202 PYRAMIDS OF DJIZA. 
CHAP, was also an Inscription; but so concealed, by its 
L ■/- ' situation beneath the enormous ear of the Sphinx, 
STnTn-^ and so out of the reach of observers viewing 
tient/«. ^jjg statue from below, that no notice has yet 
scriptton. •' 
been taken of it by any preceding traveller. As 
to the age of this inscription, the reader must 
determine for himself. At the same time, it may 
be proper to add, that it bears the characteristic 
of a high antiquity in the manner of applying the 
writing. There is a passage in the Book of 
Deuteronomy which proves that the custom of 
writing upon plaister existed in the fifteenth 
century before the Christian sera. The Israelites 
are thus instructed to write the Law ; and it is 
very probable that Moses had learned the art 
from the Egyptians. "Thou shalt set thee 
UP GREAT STONES, AXD PLAISTER THEM WITH 
PLAISTER : And thou shalt write upon 
THEM all the WORDS OF THE LAW'." The 
two first lines are Coptic; the rest is Arabic. 
The characters were of considerable size, and 
Toward the end of this work, 1 shall make my readers acquainted 
with such a kind of cement-earth, and describe \*s whole composition, 
which, in hardness, is not inferior to any sandstone, emits sparks 
when struck, and to which, with soft and plastic treatment, one may 
give not only the complete appearance of a work composed of raw 
sandstone, but also all the colours, and all the firmness, hardness, 
and durability of stone." 
(1) Deut. xxvii, 2, 3. 
