there, in short, is the whole account; for that region to which this divinity (the sun) is nearest, must naturally be most scant of water, and the river sources of that country must be dried up.'

"But the lively and garrulous Ionian immediately relaxes from this apparent reserve. To explain the matter more at length,' he proceeds, it is thus: The sun, when he traverses the upper parts of Libya, does what he commonly does in summer; he draws the water to him, and having thus drawn it, he pushes it to the upper regions, (of the air probably,) and then the winds take it and disperse it till they melt in moisture. And thus the winds which blow from those countries, Libs and Notus, are the most moist of all winds. Now when the winter relaxes and the sun returns to the north, he still draws water from all the rivers, but they are increased by showers and rain torrents, so that they are in flood till the summer comes; and then, the rain failing and the sun still drawing them, they become small. But the Nile, not being fed by rains, but being drawn by the sun, is, alone of all rivers much more scanty in the winter than in the summer. For in summer it is drawn like all other rivers, but in winter it alone has its supplies shut up. And in this way, I have been led to think the sun is the cause of the occurrence in question."

The overland route to India has made most of our readers familiar with the general opinion of the learned regarding the builders and antiquity of the Pyramids, and the purpose for which they were built. We need not therefore enter into these questions, but shall content ourselves with just touching on one or two points which serve to illustrate the patience, the acuteness, and the trustworthiness of our traveller. The most northerly of those situated on the elevated plateau of Memphis is attributed to Cheops by Herodotus, and modern research has endorsed his statement. The second and third are also declared by Lepsius to have been correctly assigned by the historian to Chephren and Mycerinus respectively. But it is still more to the credit of Herodotus' research to observe that his account of the manner in which the pyramids were constructed is entirely verified by later discoveries. He tells us that the pyramid was first built in the shape of a small pile of steps. This pile formed the kernel of the huge structure with which it was afterwards clothed. Machines for raising the blocks of stone which were intended to form the shell of this kernel, were then planted one on each step, and the blocks were raised by each successive machine to the step immediately above, and so on till the highest parts of the pyramid were completed. The edges of the stones were then cut away, and the whole was made to assume the form of a perfect solid triangle. Till within the last few years this account of the historian's was only partially understood; but in 1843, Dr. Lepsius, the leader of the Prussian Scientific Expedition, was fortunate enough to solve

the question of pyramidal construction by his observation of a pyramid at Meidun. This is his account :

"It (the pyramid) lies almost in the valley of the plain, close by the Bahr Jussuf, and is only just removed from the level of inundation, but it towers so loftily and grandly from the low neighbourhood that it attracts attention from a great distance. From a casing of rubbish that surrounds almost the half of it, to the height of 120 feet, a square, sharp-edged centre rises after the manner of a tower, which lessens but little at the top, i. e. in an angle of 74°. At the elevation of another 100 feet there is a platform on which, in the same angle, stands a slenderer tower of moderate height which again supports the remains of a third elevation in the middle of its flat upper side. The walls of the principal tower are mostly polished, flat, but are interrupted by rough bands, the reason of which seems hardly comprehensible. On a closer examination, however, I found also within the half ruined building round the foot, smoothened walls rising at the same angle as the tower, before which there lay other walls, following each other like shells. At last I discovered that the whole structure had proceeded from a little pyramid, which had been built in steps to about the height of 40 feet, and had then been enlarged and raised in all directions by a stone casing of 15 to 20 feet in breadth, till at last the great steps were filled out to a surface, and the whole received the usual pyramidal form. This gradual accumulation explains the monstrous size of a single pyramid among so many smaller ones. Each king commenced the construction of his pyramid at his accession; he made it but small at first, in order to secure himself a perfect grave even if his reign should be but short. With the passing years of his government, however, he enlarged it by adding outer casings, until he thought himself near the end of his days. If he died during the erection of it, the outermost casing only was finished, and thus the size of the pyramid stood ever in proportion to the length of the king's reign. Had the other determinative relations remained the same in the lapse of ages, one might have told off the number of years of each monarch's reign by the casing of the pyramids, like the annual rings of trees."

This is not the only instance, as we shall see below, in which the learned and genial doctor has had the satisfaction of vindicating the truth of Herodotus' statements.

