224 PYRAMIDS OF SACCARA. 
chopped straw : they are of the same nature as 
the unburned bricks in modern use in Egypt. 
Pococke concluded, from its present appearance, 
that this pyramid was built with five gradations 
only ^ : it is of the same height as the other gra- 
duated Pyramid of six degrees. 
Descent Our ropc-laddcr was not more than fifteen 
'cJtacombt. fset in length, and yet, when placed in the 
mouth of a catacomb near the graduated //z/ramzWj 
we found it reach low enough to enable us to 
descend into the first row of chambers. We 
entered a room containing scattered bones, and 
fragments of broken mummies: these, wh^n 
entire, had evidently been placed horizontally, 
upon a sort of shelf or tier of stone, about 
breast high, formed in the natural rock, and 
extended the whole length of this subterraneous 
apartment. Beyond the first chamber were 
others on the same level, exhibiting similar 
remams ; and below these was a series, extend- 
ing, in like manner, beneath the upper range. 
The smell in these catacombs was so exceedingly 
offensive, that it speedily drove us up again; 
although we could not explain the cause, for it 
seemed very improbable that it could originate 
(1) Descr. of the East, Vol. I. p. 53. 
