EXCAVATIONS AT MERGE next made from the road in front of the chapels down to the pyramids at the foot. of the hill, and in the course of this work we found portions of the pillars which had stood in the fore-court of the chapel of the largest of the pyramids on the hill. It was hopeless to attempt to replace them, and they were therefore hauled out from the stones and sand under which they had lain AN EGYPTIAN OFFICER WHO ACTED AS OVERSEER OF WORKS.

buried for many years, and rolled to the sides of the paths, along with other inscribed blocks, where they could, at least, be easily seen. In the course of the road-making many scores of tons of stone-blocks were " shifted," but the work took a very few days to accomplish, for the Egyptian artillerymen worked with a will, and Captain Lewin's excellent arrangements prevented loss of time.

So soon as the roads and paths were made a large number of soldiers were turned on to clear out the chapels, and to remove 341