The herald., 1898-05-01

on Which We're depicted the kneeline
figures of Isis and Nephtys. the Egyp-
tian significance of Alpha and Omega.
with their legs bent under them. Their
arms were outstretched in a supplica-
tory attitude, and their bodces wrapt
from their narrow waists downward in
snort kiit-like shirt, bound with a
fringeu SASH. 10 the right of these fig
ures was one of Athor receiving the
Sun in her arms with her head dress
of long horns and feathers, whilst on
the left We're depicted the figures, beau
tifully carved, of a man and woman.
evidently the owners of the tomb, and
above them in the centre of the SQUARE
was to be seen brick-red disc with
a scarabaeus, the symbol of regenera-
ton, upon it.
The doctor discussed the hieroglyph-
les with Grant whilst they awaited
Hasan's return.
AT length HaSan appeared at the side
of the hole with three lighted lanterns
in his hand and an armful of torches
coated with bitumen. In a moment he
slid down the candy side, and handing
two of the lanterns to Grant and the
doctor, and torches to Haflz to be dis
tributed amongst the fellahin. the
party, with the dragoman leading the
way, entered the passage.
They advanced into the heart of the
mountain for the distance of eighty or
hundred yards without meeting any
obstacle more formidable than few
stones fallen on to the smooth sanded
floor from the roof, the heat being in
tense Then the passage taking a
sharp bend to the right, further pro-
gress was barred by a slab of stone fit
ting tightly and firmly into door posts
which projected some three inches from
the side of the corridor, the crack be-
ing sealed on the right hand side with
clay seal depicting winged sphere,
the symbol of Horus.
A few minutes struggling with crow
bars, and the rock door fell outward
with a crash.
A cloud of choking dust and sand
filled the passage, whilst the air which
had probably been confined for thou
sands Of years rushed out. burning,
close and suffocating, causing even the
fellahin to turn away their faces and
cough.
In a few minutes they advanced; the
torches burning a sickly, smoky flame
in the close atmosphere. AS they
pushed their way, the heat became so
intense that both Grant and the doc
tor were perspiring at every pore, and
almost gasping for breath.
On the sides of the passage, the floor
of which now began to descend, were
carved emblematic figures in process
sion, appearing in the fitful light like
the shadows of dream, their colors as
vivid as if they had been applied but
yesterday, instead of in the dead CEN
turtles when the history of the world
was in it's early stages
All at once their way was again
barred, but this time by mound of
stones and rock which almost com.
pletely blocked the passage. 1t had APP
parently fallen off the roof, and no one
could say how far it extended. After
hurried consultation with the doctor,
Hafiz and Grant set the fellahin to
work removing the first few of the
larger stones, whilst one of them went
back for the spades. He disappeared
up the slight slope into the gloom, his
bare brown legs being the last seen of
him.
Nearly an hours work in the sitting
heat of the corridor was necessary be-
fore passage was cleared in the pile
of debris sufficiently wide to enable
them to pass; the obstruction proving
about five yards thick. The corridor
still descended and the walls were
densely carved with figures and SYM
bols, and painted with hieroglyphics
Every now and then Doctor Gerard
would call halt, so that he might in
spect them.
few PAGES further on they came
suddenly to chamber, in the centre of
which were three beautifully decorated
and carved sarcophagi. Grant with a
cry of delight pressed forward.
They We're empty!
But they had not been ravished of
their contents, it being plain that they
had never held their intended burdens.
Round the walls of this chamber,
which was a very large one, were cary
ings representing the various scenes
of Egyptian manners and customs.
And for a time Grant and the doctor
forgot their disappointment and the
possibility of another passage leading
out of the chamber into which they
had descended.
The torches burnt in the thin air
with a feeble light, but with the Ian
terms held close to the walls they could
make out the inscriptions and carvings,
limned in all the purity of the classic
Egyptian style.
One line of painted figures consisted
of a people Of light brown color, hav-
ing long, straight black hair descending
down over their shoulders; their dress
consisting of a short apron wound
round the lower part of their bodies,
meeting or folding over in front They
were bearing presents to figure en-
throned ON raised dais; vases, neck
let's, ETC., which, so the inscriptions
translated by the doctor ran, "They
bring as chosen offerings of the Gentle
Chiefs.
ThenVcam long line of men of
some white nation attired in long
snowy garments, having a blue bor-
der, tied round the neck and orna-
mented with crosses or other devices
On their heads they wore a close cap,
or their natural hair, short, and Of
red color, and they also had small
pointed boards. The long gloves they
wore with the close-fitting sleeves of
their gowns, pointed to their being ma
tives of colder cline. They also were
bringing offering to the figure on the
throne. A dark patch in the centre of
the wall on the third side of the tomb
which showed like a square of black
paint in the gloom, indicated another
passage. Grant saw it, and entered it
first. The path was now level, and the
air clearer and somewhat fresher.
Two score or so PAGES, and he stood
H.