Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-01
4 VERY OLD BOAT.
II Dates from the Eleventh Egyp-
tian Dynasty.
CChicago Journal)

i~lltdbD JDuEudll
There is in Chicago one OF the five old
est small boats known to exist in the
world. It has just come, all packed and
stayed for its long voyage. from the
Gl2eh Museum Of Antiquities. at Cairo.
To the generosity of Mrs. Cyrus McCor-
mick the Field Columbian Museum is in
deDted for = rare gift. T.. +. Aver learn
ed, i'm the course Of his search for inte-
resting things I'm Cairo last winter that
there had been placed IN the Gizeh Nu-
scum three boats OF marvellous age and
curious design Investigation proved
that the boats We're indeed Of the iarest
value for never before In archaeological
history have there been discovered any 20
thing Of the kind which approached these
boats in age and interest. A viking craft
found ga Norway some time ago was OF
use I'm about the year lcOc a. d, and az
once became famous as by far the Oldest
specimen of water craft In existence Tie
boats in GiZeh Museum, II was decided
by the learned ones, were used at least
4 so years ago, and We're cOntemporaneOus
with the DaShur pyramids or the eleventh
Egyptian dynasty.
With this boat. which will be installed
ia the museum, and the TWO Whlch re-
main I'm the Cairo museum, were Two
more, which still rest IN the SANDS Whlch
stretch desolatcly from the Dashur pyra-
mlds near which they were found. IL Is
expected that before long the remaining
two will be brought 70 CAIRO ana properly
installed.
considerable depth not far from the IA
nous large pyramid. and IN such order
ly form, and with such mathematician re-
latiOnship 20 the great pile on stone, tnht
IL was evident that they had been buried
with design at that particular spot. All
were brought to the lght and air at once,
and after examination by scholars, prov
ing their marvellous age, thelr preserve
ton from the elements was al once Deem
ed necessary.
Tho boats were found 10 be alike in the
material Of which they were constructed
and in their general dimensions: Inc
cedar Of antiquity, Whlch ehteIeQ INTO -
much of the construction Of things or
wood. was used Tor building these boats.
While the equipments Of the boats nad
generally disappeared with time, inc euse5
and ends We're ragged ana niue Mdiyed,
their shapely outlines still remained 80
rigi,llv I'm evidence that the mOdollers
skill in giving grace and shapellneSS was
evident The boat that IS IN chicago no"
was probably better preserved than any.
1t is 80 feet long. teet 81 De1Hi ana
feet a. holi. 1t had been propelled, OF
course. by oars, bat the points OF contact
for the oars were not IN evidence. a we'll
preserved and peculiarly marked ana ue-
signed piece OF rudder or WOOD was lOuiu
near the boats. and that has been brought
10 Chicago az the accompaniment Oh '"o
boat now here.
Two of the boats were proppe1 up and
covered for preservation until tney couu
he moved and three NJ fhrn were -
IN shane to DO carried to Cairo. The
Dashur pyramids are neariy t"eny M
above Cairo on the opposite side OF the
river and some seven miles from the
bank Eighty men were required 10 carry
the boats. one at time, 10 the river
steamer. on which they were transferred
10 Cairo. ,,,,
There. in the museum, they were prop
ned and stayed with iron and cedar SUM-
Gently TO preserve them for exhibition.
About per cent Of the original amount
of wood was all that was necessary 10
From the design and decoration Of these
boats. II is presumed they were IN dis
tineuished use, such as for the transpor-
tation OF spices. perfumes, ana offerings
OF the nature that were carried 10 70 NE
resting place Of the royal dedd III me
pyramids. Having performed these sacred
duties for allotted times and persons. II
Is supposed they were then placed 70 re-
main forever near the age-enduring mau-
soIeums oil the dynasties they served IN
life and death.