The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-24

ly impressive. Pyramids, Mastabos and
innumerable other tombs of more lowly
and unpretentious characters seemed to
be scattered in confusion over the plat
eau of sand.
The tomb of Mererevika in the pyramid
of Tet. far from having a gruesome and
awe-inspiring effect on me, was a perfect
haven of rest and delight. 1t opened its
cool and stoney shade to me Just at the
very moment when the sun was reaching
down into the center of my brain and
threatened to do me mischief, SO l ran
into its hospitable doorway with a
bounding heart, and settled myself with
out ceremony for glass of cold tea be-
| fore paying the slightest attention to the
Mercronkas. Mercronka and his wife
and his son, Mere Tet, settled themselves
here for a long winters nap" about
three thousand years ago in tomb con-
sisting of suite of chambers, most Of
which are deliberately decorated with
paintings
| I followed Mohammed through the
suite of chambers, listening to him twist
and turn the English language into fas-
cinating loops and bow-knots and dis
covered, after a moment or two, that he
was merely translating to me the pic
lures on the walls of the tomb; so that
by close attention to the pictures I gained
a clue to what he was talking about
Like old King Cole. old Merekonka seems
to have been something of merry old
soul, himself, and he certainly left a
record behind him of a sporting life
which makes modern efforts in that line
seem tame, indeed.
| He was the secretary of the king, chief
of the granaries. chief of the double
treasure house, and chief of the places
of offerings, and as I read the picture
story of his life, his fishing and hunting
| boats, the scenes of splendor, of dancing
and merriment and the long procession of
persons who seemed to be eternally COM
ing to him to bring treasures and gifts
| l wondered how he could reconcile him
self to remain dead for so many dim and
dull centuries
| Merekonka did his wife the honor of
picturing her beside himself on all these
great occasions, but she appears as a
mere scrap of humanity, in proportion to
her adored husband, who evidently, after
the fashion of more modern times, saw
himself somewhat largely In compari-
son with his wife and family.
The Mastabas of tt was another inter-
esting tomb of many wall pictures, which
entered, and the scenes of his life sug-
gested that 1t was one we'll worth the
brief years given to the living of It, It's
many titles cover the great pillars which
stand at the portal of his tomb and one
of the inscriptions reads: 'sTi, one of the
familiar friends of the King, Chief of the
Royal writings and commander of the
prophets Scenes of rural life are pic
tured on the walls OF his tomb, and above
a series of pictures showing peasants and
lcountrymen at work in the fields, gath
lering the harvest and returning home
laden with the grain is an inscription in
lhieroglyphics reading: Here Is the har-
vest, gathered In safety when the work.
man rests full of satisfaction and peace,
as such, so am l."
The serapeum, or tomb of the sacred
bulls, was another feature Of this won
derful and blazing day. 1t is long gal
lery, containing % huge coffins OF head
granite, placed in vaults dug out on
either side of the gallery The air is
black and dead and the great granite
collins are only to be seen by lighting
magnesium wire. 1t was one of the most
interesting things I saw that day, and
am enclosing some excerpts from my
little Liar book" which may be inter-
esting to you.
Marietta, writing of first entering the
serapeum, says: II own that when I
penetrated for the first time into the
hypogee of Apis. I was seized with such
an impression that Notwithstanding five
years have passed the impression Is still
as fresh as ever In my mind. Quite by
accident, which is even now Incompetent
sible, our apartment which had been
walled up in the 3Oth year of Rameses II.
has escaped pillage, and I was overjoyed
to find that 1t was intact.
"Three thousand seven hundred years
had not been able to change it's primitive
form. The imprint Of the fingers of the
Egyptian workman who had placed the
last stone in walling up the door, were
plainly visible on the limestone Some
naked feet had left their imprint on the
bed of sand with which the floor was
covered
There was nothing in this funeral
dwelling save the sacred bull, which had
been embalmed and remained where it
had been placed for nearly four thou
sand years"
The sacred bulls inferred in the Sera-
peum were worshiped and adored during
life, and magnificent ceremonies were ar
ranged at their death, which continued
for 90 days, the whole of Egypt going
into mourning
Apis, or sacred BULL" says my guide
book, was considered to be the incar-
nation of the god Ptah. 1t symbolized
the creature energy of nature, and was
thought to be being born of a virgin
made fruitful by the celestial fire. 1t
was recognized by about Is signs, among
which were black skin, cross on the
forehead. vulture on the back, and a
sacred beetle or scarabee under the
tongue. The duration of his life should be
% years, and after this lapse Of time
priest would cast him into the waters of
the Nile. He was identified after death
with the god Osiris, and, therefore, took
the name Osiris Apis, In Greek Oserapes,
and from thence the abbreviation sera-
pis."
By the time reached the rest house
of Mariette-a primitive dwelling in the
sand, where the famous Archaeological
live for four years, during his excavating
operation 1t Sakkarah. the air was SO
scorching and the sun so terrible that I
threatened to remain fixture there for
the rest Of the day, but Mohammeds ut
ter skepticism as to the heat Of the sun
affecting any one unpleasantly exerted
a sort of Christian Science influence and
braced me up SO. that after my solitary
picnic out OF my solitary basket, wrapped
handkerchiefs wet with cold water around
INV head and camel-backed 1t again to
visit all the remains of the ancient city
Of Memphis.
Here I refused to continue the strenu-
ov.s life and loafed and dazzled luxurious
Nv In the forests of palms and beside the |
pools of water, where buffaloes (the carl
bou of the Philippines) were cooling
themselves. There were great mounds of |
also, and 1t took great deal of will
also and it too ka great deal of will |
power to continue my journey back to
Cairo.