The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-02-08
Another Egyptian Treasure,

Some twenty years ago Mr.. A. c.
Harris went with his daughter, Miss
Selma Harris, ON tour to Egypt He
found under the floor of an old tomb in
Thebcs large roll of papyrus covered
with inscriptions. 1t was one hundred
and thirty-nine feet by sixteen and hiatt
inches broad and looked something like
a stair carpet. Mr.. Harris bought it at
comparatively Y small price. Miss Selma
Harris felt convinced that it was treas
ure, and to make sure against accidents
she set herself to the immense work of
tracing sign and letter on it upon paper
of equal extent. She succeeded in max
ing Il fac SiDilc of it. Her father died and
the lady took house at Koumel Dyk,
Alexandria. A few years ago an expl0-
sion occurred in the house, which was re-
duced to fragments. OF its contents the
two chief treasures alone escaped un-
harmed, the papyrus and Miss Selma
herself. The great Egyptian archHoIo-
gist, NJ. Brugsch Bcv, examined the papy-
rus and told the khedive of its great
value, and the Egyptian government
offered the sum Of $4,000 for it. But
Miss Harris would not part with it. She
brought it to England, whan the British
museum purchased it for larger sum,
and from that time to this DR.. Birch and
his corps of Egyptologists have been de-
ciphering it, while scribes have been Ell
gagged in copying it. 1t has now been
printed-in a sufficient number to supply
the museums of Europe, and of America,
if they want it-with accompanying
translatiOns of the text and learned notes
thereon.
1t proves to be complete record of
the life and works of Rameses ILL.,, and
a statement of the condition of things at
Thebes 5000 years ago. We learn from
it what the Thcbans saw and heard at
church and what they had for dinner,
such as fish, water fowl, pigeons, oil,
bread and wine. We are introduced to
the beauties of Ramesess harem. Much
of the record l. remarkably realistic, but
it is somewhat confusing to find that
among these realistic portions is an ac.
count of how Rameses III. went to hell
and there played at draughts with Isis
for the golden kerchief, which he won.
Moreover the last five sections of the
scroll consist of an address, sort of
valedictory-uttered from ithe same re-
gion (Hades) by the monarch, in which
he rectes the great victories he has
achieved, the hundreds of thousands of
cattle he has bestowed on the temples,
the slaves he has presented them, and
implores them to be loyal to his success
sor, Rameses w. Such mixture of
possible fact and certain fable may puzzle
any one who tries to bring actual history
out of the papyrus; but one thing stands
out clear-the character of Rameses
himself. The half million head of cattle
he claims to have bestowed on the gods
may be as mythical as his gameSof
draughts with Isis, the Egyptian Proser-
pine, but whether in hell or earth the
sultanic self satisfaction of Rameses III.
is unquestionable.
There is statue of George III. in the
Guildhall, with an inscription placed
there during his lifetime by aldermanc
courtiers, in which the characteristics
Of the angel Gabriel are attributed to
him, with few of the selectest attrib-
utes of the seven sages. The poor king
was mad at the time and England was
ground under the heel of the prince
regent; nevertheless the true portrait of
the king and his times may be derived
therefrom by one who can read between
the lines.-M D. C0nEdys Letter TO Gin.
GiaaGA Gemmbrtial