Chap. 11.

EGYPTIAN.

21

Herodotus describes hundreds of thousands of persons as employed for their construction,who were changed every three months; years were consumed in the preparation of thematerial; millions sterling were expended in the purchase of food whilst they werein progress; and, according to some inscriptions remaining, this food consisted of leeks,garlic, onions, and other vegetable diet. In the early ages of the world, a rapidly increasingpopulation required support before means could be found to employ it beneficially, and thesovereigns of Egypt might have been induced to construct these splendid tombs, to affordoccupation to their subjects.

Fig. 27.

Campbell's Tomb , as it is now called, is here given on account of the arch which itcontains, and which, it is asserted, was known at the time of the first Osirtasen, whoreigned when Joseph was in Egypt .

Fig. 29.

In the ground plan the chamber A A is 50 feet 6 inches from east to west, and 26 feet3 inches in the other direction : the depth of this excavation is 53 feet 6 inches.

The part lettered B is the arched tomb, and C is a trench cut all round, 5 feet 4Inches in width ; but it is not at an equal distance from the centre excavation on allsides. It forms a square, measuring on the inside about 57 feet 3 inches. This trench iscut to the depth of 73 feet, which is a little more than 15 feet 6 inches below the surfaceof the inundation in 1838»

c 5