I of course ascended to the summit of the great Pyramid, and also
explored its chambers, but these I need not describe. The first
time that I went to the Pyramids of Ghizeh there were a number of
Arabs hanging about in its neighbourhood, and wanting to receive
presents on various pretences; their Sheik was with them. There
was also present an ill-looking fellow in soldier's uniform. This
man on my departure claimed a reward, on the ground that he had
maintained order and decorum amongst the Arabs. His claim was not
considered valid by my dragoman, and was rejected accordingly. My
donkey-boys afterwards said they had overhead this fellow propose
to the Sheik to put me to death whilst I was in the interior of the
great Pyramid, and to share with him the booty. Fancy a struggle
for life in one of those burial chambers, with acres and acres of
solid masonry between one's self and the daylight! I felt
exceedingly glad that I had not made the rascal a present.
I visited the very ancient Pyramids of Aboukir and Sakkara. There
are many of these, and of various shapes and sizes, and it struck
me that, taken together, they might be considered as showing the
progress and perfection (such as it is) of pyramidical
architecture.
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