Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-02-10
THIRTY CENTURIES OLD.
Something About the Latest Find Of Gu
nsiform Tablets In Egypt.

Something About the Latest FIND OF Su-
neiform Tablets in Egypt.
The latest find Of cuneifOrm tablets in the
valley Of the Nile is one Of unusual interest.
Workmen excavatIng for bricks in the
mounds at Tell El-Amarns, a village about
100 miles south Of Cairo, discovered 315 OF
these tablets on the side Of the palace OF one
Of the Pharaohs, King Amenopnis ", who
reigned abodt ! 800 years before the present
era, or 3,fs9 years ago. They are about three
inches square, composed Of the soft clay
which was In common use among The BabylO'
mans. Several Of them have been deci-
phered. Some are found TO constitute diplO-
matte correspondence between Burma
buriasb, Krngof Babyionia, and Amenophis
touching an alleged outrage on a BaDyiO-
nian SUBJECT by the latter's Government for
which an explanation and indemnity are
asked. The letters show that human nature
in that gray antiquity was about the same
as now and that diplomatic intercourse has
changed little. They begin with all the
foi maIty and courtesy Of diplomacy Of the
present day;
To Naphuria Csurname Of AmenOphis) the
great KING the King OF Egypt thus speaks
Burr aburiash, the great King, the King Of
Babylonia, thy brother To me and my house,
20 my horses, and chariots, 70 my officers and
my country, may there be abundance Of peace.
To my brother and bis house, TO his horses and
70 bis charOts, 10 b officers and his country,
may there be an abundance OF peace.
Another instaiment is found 10 be pOr-
ton ola spOndence between Dushratta,
King Of Mitanui,a province Of Mesopotamia,
with Amenophls Ill, father Of the preced-
ing Pharaoh, which contains the outline Of
two pretty love stores. Mitanni was
famous hunting ground and Amenophis &
mighty NImrod who is credited on a scara-
bgus with a hundred lions slain by his own
hands. In one Of these expeditions he had
met Thi or Tina, Dushratta's daughter.
fallen in love with her, and subsequently
married her. In the other case the same
Dushratta pleads the suit Of Name, his
brothers grandson, for the hand Of the
daughter Of Amenophis ". Alas even in
those old days hearts were bought with
gold, for Dushratta not only sets forth his
own regard for Amenophis as a reason
why Name should be allowed to visit his
daughter, but sends him gold and rich gifts
and intimates that il Amenophis will only
consent 20 the marriage still richer gifts and
gold galore win follow. We do not know
whether Dushratta was successful, but
the analogies from that day 20 this would
indicate that in all probability Name made a
triumphant tour from Babylonia 70 Tell E.
Amarua with his camels loaded down
with ivory, gold, sweet spices and precious
stones, and carried of his swarthy bride of
the Nile.
There are also in this notable collection
letters from the ruler Of Alashia, an uu-
known country, and numerous reports
from Egyptian Governors at Sidon, Jaffa
AscalOn aud other places on the Phenician
coast and in the interior Of Palestine, writ
ten in the Babylonian language, showing
that it was the polite language Of the
time, and that the domination Of Egypt in
that day was far extended. Prof JastrOw,
who contributes 10 the Nation a detailed
description Of the find, is inclined to the
belief that it Is only the beginning of most
important revelations concerning the early
history OF BaDylonia and Egypt, and saws:
There Is little reason 10 question now that
the soil OF Egypt contains further treasures
such as have been found at Tell ElAmarna.
The discovery OF this remarkable CORE
spOndence Is as rich in the promises IL holds
out for the future as In the direct gain which
results from IL. A few years ago several
cylinders inscribed with cune.form characters
we're found in Egypt which, upon examine
tiOn, proved 10 be documents deposited by the
great NebuchaducZZar in tho sixth century
while In Egypt IN commemoraton OF his
campaign against the land OF the Nile. Be
tween the days OF Burnaburiash and those
OF NebuchadncZzar uthe contact between
Mesopotamia and Egypt now more close now
less so, now OF friendly, now of hostile
was never entirely broken. We
may confidently look forward to having one
day in our possession tolerably complete rec
ords Of this contact
Apart from the historical, geographical
and chronological value Of these documents
now coming 10 the light OF day after their
sleep OF three thousand years In the Egvr-
tian mounds there IS peculiarly romantic
interest connected with their discovery,
says the Chicago Tribune They BRING us
face TO face with the men and women who
lived In the days OF Abraham and Jacob.
The Aryan race had hardly begun its great
migrauous TO India and Europe when these
letters were written. The Teutons were
sayages roaming about the huge forests
IN skins OF wild beasts 1t Is doubtful
whether the English islands were popu-
ated at all. Greece was unknown, for her
traditions do not run back 10 that time. Old
Homer had not yet sung his Immortal epics.
Romulus and Remus had not sucked the
Wolf. The great Caesars were not born.
The wealth, refinement and civilization of
tho world were contained within that com
parauvely small area through which flowed
The Nile ON the one hand and the Euphratcs
and llgris on the other. And now, after
three thousand years have passed away.
these little bricks with their Cuneiform in
scupuous appear among the railroads
iteamboats, teIegraphs, telephones and fast
mails OF to-day TO tell us that although the |
material world advances and human skill. |
1nd knowledge increase human nature re- |