426 
GRANITE. 
noticed in the Alps, the granite of those mountains 
being of a more solid texture. 
Although, in general, the granites differ but little 
from each other in the several countries of the 
world, yet we find varieties which are sufficiently 
marked to warrant their being separated from each 
other ; among these we shall proceed to notice the 
kind which is known by the name of Egyptian 
or Oriental granite. This is composed of white 
quartz almost transparent, of great irregular cry- 
stals of red felt-spar, and a little blackish mica. The 
quarries which furnish this fine granite are situated 
about sixty leagues above Cairo, and stretch to the 
south as far as the antient city of Syene. It is to 
these quarries that the Egyptians are indebted for 
the many remains of obelisks and columns which 
are yet to be seen in their country, notwithstanding 
the number that have been transported to Rome. 
The most beautiful specimen of this kind of granite 
is still remaining near Alexandria, in the shape of 
a column, known by the name of Pompey’s Pillar, 
of which the shaft alone with its capital is ninety- 
six feet high, and twenty-eight feet three inches in 
circumference. This is, we believe, the most enor- 
mous mass of granite that has ever been wrought, 
since it is formed of a single piece without any 
joining whatever. 
In Italy they have several varieties of granite 
which they call antique granites, and of which some 
of their fine columns are composed. 
