i PYRAMIDS OF MERGE laid in rows to await transport to the railway, we struck our camp and went to Khartum to find a cart or waggon. We arrived unfortunately just at the beginning of the celebration of the festival of Bairam, during the early days of which all work is suspended, and the people devote themselves assiduously to feasting and the cult of pleasure. The Inspector worked very hard to find a cart, or carts, to take back with us to Kabushia, and for the first day or two his efforts were ably seconded by those of our overseer of works. On the morning of the third day, however, this worthy appeared to receive instructions as usual, but he was in a bemused condition, and he had been evidently keeping the feact. After the Inspector had been talking for a few minutes, he said, " O Pasha, I ask your Excellency to excuse my not understanding you to-day, for I have been keeping the feast and am drunk, but I will come to-morrow, and then I shall understand you ! " We could therefore do no work that day, but the man's honesty delighted us. On the following day arrangements for a supply of carts were made, and we left Khartum for Kabushia with the understanding that they were to follow by the first goods train. When the train did arrive there were no carts in it, for the railway official, who was probably under the influence of the delights of the Bairam festival, had refused to send them. Final careful instructions having been given to the overseer as to the removal of the stones from the Pyramids, the Inspector returned to his duties in Khartum, and I proceeded north to Haifa on the way to England. I learned subsequently that the carts arrived in the course of time, and that the overseer brought the stones safely from the Pyramids to the nearest point on the railway line, where he laid out the stones of each wall by themselves.

Railway trucks were then sent on to the spot, and under the personal direction of the Inspector the stones for Khartum were loaded into one of them, and those for London into another, and in due course each set was sent on to its destination. At Haifa Major Midwinter, R.E., most kindly arranged to have Sir Reginald Wingate's gift to the British Museum packed in stout boxes, and this work was carried out by Mr. C. G. Hodgson, Locomotive Superintendent, assisted by Mr. C. C. F. Mackenzie. The stones 503