g6 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



pieces of glass of brillant and varied colours. Besides these 

 treasures we found a ring, a polished seal, and many coins 

 of copper or bronze. Nor is this the only island that those 

 ancient heroes dwelt on, for on one which we did not visit, 

 so many valuables have turned up that it is commonly 

 called the Island of Gold. 



Our Diabeyha returned to Cairo on the 14th of February, 

 and before starting for Upper Egypt it was resolved to 

 devote a day to the Pyramids. They stand on a rock, and 

 cultivation or Jiagar goes nearly up to them. The ascent 

 of the big one is generally made at the north-east corner, 

 where the pathway to the summit is well marked. Half 

 way up several large stones have been removed, where th^e 

 pilgrim can rest awhile, and one regrets to see that many 

 are gone from the base at the corners. The Pyramid Arabs 

 are an unmitigated nuisance. They have a nominal right 

 to a tarif of two francs: of course they exact four shillings, 

 and would be a cheap riddance at the price, but go they 

 will not while one of the Hozvadjas is left. Between the 

 second Pyramid and the Sphinx, fragments of mummies are 

 lying about in various directions : these things ought to be 

 put underground. I saw a great many at Massara, where 

 the Viceroy has been making a tramway to the quarries. 

 One of the skulls had some hair upon it of a reddish colour. 



I will not inflict on my readers any long account of the 

 Nile voyage, which has been worn threadbare. I will only 

 say that I cannot imagine anything more delightful. Un- 

 fortunately it is very expensive, and is becoming more so ; 

 yet to the invalid and antiquarian it is money well spent. 

 Master of a well appointed boat, he sees an ever-changing 

 panorama pass by him of Pyramids, Temples, and Tombs, 

 altogether unparalleled in the history of the world. He 

 sees the creaking Shadoof and the Sakia-\VQ\\, the pigeon 

 village, the raft of pots, the swimming Dcmnsh, the 

 browzing camel, and the Doiirra Palm, the women who 