Our historian resisted the temptation (if it ever assailed him) of theorising as to the purpose for which these enormous structures were erected. He simply records what was told him, that they were the burial places of ancient Egyptian kings. Modern writers have not been so self-denying. "It would be in vain," says Mr. Gliddon,* "to detail all the nonsense, that, from time

This gentleman is very unfair to Herodotus. He says the historian's work was like Hodge's razors, only made to sell, and that it was only intended to read at the Olympic games to a Grecian audience, more ignorant in those days, etc. etc. The story of the recitation of this great work at the Olympic games rests on the unsupported testimony of Lucian, who lived nearly six centuries after the histo

immemorial, has been written on the pyramids of Memphis, which, by some, have been considered antediluvian; although two of the most ancient being built of sun-burnt brick, could not have endured the waves of the deluge for a single month. Others have ascribed their erection to giants or genii; they were said to inclose the impenetrable secrets of mystic demonomania, or to have been built for the mysteries of initiation. Again, they were supposed to have been erected for astronomical purposes. Then, it has been mathematically demonstrated, that they were built to square the circle:" they are said to have stood over reservoirs to purify the muddy waters of the inundation; to have served as the sepulchres of entire royal families, or for masses of population. In short, each speculation has exceeded its predecessor in absurdity, excepting when confined to the objects of astronomy and sepulture." To this catalogue we may add that they are supposed by some to have been erected for the purpose of conveying to remote posterity, by means of hieroglyphics inscribed on their surface, a knowledge of the national history; by others, to serve as observatories; by others, as repositories for grain, probably during the years of scarcity in Joseph's time; while others again believe them to have been the grievous tasks performed by the oppressed children of Israel previous to the exodus. It is now almost universally agreed that Herodotus is right, and that the pyramids are tombs and nothing else. It is asserted, indeed, that an astronomical reference is plainly discernible in their construction.

rian's death! We have another quarrel with Mr. Gliddon. He says of our traveller, "for his own sake, we must hope he did not (although he says he did, as far as the first cataract) visit Upper Egypt, else he would not have left Thebes undescribed; or have listened to the idle tale that the sources of the Nile were at Elephantine!" This is Herodotus' account :

:

"With respect to the sources of the Nile, no man of all the Egyptians, Libyans or Grecians with whom I have conversed, ever pretended to know anything; except the registrar of Minerva's treasury at Sais in Egypt. He indeed seemed to be trifling with me, when he said he knew perfectly well; yet his account was as follows "That there are two mountains rising into a sharp peak, situated between the city of Syhu in Thebias and Elephantine; the names of these mountains are, the one Crophi, the other Mophi; that the sources of the Nile which are bottomless, flow from between these mountains; and that half of the water flows over Egypt; and to the north, the other half over Ethiopia and the south. That the fountains of the Nile are bottomless, he said, Psammitichus king of Egypt proved by experiment; for having caused a line to be twisted many thousand fathoms in length he let it down but could not find a bottom. Such then was the opinion the registrar gave, if indeed he spoke the real truth; proving, in my opinion, that there are strong whirlpools and an eddy here; so that the water beating against the rocks, a sounding line, when let down, cannot reach the bottom. I was unable to learn anything more from any one else."

In another place Mr. Gliddon undertakes to shew that it was impossible for Herodotus, in his circumstances to have obtained correct information. We shall not dispute the point with him. If we can only shew that Herodotus is accurate, Mr. Gliddon may prove, to his heart's content if he pleases, that he could not have been.

Sir John Herschel remarks that "at the date of the erection of the great pyramid of Gizeh; which precedes by 3970 years (say 4000) the present epoch, the longitude of all the stars was less by 55° 45' than at present. Calculating from this datum the place of the pole of the heavens among the stars, it will be found to fall near A. Draconis: its distance from that star being 3° 44′ 25." This being the most conspicuous star in the immediate neighbourhood, was therefore the pole star of that epoch. And the latitude of Gizeh being just 30° north, and consequently the altitude of the north pole there also 30°, it follows that the star in question must have had, at its lower culmination at Gizeh; an altitude of 26° 15′ 35′′. Now, it is a remarkable fact, ascertained by the last researches of Colonel Vyse, that of the nine pyramids still existing at Gizeh, six (including all the largest) have the narrow passages by which alone they can be entered, (all which open out on the northern faces of their respective pyramids,) inclined to the horizon downwards at angles varying from 26° to 28°. At the bottom of every one of these passages, therefore, the then pole star must have been visible at its lower culmination-a circumstance which can hardly have been unintentional, and was doubtless connected (perhaps superstitiously) with the astronomical observation of that star, of whose proximity to the pole at the epoch of the erection of these wonderful structures, we are thus furnished with a monumental record of the most imperishable nature."

