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[Page 340]

the incidence of the fighting on our men. It is said that hundreds have been killed & large numbers wounded. Sad if true. As there be two days before Saturday morning, I maybe in a position to write more about them tomorrow. If they made as good a fight, as it is said the Canadians did in the North of France, then we shall be proud of them, and they will have shown the mettle of their breeding.

Yesterday afternoon about 5 O'Clock I essayed to climb the second pyramid. All sorts of ledgends are spread abroad in regard to the feat. One was in January last, that no white man but a New Zealander had reached the apex. Another that the white flag floating from a pole on the Summit was, an Australian emblem and that it had been placed there by a soldier. The myth as to its being anything but a piece of white clothing, I dissipated by using my glasses from the top of Cheops. When standing on this 481 feet elevation, and seeing an Egyptian run from one apex to the other in ten minutes, I made a mental vow:– I shall be at the highest spot on Chephren before I leave Mena.

At 5-10 p.m. my coat was taken off, a lad held my horse, shoes were placed where my boots had been. One guide went on in front, I was next, & two followed. By gigantic steps of stairs we mounted higher and higher, with naught but the ordinary difficulties of ascent. At the level where the casing begins, you can see the line by looking at any picture of the structures, it is irregular and runs across each face from angle to angle. My shoes were left, the guides removed their over clothes. In the same order we clambered over the projecting stones. Foot after foot was carefully placed in the recesses between the stones, each step being onward

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