The great pyramid passages and chambers

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PLATE CXXII. Chamber is three-quarters of an inch higher than that of the Ante-Chamber and the entrance passage.

493 In the King’s Chamber also, we have taken several photographs ; but it is so large, and the surrounding granite (for the chamber is entirely built of granite) is so

“ Afternoon tea” in the King’s Chamber; showing part of the dark granite walls of the chamber; also the Coffer.

dark, that we find it difficult to obtain a satisfactory general view of the whole chamber. We remember how Professor Smyth found photographing in this chamber so troublesome that he almost despaired of securing a record of any part of it. He made several attempts, burning large quantities of magnesium wire each time, but without success. Finally, he made a torch of 50 short lengths of magnesium wire bound loosely together, and by this managed to create a flash brilliant enough to enable him to secure a photograph of the Coffer.

494 We understand that a number of visitors to the Pyramid attempt unsuccessfully to take interior photographs by burning lengths of magnesium wire. The light produced by this wire, although very white, is not intense enough for photographic purposes ; and if large quantities of it are burned in order to get a longer exposure, the dense smoke generated soon obscures the object, because in these small passages and chambers the smoke has no chance to escape quickly.

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