ANTIQUITY OF MAN. 



299 



we are considering, that I beg to recall tliem 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. Prof. 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 perfection of the workmanship in 

 the interior of the pyramid, the passages and chambers 

 being lined with huge blocks of stones fitted with the 



