course consisted of nine stones when he saw it, and that two more
were wanting, to complete the course. Mr. Mayer found only
seven; so that two had been thrown down since Dr. Pococke’s
time. For a view of the top, as it appeared when Mr. M ayer was
there, see the plate, in which every stone is faithfully represented.
By whom, or at what period, this pyramid was opened, is not
certainly known. An arabian author, Ibn Abd Alhokm, discoursing
of the wonders of Egypt, relates, that A1 Mamoun, the khalif
of Bagdad, caused it to be opened about ten centuries ago: and
that there was found in it, toward the top, a chamber, with a hollow
stone, in which was a statue like a man, and within it a man,
upon whom was a breastplate of gold, set with jewels; on his
breastplate lay a sword of inestimable price, at his head was a
carbuncle of the bigness of an egg, shining like the light of the
day, and upon him were characters written with a pen, which no
man understood. But by whomever it was opened, or whatever
was then found in it, nothing now remains, except an empty sepulchre.
To arrive at this you first descend a sloping passage, or
gallery, seventy-nine feet long, four feet high, and three feet four
inches and a half wide. At the end of this is an irregular space,
eight feet and a half wide, and about ten feet and a half hiaOr h“
formed by breaking a way through to the second passage, which
runs sloping upward a hundred and two feet. This is three feet
two inches wide, and four feet three inches high. From it is an
opening to a well, fifteen inches wide, and three feet four inches
in height. The third or great gallery, which terminates in a kind of
very sharp arch, formed by each course of stone projecting a little