at length reached the Pyramids, which were founded by Cheops, Cephrenes, and Mycerinus, between 815 and 1032 years before Christ, and which stand in the Desert, as if intended for the time pieces of creation, by which the flight of centuries may be counted, as by the gnomons of our dial we reckon that of hours. There is nothing in their immediate vicinity with which to compare them, and their very immensity deceives the spectator. They rather look like excavated mountains than edifices reared by man, and it is only by our own insignificance that we can comprehend their enormous magnitude. We all immediately commenced the labour of ascending. * * * My heavy cloth habit was but too ill-suited for the attempt, and I soon found neither my courage nor my strength were adequate to the undertaking.—I, however, did not relinquish it till I had been repeatedly entreated to desist, and I was at length glad to veil my cowardice under the pretence of conjugal obedience, as C—— was really seriously alarmed for my safety. I therefore accepted Osman’s proffered services, and remained with him, tete-a-tete, for about half an hour, suspended, like Mahomet’s coffin, between heaven and earth, upon the north-east angle of the Pyramid of Cheops. It was a curious situation, looking over the valley of the Nile on the one side, and the immense deserts of Africa on the other, surrounded by pyramids and tombs, in company with a Scotch Turk! * * * * Shortly afterwards, down came Sheif Chaund, supported by two Arabs, saying “his head turned round before he could reach the top:” and I then congratulated myself on my prudence in not having attempted to proceed farther, the more so, as the gentlemen, on their return, all told me I had lost nothing but the honour of carving my initials on the top myself, which, however, was done for me by deputy. The descent was truly frightful: I was compelled to jump from stone to stone, and one false step would have precipitated me to the bottom, and dashed me to pieces; but, however, after all our exertions, perils and dangers were over, I do not think we ever had a more amusing repast, than that we partook of, spread on the ground, something in the Arab style, in a sort of recess, over the door of the great Pyramid of Cheops, and under the shelter of some huge projecting stones. At its conclusion, a saddle being brought for my pillow, I partook of the general siesta, sleeping undisturbed by the ghost of Cheops, till it was time to visit the interior of the Pyramid; and this, having the fair Peknah’s fate fresh in my mind, I was determined nothing should prevent my exploring. Osman pioneered, holding my hand, and conducting me up and down, through passages, dark, steep, narrow, and more gloomy than imagination can fancy, till we reached the King’s chamber, a large and lofty room, with a flat roof, formed of immense blocks of granite, and with a sarcophagus hewn out of one tremendous piece, placed considerably out of the centre, which resisted our every endeavour to break off a piece by way of trophy. The flickering light of the flambeaux glared strangely and terribly upon the dark walls, throwing each individual into bold relief; and, as our voices resounded in the sepulchral chamber, methought they had a hollow and an unearthly sound. The approach to this room was very unpleasant; the gentlemen strode from side to side over a dark abyss, small holes being cut for their feet; but I ascended by a steep, very narrow, slippery, and highly-polished ledge, or abutment of granite. The return was even worse than descending the Pyramid, and I could but think of the terrific bridge of a hair’s breadth, over which faithful Mussulmen pass to Paradise. I once nearly lost my footing, when I was fortunately caught by the nervous grasp of one of the Arab attendants; but my sensations were more dreadful at the instant than I can describe, and on emerging from the dark passages, after visiting the Queen’s chamber, which is smaller than the King’s, and has a vaulted roof and a recess, glad indeed was I again to meet the cheerful light of day, and to breathe once more a purer atmosphere. Some of the party descended into the well, and found dust and dirt, bats and darkness for their trouble; and they also paid a visit to the pyramid of Cepranes.
THE HUMAN STRUCTURE.
“I am fearfully and wonderfully made, O Lord,” exclaimed David on surveying the admirable mechanism of his own frame. Indeed
so complicated and curious is the structure of
this fabric, which has justly been termed the
“master piece of God’s works,” that no person
who contemplates it, can possibly avoid joining
with the pious Psalmist.
That illustrious physician of antiquity, Galen, is reported in his youth to have been a Sceptic, but on witnessing a dissection, and examining the mechanism of the human body, the divine wisdom and design running through all its parts, he was struck with such a sense of the great Architect, that he immediately became a convert, and during his life devoted himself to the worship of the Deity with all the fervour becoming an enlightened and grateful mind. Having himself, happily caught the first spark of Divine light from a survey of this wonderful machine, he earnestly recommends to others the study of it as the noblest employment of the faculties, and one of the surest guides to rational devotion. His thoughts on this subject, though emanating from a heathen, are well worth the attention of all Christians. “Those treatise,” said he, “which display the excellencies of the great Creator, compose one of the noblest and most acceptable hymns. To acquaint ourselves with his sublime perfections, and point out to others his infinite power, his unerring wisdom, and his boundless Benignity—this is a more substantial act of devotion, than to slay hecatombs of victims at his altar, or kindle mountains of spices into incense.”
