430 
TROPICAL NATURE 
VII 
The Great Pyramid 
There is one other striking example of a higher phase of 
development in science and the arts being succeeded by a 
lower phase, which is in danger of being forgotten because it 
has been made the foundation of theories which seem wild 
and fantastic, and are probably in great part erroneous. I 
allude to the Great Pyramid of Egypt, whose form, dimen- 
sions, structure, and uses have recently been the subject of 
elaborate works by Professor Piazzi Smyth. Now the admitted 
facts about the pyramid are so interesting and so apposite to 
the subject we are considering, that I beg to recall them 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. Professor 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 per- 
fection of the workmanship in the interior of the pyramid, 
