The morning call., 1894-06-22
BURIED TREASURES UNEARTnED

The march Of arch geological discovery in
Egypt possesses absorbing interest. Moth
ing like it is going on anywhere else. Here
is civilization which antedated the most
ancient periods recorded in history, and
which is now coming to light after an in
terment OF 5000 years.
While Mr.. Fliuders-Petrie is digging up
the capital of Khuenaten, ana Brugsch
Bey is exploring Lake Moeris and Mr..
Newberry is cataloguing the treasures at
Benz HaSsan, learned Frenehman named
NJ. de Morgan has penetrated two of the
brick pyramids in the Nile Valley, about
twenty miles from Cairo. These struc-
lures were ancient when HeIodotus saw
them. They we're so Theoretically closed
that the grave robbers who made busi-
ness for centuries Of Toboing the tom BIS of
the Egyptian kings were unable to pene-
trate them. They had been attacked in
several places. but the shafts and levels
never encountered anything but endless
mounds of brick 1t was NJ. de Morgan's
luck to strike subterranean passage $50
feet long, which led to a tomb that had
been piundered of its jewels. There were
many crosscuts leading into the passage,
but they had all been closed with stone.
NJ. de Morgan used the diamond drill, and
by boring in one place after another was
at length rewarded by finding large
death chamber
In this lay the sarcophagi of twelve
princesses, who were sleeping in the north
east corner Of the pyramid, most unlikely
place for a tomb to be located. The sar-
cOphagi had never been disturbed. Near
them, on the sandy floor, lay an extraor-
binary accumulation of jewels. They had
probably been originally placed in wooden
chests. but the wood had gradually decayed
and turned 10 dust. Hundreds of brace
lets, neck ornaments. earrings, finger
rings, breastplates, mirrors, etc. lay scat
tered in the sand. They were of massive
gold, encrusted with precious stones.
With them were vases of aiabaster, carne-
liam ana lapis lazuli, adorned with anne
thysts and tuTquoises. and all in a very high
style Of art. Some of the chasings could
not be surpassed to-day The date of
these objects can be determined by their
style, and it is known that they were de-
posted in the time of the twelfth dynasty,
about 5000 years before Christ.
Among the treasures were two breast
plates. one of which was worn by the high
priest. It is of beaten gold, encrusted
With precious stones, and it bears the por-
trait of the Pharoah of the day. The other
was apparently worn by King Amenum-
bart III, whose portrait il bears. 1t also
is of solid gold. The value of the mere
metal and jewels in these objects is reck-
oned at 100000. and NJ. de Morgan is only
at the beginning of his task. He expects
to find the tombs of the kings of the
twelfth dynasty, which have hitherto
eluded search.
These explorations will probably lead to
revision of some of our most valued his
tories of Egypt. 1t will probably turn out
that the kingdom Of the Pharoahs lasted
for much longer period than is generally
supposed, and that the nation over which
they ruled was more populous and richer
than has been suspected. Jewels Of such
exquisite workman ship as is displayed in
NJ. de Morgan's find imply a very long
period Of pre-existing civilization and a
large accumulation Of wealth. 1t seems to
have been the one thought present to every
Pharoah's mind as soon as he assembled
the throne to build him tomb in which
human vultures could not get at bis body
after death. Some Pharoahs ordered their
corpses to be deposited in caves in the
Lybian Hills, and the entrances to the
caves to be walled up after their sepulture.
Others built pyramids, huge masses Of
stone or brick. In these pyramids hollows
or square chambers, whose locality was
kept a profound secret. were left, and
when the pyramid builder died his body
was placed in the chamber and the en-
trance sealed with so many courses of brick
or stone that nothing short of miracle or
accident could lead 10 its discovery. Not
withstanding these precautions many pyr-
amids were violated by the Arabs and the
death-chamber rified. Thus for a thousand
years the Egyptians have carried on a
brisk trade in mummies and antique Jewels
and ornaments. But ii seems that the pro-
portion Of tombs which have been found
is far less than that of the tombs which
remain undiscovered. Every year adds to
the nun Der Of the former. 1t is becoming
known, too, that the sands OF the desert
cover an infinite number of pyramids
which have remained invioate and which
may be as mighty as those which are seen
near Cairo. The work of exploration has
never been intelligently conducted till the
present day.