This astronomical intention, however, is to be understood as being entirely subordinate to the purpose of sepulture for which the pyramids were erected, and probably, as Sir John Herschel hints, their northerly aspect was superstitiously connected with this. It does not appear that they were of any utility in the advancement of astronomical science. "No other astronomical relation," says Sir John in another place, " can be drawn from the tables containing the angles and dimensions of the passages; for although they all point within five degrees of the pole of the heavens, they differ too much and too irregularly to admit of any conclusions. The exterior angles of the buildings are remarkably uniform; but the angle 52 is not connected with any astronomical fact, and was probably adopted for architectural reasons." We have been particular in quoting this opinion and the high authority on which it rests, for Herodotus' silence regarding any astronomical purpose in the construction of the pyramids would have betrayed, had any such purpose existed, either carelessness for allowing so important a fact to escape him, or an inadequate perception of its historic value.

The next monument possessing archæological interest is the immense lake to the south of Memphis, partly excavated and partly natural, called lake Mæris. It was about seventy-five leagues in circumference, according to Herodotus' account.

the canal connecting it with the river could be opened or shut at

pleasure, the lake formed a species of reservoir for the reception of any superfluity of water in case the Nile rose above its usual limit. This water could afterwards be distributed over a space of 370,000 acres of land when there was a deficiency in the ordinary rise of water over the country. Its fisheries were very extensive and a source of considerable revenue; according to our historian the daily sum received when the flood was retiring was nearly £200, and when the reservoir was filled upwards of £60. The position of this lake has long baffled the researches of travellers; but it is now said to have been ascertained by M. Linant de Bellefouds, who believes that he has traced for many miles the ruins of the masonry by which it was surrounded. Lepsius coincides with M. Linant's opinion.

Up to this time,' he says, it was only agreed that the lake lay some where in the Faiûm. As there is at the present time in this remarkable half-oasis only a single lake, the Birget el Qorn, lying in its most distant part, this was of course taken to be Lake Mæris: there appeared to be no other solution to the question. Now its great fame was expressly founded upon the fact that it was artificial (Herodotus says that was excavated) and of immense utility, filled at the time of the overflow of the Nile, and at low water running off again by the canal, on one side towards the lands of the Faiûm, and on the other, in its backward course, it waters the region of Memphis, and yielding a most lucrative fishery at the double sluices near the end of the Faiûm. Of all these qualities, however to the annoyance of antiquarians and philologers, the Birget el Qorn did not possess a single one. It is not artificial, but a natural lake, that is partly fed by the water of the Jassuf canal; its utility is as good as now existent; no fishing boat enlivens the hard and desert-circled water mirror, as the brackish water contains scarcely any fish, and is not even favourable to the vegetation at the shores; when the Nile is high and there is plenty of water flowing in, it does swell, but it is by far too deep to allow a drop of the water that flows into it to flow out again; the whole province must be buried beneath the floods, ere they could find a passage back again to the valley, as the artificially-deepend rock gorge by the Bahr Jassuf, branching from the Nile at a distance of forty miles to the south, lies higher than the whole oase. The Nivean of the Berget el Qorn now lies seventy feet below the point at which the canal flows in, and can never have risen much higher. This is proved by the ruins of ancient temples lying upon its shores. Just as little do the statements tally that inform us that on its shores were situated the Labyrinth and the metropolis Arsinoë, now Medinet el Faiûm. Linant has discovered mighty mile-long dams, of ancient solid construction, which form the boundary between the upper part of the shell-formed convex basin of the Faiûm and the more remote and less elevated portion. According to him these only could be intended to restrain an artificially-constructed lake, which, however, since the dams have long