440 



INCIDENTS OP TRAVEL. 



discovered, and probably none exist. And the most 

 radical difference of all is, the pyramids of Egypt are 

 complete in themselves ; the structures of this country 

 were erected only to serve as the foundations of build- 

 ings. There is no pyramid in Egypt with a palace or 

 temple upon it ; there is no pyramidal structure in this 

 country without * at least none from whose condition 

 any judgment can be formed. 



But there is one farther consideration, which must be 

 conclusive. The pyramids of Egypt, as I have consid- 

 ered them, and as they stand now, differ most materially 

 from the original structures. Herodotus says that in his 

 time the great pyramid was coated with stone, so as to 

 present a smooth surface on all its sides from the base 

 to the top. The second pyramid of Ghizeh, called the 

 Pyramid of Cephrenes, in its present condition, presents 

 on the lower part ranges of steps, with an accumulation 

 of angular stones at the base, which originally filled up 

 the interstices between the steps, but have fallen down. 

 In the upper part the intermediate layers are still in their 

 places, and the sides present a smooth surface to the top. 

 There is no doubt that originally every pyramid in Egypt 

 was built with its sides perfectly smooth. The steps 

 formed no part of the plan. It is in this state only that 

 they ought to be considered, and in this state any pos- 

 sible resemblance between them and what are called 

 the pyramids of America, ceases. 



Next to the pyramids, the oldest remains of Egyp- 

 tian architecture, such as the temple of Absamboul in 

 Nubia, like those of the Hindus, are excavations in the 

 rock, from which it has been supposed that the Egyp- 

 tians derived their style from that people. In later 

 times they commenced erecting temples above ground, 

 retaining the same features of gloomy grandeur, and 



