96 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 
pieces of glass of brillant and varied colours. Besides these 
treasures we found a ring, a polished seal, and many coins 
of copper or bronze. Nor is this the only island that those 
ancient heroes dwelt on, for on one which we did not visit, 
so many valuables have turned up that it is commonly 
called the Island of Gold. 
Our Diabeyha returned to Cairo on the 14th of February, 
and before starting for Upper Egypt it was resolved to 
devote a day to the Pyramids. They stand on a rock, and 
cultivation or kagar goes nearly upto them. The ascent 
of the big one is generally made at the north-east corner, 
where the pathway to the summit is well marked. Half 
way up several large stones have been removed, where the 
pilgrim can rest awhile, and one regrets to see that many 
are gone from the base at the corners. The Pyramid Arabs 
are an unmitigated nuisance. They have a nominal right 
to a tarif of two francs: of course they exact four shillings, 
and would bea cheap riddance at the price, but go they 
will not while one of the Howadyas is left. Between the 
second Pyramid and the Sphinx, fragments of mummies are 
lying about in various directions: these things ought to be 
put underground. I sawa great many at Massara, where 
the Viceroy has been making a tramway to the quarries. 
One of the skulls had some hair upon it of a reddish colour. 
I will not inflict on my readers any long account of the 
Nile voyage, which has been worn threadbare. I will only 
say that I cannot imagine anything more delightful. Un- 
fortunately it is very expensive, and is becoming more so; 
yet to the invalid and antiquarian it is money well spent, 
Master of a well appointed boat, he sees an ever-changing 
panorama pass by him of Pyramids, Temples, and Tombs, 
altogether unparalleled in the history of the world. He 
sees the creaking Shadoof and the Sakia-well, the pigeon 
village, the raft of pots, the swimming Derwish, the 
browzing camel, and the Dourra Palm, the women who 
