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THE EXPEDITION TO EGYPT. 



SECTION I. OBSERVATIONS AT MOKATTAM. NEAR CAIRO. 



INTRODUCTION. 



SHORTLY after my arrival in Egypt, through the kind offices of General 

 STANTON, the British Consnl-General, His HIGHNESS the KHEDIVE was graciously 

 pleased to accord me an interview, at which he expressed his sympathy with 

 our undertaking, and his desire to further in every possible way the object of 

 the Expedition. We were afterwards greatly indebted to His Highness for 

 services which were not confined to such as may be classed under ordinary 

 assistance great expense having been incurred by him in providing 

 transports, guards, and material. 



On 1874, October 17, the entire expedition was assembled in CAIRO. Having 

 with mature consideration selected a site on the Mokattam Hills, an encamp- 

 ment was formed there on October 21. On October 27 the parties destined 

 for Thebes took their departure from Cairo, and Mr. Hunter proceeded to 

 Alexandria. 



Our party on the Mokattam Hills consisted of F. M. NEWTON, Esq., Miss 

 EMILY M. NEWTON, myself, and my wife, with servants, and a guard of Egyptian 

 soldiers. The work done at the station may be thus summarised : 



Observations for local time were continuous from October 24 to December 21 ; 

 determinations of co-latitude were made November 4, 5, 27, 28 ; telegraphic 

 signals for longitude were exchanged 



(1) with GREENWICH (through Alexandria and Porthcurno), November 

 14, 15,21, and 22; 



(2) with Dr. AUWERS at LUXOR, December 1, 4, 10, and 15 ; 



(3) with Mr. HUNTER at SUEZ, December 4, 5, 7, and 14. 

 The camp at Mokattam was struck December 25. 



THE SITE ON THE MOKATTAM HILLS. (Plates VIII. and IX.) 



The site selected, with the friendly assistance of WEYMAN DIXON, Esq., of 

 Cairo, who was intimately acquainted with the country, was on the western 



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