394 CATACOMBS OF NECROPOLIS. 
CHAP, the dead ; or the chambers belonging to the 
VII. . . 
■ ^- ' priests, who constantly officiated in the Sera- 
peum. In the front is a kind of vestihulum, or 
porch ; but it is exceedingly difficult to ascer- 
tain precisely the nature of the excavation 
towards the main entrance, from the manner in 
which it is now choked with earth and rubbish. 
If this part were laid open, it is possible that 
something further would be known as to the 
design of the undertaking ; and, at all events, 
one of the most curious of the antiquities of 
Egypt would then be exposed to the investiga- 
tion it merits. Having passed about six hours 
in exploring, to the best of our ability, these 
gloomy mansions, we regained, by means of 
our clue, the aperture by which we had entered, 
and quitted them for ever. 
We have now concluded almost all that re- 
lates to our residence in Alexandria, and to our 
observations in Egypt. A journey to the Oasis 
would have been a desirable completion of the 
African part of our travels ; but our friend Mr. 
Hammer, in whose company we hoped to have 
made it, had left the country ; and neither our 
health nor the disposition of the Arabs were 
favourable to the undertaking. We forbear 
noticing many interesting objects of curiosity in 
