The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-29
AMERICAN WORK m EGYPT.

museums and learned bodies geherany
should lmpart unusual interest to the appear
ance Of the latest volume on Egyptian re-
search, Just published by Archibald Constable
4 Co. IL 10 the work OF Theodore M. Davis,
a citizen Of Boston, Mass, who has for many
years been engaged In archaeological research
In the Valley Of the Tombe OF the Kings, the
celebrated Biban Fl MoiHk. within the pre-
cincts Of the great Theban' metropolis MI
Davts's name 10 a household word among
modern EgyptoloEists, and u he 10 as muoh OF
a celebrity In Massachusetts, a. he ~ in the
Nile Valley he must be one OF the best known
Of your countEymen.
Egypt is becoming more and more q centre
OF interest for American scholars and toalrisss'
The enormous and ever Increasing incurslon
Of Americans. who people the Nile each winter
from Cairo to Khartum. bears witness to TINS
fact, while che numerous representatives
Of science and learning who are now busty
engaged In practical research mark the more
serious conCern which the educational aspect
of Egypt has among th0 Americans.
] learn that during the coming year Albert
NJ. Lythsoe. who has heretofore representeu
the Boston Museum aud Harvard CnlVeI-
sity in the field. Is to an import
ant series OF excavations In the interests OF
the Metropolitan Museum Of Art. Mr.. Lythgos
has the reputation among practical Egyptoio-
gists OF being one OF the strongest scholars ana
most progressive and skilled excavatorst IN the
field, and his course In the work which ne Is
now undertaking for the New York museum
will be watched with deep interest by scholars
everywhere.
The impression prevails here that the
Metropolitan Museum proposes to take a
leading part in the work that Ia being done
in tho Vile Valley. In the recent distribution
OF the objects acquired during last years
work at Der-ei-Bshri by the Egyptian Ex-
| ploration Fund the lions share fell to the lot
| AZ thu AaawN-oltNan AlanAApna and u hA0 re-
ceived In consequence, or viii presently re-
ceive. an acquisition to its treasures OF rare
interest and importance. A stone 1gure or
a scribe and the tables OF the flowers ana
fishes from the exca vat IONS in the rear OF ths
temple of Mentuhotep ct Der-ei-Bahri. both
museum objects OF the rArest importance
and value, are understood to be included In the
/ New York allotment.
Edouard Navilfe. the great EgyptolOslst
and philolog ist, who 10 In charge OF tho
work OF the Exploration Fund at Der-el-
Bahri, discovered last winter the entrance
to the tomb OF Mentuhotep. q monarch Of
whom our knowledge rs confined to the men
tion made OF him in the Abbott papyrus' 10
was impossible TO do more than uncover the
entrance. which lay deep beneath the debris
OF senturies ia the shadow Of the Cftns which
divide the plateau of Der-el-Bahri from the
valley Of the Biban III MOluk. 1t appears
that at this j~uncturs q formidable subscTip-
ton was made at Luxor in the interest OF the
Metropolitan Museum Of Art TO the Egyptian
Exploration Fund. enough 90 insure the sue
Cessful prosecution Of the work in this par
ticulsT Geld, and intense interest attaches
10 the results of the exca ~vations. which, with
| the meansthu s afforded, will he resumedd during
the fret week in November, The MetrOpoli-
tan Museum of Art in New York ia to be
felicitated warmly upon its good fortune IN
participating in this mOmentous work At so
prOpitious a time
To return 10 MIR. Davis's work: The name
OF this handsome and we'll made volume Is
The Tomb of HatShOpsitu, a name which
is more familiar 10 Jewellers in the Nile Val
ley In the form OF Hatashu. which IL engraved
uDon many a memory by the presence OF a
little restaurant OF that name in the wilder
ness OF Der-el- BahTi. where those who 20
over from Luxor to Thebes are wont to eat
their luncheon. Mr.. Davis describes the cir
GMmstances aud conditions under which he
discovered the tomb OF Hatasbu. and the
arduous labor with which IL was hnally pens-
rated and ideutined. IL u . most interesting
narrative, ana ~ told with a self-snaee~en
and m0desty that one could wish were .
little less rigorous.
This Is followed by one Of the most inter
esting chapters that have ever been contributed
TO EgyptOiogy. The Life and Monuments
OF Hatshopsitu, " by EdOuard Naville. Mr.
NAVille is one OF the worlds greatest scholar
aud Dhilologists. and his reconstruction from
the dust Of ancient Thebes Of the life, the
character aud the circumstances OF Egypt
greatest Queen. the most romantic and H.
lustriOus figure OF the eighteenth dynasty
is A piece OF work rs fascinating a. II h IN
struciive. II will be read with avidity by
all students OF EgyptOlogy and will be rNeog
nized a. the Crownin contribution TO thu
notable literature 10 which the field OF Der
cl-Bahri has given birth. Perhaps its most
striking feature is the detailed account oil
the famous relief known as the Punt colonnsde
familiar 70 all students and readily recalled
nv wen the most casual tourists to the ruins
OF Thebes. It embraces. OF course. a resume
Of all the known texts. but the interpretatior
Ia that Of Mr.. Naville. The land OF Pun
was for the Egyptians what the Americas
we're for the Spaniards a land of mystery
Of gold and Of things rare and precious. Thu
record Of it's exploration extends as far back
as $500 b. G.. II was u region vague and in
describabie. and even to-day. with all the
light that research has thrown upon Il. II 4.
still difioult Of denim ion. 1t was south oil
Egypt and il vas east OF Egypt, and there
is no doubt that in part il bordered on the
Red Sea, beginning. a. Mr., Naville Opines
near Suakim or Massowah and stretching
far south beyond the straits OF Bab-Rl-Man.
deb and Cape Guardafu to the coast OF the
Somalis 1t was penetrated in the eleventf
dynasty by Holman. in the eighth year Of
King Sankhkara. and il was in emulation
of this achievement. the fame Of which had
Tesounded through Egypt for centuries, that
Hatshopsitu planned her great expedition
Of which the wonderful record on the lower
oolonnade OF her temple AZ Der-el-Bahri is
to-day the most famous and interesting sculpt
ure in relief in all Egypt.
learn from Mr.. c. 7. Curtelly. the vel
known explorer and archeoloeist. that Mr.
Maspero on behalf Of the Egyptian Govern.
msnt has graciously given his permission Il
have q cast made OF the entire relief Of thu
Punt expedition for the Metropolitan Mu.
scum Of Art in New York. and that daaknI
the coming winter Mr.. ClrTeIly has hinfkeI
agreed to superintend the work OF nakinS
IT,. This should lead TO envy. but I trust u
nothing worse. for the privilege thus granted
IL almost unheard Of. but II must he admitteC
that II Ia al OF a part with the exceeding lib
eYslity and br0admindednese which charac
teriEe the entire course and conduct Of IN,
eminent director Of the Cairo Museum. tn,
relief which IL to be thus reproduced Is. I
my memory serves me rightly. about 90 fee
in len 9Th by 8 feet In height. ". g.
Care FOR HOHk-hOnk Asthma.
FROM me Moor World.
nR.. .-anwk n atNlAV nhaV u,vaNIan J.. u-.-