Some Cranks and their Crotchets 427 



itance in the Great Pyramid," and afterward fol- 

 lowed it with other similar books. Whatever may 

 have been the original complexion of this gentle- 

 man's mind, it was not such as to prevent his 

 attaining distinction and achieving usefulness as a 

 practical astronomer. But the pyramids were too 

 much for his mental equilibrium. As De Morgan 

 kindly puts it, " his work on Egypt is paradox of 

 a very high order, backed by a great quantity of 

 useful labour, the results of which will be made 

 available by those who do not receive the para- 

 doxes." 



The pyramidal tombs of Egyptian kings were an 

 evolution in stone or brick from the tumulus of 

 earth which in prehistoric ages was heaped over 

 the body of the war chief. They are objects of 

 rare dignity and interest, not only from their im- 

 mense size, but from sundry peculiarities in their 

 construction. In their orientation great care was 

 taken, though usually with imperfect success. 

 Their sides face the four cardinal points, and the 

 descending entry- way forms a kind of telescope, 

 from the bottom of which an observer, sixty cen- 

 turies ago, could look out at what was then the 

 polestar. These and other features of the pyra- 

 mids are no doubt connected with Egyptian reli- 

 gion, and may very likely have subserved astrolo- 



