04 Account c^'tlie I'ccent discoveries respecting 
The whole intermediate space between the lake Moeris and 
Gizeh, is so full of pyramids, mausoleums, temples, and subter- 
raneous catacombs, that it may be viewed as one immense ceme^- 
tery ; and it is the conjecture of M. Pauw, that the grand en- 
trance to the whole of the interior communications may be found 
under the Temple of Serapis, which is placed by Strabo to the 
west of Memphis. It is worthy of remark that, in all the pyra- 
mids which have been opened, the entrance has been uniformly 
found in the centre of the northern front, and the passages inva- 
riably proceeding in a downward sloping direction, at an angle 
of 26 or 27 degrees ; circumstances which seem to indicate some 
specific design; and the observation of the stars crossing the 
mouth of tliese lengthened tubes, is supposed to have been a 
principal object of this arrangement. Mr Cavigiia next direct- 
ed his attention to the numerous ruined edifices and tumuli 
which are scattered around the pyramids, and along the left 
bank of the Nile, as far as the eye can reach. They were gene- 
rally found to contain several chambers, variously disposed, but 
similarly decorated with bas-reliefs and paintings, and in all of 
them were found fragments of bitumen, human bones, and great 
quantities of mummy cloth. In one or another of these apart- 
ments, was always found a shaft or well, from the bottom of 
which proceeded a narrow passage, conducting to a subterranean 
chamber ; and in one of these was discovered a plain but highly 
finished sarcophagus, without a lid, of the same dimensions, 
nearly, as that which is seen in the King’s chamber in the Great 
Pyramid. Many of the paintings in bas-relief represented per- 
sons engaged in the different pursuits of agriculture, and in va.- 
rious other occupations. The figures of the buds and animals 
are executed in a manner which discovers considerable skill in 
the art of drawing ; and the colouring in many of the chambers 
retained all its original freshness. The human figures are ge- 
nerally ill-proportioned, but the actions in which they are en- 
gaged are very intelligibly expressed ; and several fragments of 
statues have been collected which give a higher idea of Egyptian 
sculpture than has hitherto been entertained. 
But the excavations around the Sphinx, which Mr Cavigiia 
conducted with the most indefatigable perseverance, may be re- 
g^arded as the most interesting of his labours, and w'ere, at least^ 
