182 PYRAMIDS OF DJIZA. 
CHAP, upon the sand'. The forms of the petrifaction 
■ are lenticular. We noticed an extraneous 
fossil of the same nature in the Crimea, which 
has also been described by Pallas'*. Slrahos 
description of this substance corresponds, in so 
striking a manner, with its present appearance, 
that his account of it may be noticed as afford- 
ing internal evidence of his visit to the spot. 
Extraneous « Auioug thc woudcrs," sayshc^ "which w^e 
Fossil dc- • 1 1 • 1 • \ 1 
scribed by saw at thc Pyramids, there is one which ought 
on no account to pass without notice. There 
are heaps of stones, lying among the ruins before 
the Pyramids, in which are found little petrifac- 
tions, in form and size exactly resembling the 
natural appearance of lentils. The tradition is, 
that these lentils are the petrified remains of the 
food o-iven to the workmen." Notwithstandins^ 
the throng of travellers, particularly of late 
years, who have resorted to the Pyramids, 
(1) The author has since beeu informed that it has been observed 
among the stones of whicli the principal pyramid i> built. 
(2) It has received the appellation of Lapis Nummularivs, from the 
resemblance of these lenticular forms to small coins. See ybl. II. 
Chap. V, p. 228. Octavo Edition. 
(3) "E» Ss n Tuv o^aHvrcJV u^' tifiuv in 'ra.'s Tlu^au'ici rTapuco^un oIk u^o* 
croL^aXtinTv. 'Ex yao rrjs XuTvzm iru^ai rni; ^^o tcov Tluaufci^uv xtTyreu' ty 
voUTBis "S ib^iirKtrai -^vy/mTa sea) tu-Tm kcc) /jLiyihi (fctxaitiri' hioi; Ssi xai ii 
«» 'XT'idfta, oiov fi/ziXl^ia-rtuy l/Tor^i'^u. 'X>u(r) S' atoXiSufrivai ?.ij^ava rjfs Ti/v 
loya'^ofiifut TQop?,;. Sti'abon. Gcog. lib. xvii. j). 1 1 46. Ed. Oxon. 
