Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-15

MUMHrEs OF KINGS AND QUEENS THREE THOUSAND
YEARS AGo-THE PRINCESS WHO POUND MOSES IN
THE BuLRU sHKs-INTEREsTINa PARTICULARS

Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.
NEW YORK, October 18th.
By an arrival from London, advices have beer
received from Mr.. Alex. Peake, at Cairo Egypt
who holds under the ssControle Generate" the
Office OF Inspector OF Provinces in upper Egypt.
he says: Remarkable and valuable things have
been found, such as mummies, cases, ETC., and
winch are now lying in the Boulak museum. 1t
was often remarked by the authorities OF Upper
Egypt during the earlier part of the present veal
That an unusual quantity OF antiquities, papyri
statues pieces OF mummy ca ses &c, were offered
1or sale by the natives. a suspicion was caused
by this fact, and the matter reported to the Vice
roy, who sent Herr E. Brugsch to upper Egypt to
investigate and find out the reason
HOW THE SECRET CAME OUT.
Careful and systematic investigation soon ena-
bled Mr.. Brugsch to discover the native who was in
possession of the secret, and he called to give
an account Of all he knew. To those knowing the
country and the Inhabitants, it is needless to re-
mark, the native was entirely ignorant of any
tomb or valuable However, he was given six hours
to make up his mind and receive the reward for dis
closing his secret. The six hours having passed
without the man disclosing anything. he was ar
rested and put in prison. But his brother, with
whom he had quarrel, was in possession of the
secret and for revenge, disclosed It, and conducted
Mr. Brugsch to the tomb, in which were such treas
ureS as never yet have been discovered.
At Dayr-el-Babari, or the Northern Convent in
the Lfbyan mountains, was the pit or tomb, about
30 feet deep, cut into the solid rock, and leading
into gallery about $50 feet long, and full OF the
MOST PERFECT ANTIQUITIES YET ExHUMED.
Mr.. Brugsch, on the discovery, was completely
overcome, and in deep, silent awe, gazed at the
splendid wonders and magnificent cases contain
ing the mummes Of Egypt's past kings and queens,
with papyri, statues, &c. Steps were at once taken
for their removal to Cairo, aud in brief time a
steamer had them on board bound for that place,
where they now are. Beside the mummies of many
ancient Egyptians there are those OF twenty five
royal perS0nages; Among them are the embalmed
DOdleS OF King ThOthmeS III, who regned about
l6oO BIC, and King Rameses II, about 1880 BIC.
Inc former 1t was who ordered the execution OF the
obelisk which now ornaments the Thames embank-
nent and the latter who go years later added his
own titles to those already inscribed by order of his
predecessor, ThOthmes Ill 1t supposed that these
ana sarcophagus to prevent their being desecrated
by an invader, perhaps CambySes, and placed for
Salety IN the pit just discovered. Moses was said
10 nave been born in the sixth year Of the reign OF
King RaneSeS H., whose daughter found the sacred
laW-glVer In the bulruSheS. In one of the most
magnificent mummy cases is the body Of this prin-
cess, IN perfect state OF preservation, looking as
IL lies in the coffin as II it had only few hours
previously left the hands of the people whose duty
II was to embalm and swathe it in its cloth. The
CONN Is most beautifully finished and Ornamented
Win colorS and sort OF mosaic Ornamented with
precious stones The colors are as fresh as though
done yesterday. II all the wives and children of
this distinguished monarch were treated in the
same fashion as this daughter, one may hope to
some day find other specimens of this gram
deur, for he is said to have had
MANY WIVES AND ITO CHILDREN.
1t was DUNG his sons reign Qlls successoD that
the plaques OF Egypt occurred and the exodus Of
the Israelites.
The translation OF the various papyri, which is a
very import mt feature OF the discovery and may
possibly prove the most valuable, is anXiOuSly
aWalted. Many alabaSter vases, said to contain
the hearts, &C., of defUnct kings and queens, were
also found A number OF hair wigs, with which
royal perSonageS adorned themselves on grand
nj Sn rod q n
added to the treasures in the Boulak museum
Caro. The discovery Of all these may yet prove to
the student, the scholar and the lover OF ancient
history the most interesting and satisfactory Of
any similar event occurring in the present age.