ervations of the movements of
stars near the pole of the heavens, they would make an error of a
precisely opposite nature. For the higher the latitude the higher is the
pole of the heavens; and refraction, therefore, which apparently raises
the pole of the heavens, gives to a station the appearance of being in
a higher latitude than it really is, so that the observer would consider
he was in latitude 30 north when in reality somewhat south of that
latitude. We have only then to inquire whether the great pyramid was set
north or south of latitude 30 deg., to ascertain whether the pyramid
architects observed the noonday sun or circumpolar stars to determine
their latitude; always assuming (as we reasonably may) that those
architects did propose to set the pyramid in that particular latitude,
and that they were able to make very accurate observations of the apparent
positions of the celestial bodies, but that they were not acquainted
with the refractive effects of the atmosphere. The answer comes in no
doubtful terms. The centre of the great pyramid's base lies about one
mile and a third _south_ of the thirtieth parallel of latitude; and from
this position the pole of the heavens, as raised by refraction, would
appear to be very near indeed to the required position. In fact, if the
pyramid had been set about half a mile still farther south the pole
would have _seemed_ just right.

Of course, such an explanation as I have here suggested appears
altogether heretical to the pyramidalists. According to them the pyramid
architects knew perfectly well where the true thirtieth parallel lay,
and knew also all that modern science has discovered about refraction;
but set the pyramid south of the true parallel and north of the position
where refraction would just have made the apparent elevation of the pole
correct, simply in order that the pyramid might correspond as nearly as
possible to each of two conditions, whereof both could not be fulfilled
at once. The pyramid would indeed, they say, have been set even more
closely midway between the true and the apparent parallels of 30 deg.
north, but that the Jeezeh hill on which it is set does not afford a rock
foundation any farther north. 'So very close,' says Professor Smyth,
'was the great pyramid placed to the northern brink of its hill, that
the edges of the cliff might have broken off under the terrible
pressure had not the builders banked up there most firmly the immense
mounds o