430 . TROPICAL NATURE 



The 



There is one other striking example of a higher phase of 

 development in science and the arts being succeeded by a 

 lower phase, which is in danger of being forgotten because it 

 has been made the foundation of theories which seem wild 

 and fantastic, and are probably in great part erroneous. I 

 allude to the Great Pyramid of Egypt, whose form, dimen- 

 sions, structure, and uses have recently been the subject of 

 elaborate works by Professor Piazzi Smyth. Now the admitted 

 facts about the pyramid are so interesting and so apposite to 

 the subject we are considering, that I beg to recall them to 

 your attention. Most of you are aware that this pyramid 

 has been carefully explored and measured by successive 

 Egyptologists, and that the dimensions have lately become 

 capable of more accurate determination owing to the discovery 

 of some of the original casing-stones, and the clearing away 

 of the earth from the corners of the foundation, showing the 

 sockets in which the corner-stones fitted. Professor Smyth 

 devoted many months of work with the best instruments, in 

 order to fix the dimensions and angles of all accessible parts 

 of the structure : and he has carefully determined -these by a 

 comparison of his own and all previous measures, the best 

 of which agree pretty closely with each other. The results 

 arrived at are 



1. That the pyramid is truly square, the sides being equal 

 and the angles right angles. 



2. That the four sockets on which the four first stones of 

 the corners rested are truly on the same level. 



3. That the directions of the sides are accurately to the 

 four cardinal points. 



4. That the vertical height of the pyramid bears the same 

 proportion to its circumference at the base as the radius of a 

 circle does to its circumference. 



Now all these measures, angles, and levels are accurate, 

 not as an ordinary surveyor or builder could make them, but 

 to such a degree as requires the very best modern instruments 

 and all the refinements of geodetical science to discover any 

 error at all. In addition to this we have the wonderful per- 

 fection of the workmanship in the interior of the pyramid, 



