man so far overcame his terror that he ventured to descend;

though, on reaching the bottom, "he stared about him pale and trembling, and appeared more like a spectre than a human being."

Mr. Davison now pushed forward with the rope round his body, being convinced, from the distant view of the lantern which he had let down, that this well was somewhat deeper than the first. Having proceeded a little farther than half-way to the spot where the candle had rested, he came to a grotto about fifteen feet long, four or five wide, and nearly the height of a man. From this place the third shaft or well was sloping; and, by throwing down a stone, he ascertained it to be of much greater depth than the others. But, still resolved to persevere, he pushed the lantern a little before him, and set out afresh on his journey, calling to the Arab to loosen the rope gently, and availing himself of little holes made in the rock, obviously with the purpose of aiding a descent. At length, the shaft beginning to return a little more to the perpendicular, he arrived speedily at the bottom, where he found all farther passage precluded by a large accumulation of sand and rubbish.

Having reached this point, our adventurer began to reflect on two circumstances which had not before occurred to him, either of which would have agitated weaker nerves. The first was, that the multitude of bats which he had disturbed might put out his candle; and the second, that the immense stone on the mouth of the pit might slip down and close the passage for ever. On looking about the bottom he found a rope-ladder, which, though it had lain there sixteen years, was as fresh and strong as if perfectly new. It had been used, as is conjectured, by Mr. Wood,— the author of a work on the ruins of Balbec and Palmyra, -to assist his progress downwards; but he, it is concluded, must have stopped short at the grotto. When Mr. Davison, on his return, had reached the bottom of the first shaft, the candles fell and went out; upon which "the poor Arab thought himself lost." He laid hold of the rope, as his master was about to ascend, declaring that he would rather have his brains blown out than be left alone there with the Devil. "I therefore permitted him," says the consul, "to go before; and, though was much more difficult to ascend than to descend, I know not how it was, but he scrambled