366 EGYPT. 



Scriptures. The mummy people came and informed us, that the pit 

 was cleared, and that we might go when we thought proper. We 

 arrived there in 15 minutes ; and descended by a cord with candles 

 and two men. It was so filled with sand that we were obliged to 

 creep in on our faces in a passage four feet broad ; as we advanced 

 we found nothing but turnings and windings, and on all sides skulls, 

 bones, and bandages of mummies. When we came out we found 

 the party impatient, as the sun had been set for some time: we 

 immediately descended from the rising ground, and rode N. E. 

 towards Ummuchnan ; in a qnar^pr of an bom- we passed over the 

 ancient bed of the Nile. 



12th. — Early this morning being dressed like an Arab I rode with 

 Mr. Varsy to the pyramid of the steps, accompanied by the Kiaiah 

 of the Sheik. Went up the N. W. corner and measured the height. 

 From the top of it took the direction of all the other pyramids. 

 The mummy pit is 300 yards to the south ; to the N. E. are two 

 smaller pyramids in a ruined state, and a little further the pit of the 

 bird mummies. We went then to the three pyramids a mile to the 

 north, and having taken their dimensions and bearings, rode home. 

 To-day the Chamseen wind was intolerable. By the thermometer we 

 found that the heat was ten degrees higher than human heat. 



13th. — Rode out early to the west side of the palm trees of 

 Ummuchnan, and having measured a base of 2000 feet, Mr. Montagu 

 took the plan of all the pyramids with the Theodolite. 



:<-■ i. 



