588 
CAIRO. 
for immediately.'* He accordingly arrived, and Selim not only 
rose, but advanced to the door to receive him, and, after em- 
bracing, placed him by his side. 
When all his troops were over, Taher Pacha got up himself, and, 
smacking his open hand against mine, took his leave with great 
good humour. He is young and rather handsome, has the appear- 
ance of being good tempered, but did not seem to possess much 
ability. He sent in the evening to say, that every thing was settled, 
and that I might come over in the morning. 
March 5. — Our party passed the river as soon as it was light, 
but Mussulmauns are not to be hurried, and it was some time before 
the governor of the town joined us with a large body of cavalry, 
and a piece of curricle artillery. We crossed the plain direct for 
the Pyramids, while Taher Pacha kept between us and some vil- 
lages to the north, where the Mamelukes and Arabs were said to 
be. He had with him full two thousand infantry, and another 
piece of curricle artillery, a force more than sufficient for our pro- 
tection. I cannot say that I was struck with that astonishment, 
which many have expressed on approaching these vast masses. 
The idea of a Pyramid is easily conceived, and consequently sur- 
prise cannot enter the feelings of a person when he first beholds 
them. When, however, reason points out the prodigious labour, 
with which they must have been erected, and the incomprehensible 
motives, which could have led to such vast exertions, astonish- 
ment gradually increases, and the mind is lost in conjecture and 
admiration. 
On reaching the entrance into the great Pyramid, we were joined 
by many Arabs, residing in the neighbouring vaults, who offered. 
