The American Museum's 1907 Faiyum expedition party boarded the S.S. Cedric in the New York City harbor on January 5th, 1907. According to Granger's hometown newspaper, the Rutland Herald, the Cedric was a White Star Line steamship recently transferred from Liverpool to accommodate an unprecedented surge of American tourists travelling to various Mediterranean ports. The Cedric was equipped with a wireless telegraph, a gymnasium, an elevator, a library, and Turkish and electric baths. The ship was 215 meters long and 23 meters wide at the beam. It weighed 21,035 tons and reportedly was the largest ship to have entered the Mediterranean Sea. Staterooms were sold out for this crossing -- 400 aspirants were turned away. The Cedric's cross-Atlantic voyage took 18 days and was uneventful. Granger's narrative begins on approach:

Street scene at Shepheard's Hotel.

Strolled about streets in evening. Night quite cool and overcoat very comfortable. Have just had a particularly cold spell so they tell us.

Prof. O. is negotiating with Cook's for an outfit. Capt. Lyons has sent up to Helouan for one Daoud Mohammed, [H.J.L.] Beadnell's Chief native assistant. He is to report at the Museum and be placed at our disposal for the Fayum trip.

[George] Olsen and I spent most of day in sightseeing. Principal visit to the Zoological Gardens at Giza.-- beautiful grounds with abundance of semi-tropical vegetation -- well laid out and with splendid collection of animals and birds, principally African. 6 Soudan Elephants (young), fine lot of antelopes, primates and cats -- mostly out-door cages. Admission to garden is 1/2 piaster and it is much frequented by natives who appear to constitute four fifths of the attendance. A rather unique feature of the garden is the walks which are made of small smooth desert pebbles -- black and white, set in attractive patterns.

In afternoon Olsen and I take in town.

Night still cool, with temperature at 6 A.M. of about 40š. This week is the "Feast of Ramadan" (Mohammedan Christmas) and many public places, under Govt. control, such as the [Survey Department's] Museum, are closed to the public.

Olsen, Ferrar and I work on list of provisions and outfit needed for the working party. Ordered these supplies from Fiburent Fils & Co. -- to be shipped to Tamia, Fayum, the nearest R[ailway] point to the bone beds. Plan is to hire camels here and send them on to Tamia. Prof. O.'s party is to start from Mena House and go up along Pyramid Field. Olsen and I are invited to join the party. Prof. O. has failed to make arrangements with Cook's for his personal outfit, is now dealing with one Mickawi Ali, a dragoman with a pocketfull of letters of recommendation and a cunning look in his eye.

Took tea with Mr. [Alfred] Lucas, Chief Chemist of the S.D. -- fine fellow.

The Survey people are most generous and offer tents, water tanks, tools, etc. Also a cooking outfit left in the Museum by Dr. [Charles W.] Andrews [of the British Museum]. This is most convenient for us. They also offer to make our [fossils] packing cases and ship out to us as we order them. Daoud will take three or four other men out with him as laborers. Forwarded £10 to Talba and £5 to Daoud. This advancing of money is necessary in hiring these people, it seems.

Came out here to the Mena House this afternoon late. We find this hotel in some ways more attractive than Shepheard's and more reasonable in rates. Olsen and I spent the moonlight evening about the pyramids and Sphynx. Full enjoyment of this though is prevented by persistent natives who try to force donkeys and camels on us, and discourse upon the marvels of the monuments. Our window overlooks the Nile valley with Cairo on the opposite side -- a really wonderfull view.

Have had a most interesting day. Spent part of the morning under the lee of Cheops talking to the natives who had plenty of leisure today because the storm kept the tourists away.

After lunch Dr. [Grafton] Elliot Smith came out from town and conducted Prof. O's party to Dr. [George Andrew] Reisner's house near the 3rd Pyramid [Mycerinus]. I was invited along. Met Dr. Buckhart [Dr. Ludwig Borchardt] at Reisner's. Intensely interesting conversation on Egyptian Antiquities and the work being done. Tea and then Dr. R. showed us over his excavations at the eastern base of the 3rd Pyramid. Said that probably the stone for all three pyramids came from quarry close by. [Limestone and marble] sheathing for 1st & 2nd [pyramids came] from Mokkatam hills. Showed us the quarry, now most filled with sand. Is like a great inverted pyramid.

Rain ceased before daylight this morning. I was up early and climbed Cheops before breakfast, without assistance. One young Arab went part way up and a second one insisted on going all way up with me. Couldn't fight him off -- no baksheesh [tip], though.

Started from Mena House at 10 o'clock with caravan -- 13 camels and 5 donkeys. Very imposing! Photographed at the Sphynx by a professional from Cairo. Two other Caravans waiting to pose also -- quite the thing. Trail from the Sphynx leads along the edge of Nile valley to Abusîr Pyramids where we took luncheon. Met Herr [W.M.] Müller who is excavating at Abusîr under Dr. Buckhart's [Borchardt's] direction. Reached here at Sundown. Camp ready. Have 5 round sleeping tents, a large green mess tent, rugs on the floor and interior of the tent decorated with Koran verses in colored cloth. Regular course dinner, with two waiters. Ferrar has 8 camels and three tents.

Tomorrow we are to go over the Sakkara ruins with Mr. [Dr. James Edward] Quibell.

Lunch at Sakkara and a rapid ride on to camp, mostly along the Nile bottom.

Weird music by our camel men at Sakkara this morning.

Start early and reach Lisht Pyramids (Northern one) for lunch. Mr. [Dr. Albert Morton] Lythgoe of Metropolitan Museum [of Art, NYC] who is conducting explorations here joined us after lunch. Invited to his house and are shown over the Pyramid. Work just begun. Work done by French excavation previously careless & not very successful. Tomb chamber very low and filled with water. We camped near Lythgoe's house. He and his wife and two assists. invited to dinner.

Tomorrow we strike across the narrow strip of desert and enter the Fayum. Weather comfortable in daytime but too cool at night.

Camel carrying fantasses.

Campsite with fantass lying in foreground. Cook at work with Granger's tent surrounded by fossil boxes behind. To cook's left rear is a chunk of fossil tree.

Mon. Feb. 4: -- camp in the desert:
Late start from Tamia. Found that Daoud had left with Talba and camels for the desert on the 3rd. Met the [Railway] Station agent (Hanna Mikhail) and the mamour of the province who inquired after our wellfare.

Olsen and I left Mickawis' outfit today. Hired two donkeys from him and are to use Ferrar's outfit untill camp is reached.

Caravan left the cultivation near the eastern end of the Lake [Birket Qarun (saline)] and struck north across the desert. Ferrar's men neglected to get water at ditch and have been sent back tonight to fill the tanks. Ferrar has telegraphed for 8 more fanitas [fantasses, or water containers] from the S.D.

Took several 5 x 7 plates of Caravan. Met Daoud's camels between last night's camp and Qasr-el-Sagha -- returning to Tamia for water. Reached this camp about 5 P.M.[;] found tents up and men at work in one of the two quarries. Daoud has two old men from Tamia and three younger men from Helouan and Ali the Cook. We have three tents and good outfit.

Osborn's party is camped a short half mile up the wady [wadi, a usually dry ravine or watercourse] from us.

The men have already uncovered two or three fairly good specimens in the quarry. The Fayum cultivation is in sight So. of Camp, also the Lake [Birket Qarun].