The Greenville times., 1884-01-19
Fraudulent Egyptian "DIssOVsriss. f"

gifts some Of the Fellaha and BE
donins appear to possess al imita
tive capacity and patience out
rivaling even the wonderful ability
Of the Chinese. Some Of their de
vices TO make money have but re
Gently been discovered; and
American travellers in Egypt
would do well to beware of pur
chasing antiquities or "fndsn ol
any kind without seeking counsel
ofsoue Trustworthy expert, such
as the Director of the Museum al
Cairo, or one of his assistants.
NJ. LudOvic Lepic, a painter oil
no little reputation has just pub.
lished a work upon Egyptian
travel, in which some of these
counterfeit arts are exposed. The
book is enriched with exeellant
engravings, and is all the more
Valuable because its author is not
only a painter, but likewise an
Psychologist 0flearning. Despite
his scientific knowledge. however
he is obliged to confess that he had
on moro than one occsion been
duped by the vendors OF antiqui.
ties. These men usually sell their
wares to American and English
yoyagers and haunt all tho beaten
lines of travel pursued by Europe.
an pleasure.seekers. SO profit.
able has the business become that
in the neighborhood of the Pyr.
amids of Czech, Of Memphis, of
Thebes. and other points along the
Nile, whole villages live solely up.
on the products of the manufact
nre Of counterfeit idols, fgurines,
jswelry, etc. The imitation of
such antiques has actually been
brought to a degree of perfection
which the most expert craftman
OF London or Paris could not
reach.
For some years the Arabs and
others have been prohibited BY
the government from making
further researches for curiosities,
whether in the catacomba, pyr.
amid'chambers, rock-tombs, or
elsewhere. No donbt this CON.
mand has not been strictly obeyed
IN all instances; but it has been
sufficiently we'll enforced to teach
the natives it is cheaper and safer
to mako limitations of antiquities
than to dig for them or dive after
them into the bowels of the hypo.
gea. Nevertheless one is natur.
ally led to inquire how the imita
tors obtain the models for their |
work. All the secrets Of their |
Industry are far from being kaown;
but one discovery made by NJ.
Lcpic is well worthy of note.
A certain archeologist living
1T Siont happened to become very
well acquainted with Fellah who
had made his dwelling.place in one
Of those singular Egyptian tombs
followed out in the side of the
mountain. This Fellah could work
he hardest stone into almost any
orm with consummate ability and
frequently brought specimens of
lis handicraft to the archeolgist.
)ne day, when the latter was on
he point Of leaving for Europe,
he stone cutter came to him, and
'skod him to bring back with him
copy Of the famous Egyptologi.
al work containing engravings of
ii the cartouches of all the Pha.
aohs.
"Why the book costs more than
hundred francs,n said the Euro.
'ean ;-''you wont be able to pay
or it.n
"Yes, here's the money in ad.
ance," said tho stone.cutter,.-
wing 1t to him. When the ar.
heologist returned from France
Q gave the man his book. Some
lonths aftcrward the Fellah of.
red him u scarbeus of hard
tone, on which was craven the
'rtouche Of an almost unknown 9
haraoh. The article possessed
A enormous face.valuo, and the
want did not hesitate to offer its
Dssessor any price he desired. :
made it myself" said the native,
Milling. impossible cried the
her, "where could you get the
odel for that cartouche ~ an
o book you brough: me,' re. =
led the st0ne-cutter. =
Such proved to be the case; for
Q Fellah presented his friend
tn several other specimens made
order. Meanwhile, however, ,
70 of the most learned archa. L
Dgists of the day had bought a
nilar specimen for more than its
light in gold; and was prepar-
to forward them to the Berlin =,
iseum, when, almost by accident,
gentleman discovered that
else had bought a scar.
anua ,,oos.~l- m ~.