Some Particulars of Discoveries in Egypt. 213 
Thebes, that he was induced to commence his operations on the 
north side. He set out from Cairo on the 6th of February-1818, 
pretending (as he did not wish to be interrupted by visitors) that 
he was going to a neighbouring village. He then repaired 'to the 
Kaia Bey, and gained permission; the Bey having first satisfied 
himself that there was no tilled ground within a considerable 
distance of Ghiza. On the 10th of February he began with stx 
labourers in a vertical section, at right angles to the north side 
of the base, cutting through a mass of stones and lime which 
had fallen from the upper part of the pyramid, but were so com- 
pletely aggregated together as to spoil the mattocks, &c. em- 
ployed in the operation. He persevered in making an opening 
fifteen feet wide, working downwards and uncovering the face of 
the pyramid. During the first week there was but little prospect 
of meeting with any thing interesting; but on the 17th, one of 
the Arabs employed called out with great vociferation that he 
had found the entrance. He had in fact come upon a hole into 
which he could thrust his arm and a djerid six feet long. Be- 
fore night they ascertained that an aperture was there about 
three feet square, which had been closed irregularly with a hewn 
stone: this being removed, they reached a larger opening; but 
filled with rubbish and sand. M. Belzoni was now satisfied that 
this was not the real but a forced passage. Next day they had 
penetrated fifteen feet, where stones and sand began to fall from 
above : this was removed; but still they continued to fall in large 
quantities, when after some more days labour he discovered an 
upper forced entrance, communicating with the outside from 
bove. Having cleared this, he found another opening running 
inward, which proved on further search to be a continuation of 
the iower horizontal forced passage, nearly all choked up with 
rubbish: this being removed, he discovered about half way from 
the outside a descending forced passage which terminated at the 
distance of forty feet. He now continued to work in the hori- 
zoutal passage, in hope that it might lead to the centre, but it 
terminated at the depth of ninety feet; and he found it prudent 
not to force it further, as the stones were very loose over head, and 
ove actually fell and had nearly killed one of the people. He 
therefore now began clearing away the aggregated stones and lime 
to the eastward of the forced entrance ; but by this time his re- 
treat had heen discovered, and he found himself much interrupted 
by visitors. 
On the 28th of Februrary he discovered at the surface of the 
pyramid a block of granite having the same direction as that of 
the passage of that of the first pyramid, or that of Cheops ; and 
he now hoped that he was not far from the true entrance. Next 
day he removed some large blocks, and on the 2d of March he 
entered 
