The Arabs were not bound by the same superstitious fears as the Egyptians; Sheik Abu Some and his following were willing to take a part in the explorations.
"When I returned to the valley with these Bedouins, I made effort to climb the face of the rock, but failed, it being of one impenetrable smoothness.

The stone, generally flat and smooth by nature, had been chiselled to completeness.

That there had been projecting steps was manifest, for there remained, untouched by the wondrous climate of that strange land, the marks of saw and chisel and mallet where the steps had been cut or broken away.
"Being thus baffled of winning the tomb from below, and being unprovided with ladders to scale, I found a way by much circuitous journeying to the top of the cliff.

Thence I caused myself to be lowered by ropes, till I had investigated that portion of the rock face wherein I expected to find the opening.

I found that there was an entrance, closed however by a great stone slab.