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which are strewn about become so hot that one can scarcely bear to
touch them； and the sand scorches the feet。 It was already too hot to
walk； so we rode on donkeys； some way up the valleywhere a vulture
floating far in the blue overhead was the only other visitortill we
came to an enormous boulder polished by centuries of action of sun and
sand。 Here Ali halted； saying that the tomb was under the stone。
Accordingly； we dismounted； and； leaving the donkeys in charge of a
fellah boy； went up to the rock。 Beneath it was a small hole； barely
large enough for a man to creep through。 Indeed it had been dug by
jackals； for the doorway and some part of the cave were entirely
silted up； and it was by means of this jackal hole that the tomb had
been discovered。 Ali crept in on his hands and knees； and I followed；
to find myself in a place cold after the hot outside air； and； in
contrast with the light； filled with a dazzling darkness。 We lit our
candles； and； the select body of thieves having arrived； I made an
examination。 We were in a cave the size of a large room； and hollowed
by hand； the further part of the cave being almost free from drift…
dust。 On the walls are religious paintings of the usual Ptolemaic
character； and among them one of a majestic old man with a long white
beard； who is seated in a carved chair holding a wand in his hand。＇*＇
Before him passes a procession of priests bearing sacred images。 In
the right hand corner of the tomb is the shaft of the mummy…pit； a
square…mouthed well cut in the black rock。 We had brought a beam of
thorn…wood； and this was now laid across the pit and a rope made fast
to it。 Then Aliwho； to do him justice； is a courageous thieftook
hold of the rope； and； putting some candles into the breast of his
robe； placed his bare feet against the smooth sides of the well and
began to descent with great rapidity。 Very soon he had vanished into
blackness； and the agitation of the cord alone told us that anything
was going on below。 At last the rope ceased shaking and a faint shout
came rumbling up the well； announcing Ali's safe arrival。 Then； far
below； a tiny star of light appeared。 He had lit the candle； thereby
disturbing hundreds of bats that flitted up in an endless stream and
as silently as spirits。 The rope was hauled up again； and now it was
my turn； but； as I declined to trust my neck to the hand…over…hand
method of descent； the end of the cord was made fast round my middle
and I was lowered bodily into those sacred depths。 Nor was it a
pleasant journey； for； if the masters of the situation above had made
any mistake； I should have been dashed to pieces。 Also； the bats
continually flew into my face and clung to my hair； and I have a great
dislike of bats。 At last； after some minutes of jerking and dangling；
I found myself standing in a narrow passage by the side of the worthy
Ali； covered with bats and perspiration； and with the skin rubbed off
my knees and knuckles。 Then another man came down； hand over hand like
a sailor； and as the rest were told to stop above we were ready to go
on。 Ali went first with his candleof course we each had a candle
leading the way down a long passage about five feet high。 At length
the passage widened out； and we were in the tomb…chamber： I think the
hottest and most silent place that I ever entered。 It was simply
stifling。 This chamber is a square room cut in the rock and totally
devoid of paintings or sculpture。 I held up the candles and looked
round。 About the place were strewn the coffin lids and the mummied
remains of the two bodies that the Arabs had previously violated。 The
paintings on the former were； I noticed； of great beauty； though；
having no knowledge of hieroglyphics； I could not decipher them。 Beads
and spicy wrappings lay around the remains； which； I saw； were those
of a man and a woman。＇＋＇ The head had been broken off the body of the
man。 I took it up and looked at it。 It had been closely shavedafter
death； I should say； from the general indicationsand the features
were disfigured with gold leaf。 But notwithstanding this； and the
shrinkage of the flesh； I think the face was one of the most imposing
and beautiful that I ever saw。 It was that of a very old man； and his
dead countenance still wore so calm and solemn； indeed； so awful a
look； that I grew quite superstitious （though as you know； I am pretty
well accustomed to dead people）； and put the head down in a hurry。
There were still some wrappings left upon the face of the second body；
and I did not remove them； but she must have been a fine large woman
in her day。
＇*＇ This； I take it； is a portrait of Amenemhat himself。Editor。
＇＋＇ Doubtless Amenemhat and his wife。Editor。
〃'There the other mummy；' said Ali； pointing to a large and solid case
that seemed to have been carelessly thrown down in a corner； for it
was lying on its side。
〃I went up to it and carefully examined it。 It was well made； but of
perfectly plain cedar…woodnot an inscription； not a solitary God on
it。
〃'Never see one like him before；' said Ali。 'Bury great hurry； he no
〃mafish；〃 no 〃fineesh。〃 Throw him down here on side。'
〃I looked at the plain case till at last my interest was thoroughly
aroused。 I was so shocked by the sight of the scattered dust of the
departed that I had made up my mind not to touch the remaining coffin
but now my curiosity overcame me； and we set to work。
〃Ali had brought a mallet and a cold chisel with him； and； having set
the coffin straight； he began upon it with all the zeal of an
experienced tomb…breaker。 And then he pointed out another thing。 Most
mummy…cases are fastened by four little tongues of wood； two on either
side； which are fixed in the upper half； and； passing into mortices
cut to receive them in the thickness of the lower half； are there held
fast by pegs of hard wood。 But this mummy case had eight such tongues。
Evidently it had been thought well to secure it firmly。 At last； with
great difficulty； we raised the massive lid； which was nearly three
inches thick； and there； covered over with a deep layer of loose
spices （a very unusual thing）； was the body。
〃Ali looked at it with open eyesand no wonder。 For this mummy was
not as other mummies are。 Mummies in general lie upon their backs； as
stiff and calm as though they were cut from wood； but this mummy lay
upon its side； and； the wrappings notwithstanding； its knees were
slightly bent。 More than that； indeed； the gold mask； which； after the
fashion of the Ptolemaic period； had been set upon the face； had
worked down； and was literally pounded up beneath the hooded head。
〃It was impossible； seeing these things； to avoid the conclusion that
the mummy before us had moved with violence /since it was put in the
coffin/。
〃'Him very funny mummy。 Him not 〃mafish〃 when him go in there；' said
Ali。
〃'Nonsense！' I said。 'Who ever heard of a live mummy？'
〃We lifted the body out of the coff