Evening star., 1923-02-02
ny ARTHUR wEIGALL.
Er CahIA 70 The Star.

Er Cabls to The Star.
LUXOR, Egypt. February ZIP at
the tomb yesterday there was the
usual crowd Of visitors whose pa
removal from the tomb of one OF
the two remaining couches, namely
the one with the hippopotamus
heads 1t was brought up in sec
lions and carried across to the work
shop under the usual guard OF SOL
This grotesque, barbaric-lookin
couch Is made of cedar wood and Is
covered with gold leaf. The mouth
Of the animal. in each case, Is half
which. believe, are of alabaster, and
not ivory. as has been stated. The
ears stick upward as though the
creature were alert and listening, as,
indeed, it might we'll be. after 5000
ears OF silence, and ] hope | may
ne pardoned if I add that its ex-
preston was one Of frank laughter as
It came up from the tomb into the
daylight and saw the strange COM
pany gathered to greet it.
Cartouche on Couch.
| don't know what mystical idea
lies behind this hippopotamus form.
but it is probably connected in some
way with procreation, for the hip
popctanlus goddess was patroness of
childbirth. The couch rises from a
fat oblong wooden stand. as is often
the ease in ancient Egyptian fur
ntture, the custom being introduce ed
TO prevent legs of chairs, beds and
so forth from working holes in the
Thin plaster floors Of the houses. A
rartouche of Tutankhamen is in
Scrihed on this couch
There was no sun yesterday morn :
Ing, and tearing wind filled the
air with dust, and thus the gold did
not EliSten "a brightly as il did whe IL
| saw il III the tomb, under the clcc-
tric light, but it's richness ncverthe-
ass was apparent. This richness OF
the objects found in the tomb has
heen 4 surprise to Psychologists. but
he wealth of the Pharaohs at this
period must have been enormous. and
{ would have been greater cause
FOR surprise If this. the frst. more or
iess intact, burial of a Pharaoh ever
'ound. had been wanting in articles Of
value.
Signs of Vnsf Wealth.
sonethinE Of Tutankhamen's wealth
may be CLEANED from his great in
scription at Karnak. for therein he
Tolls how ha made n great image OF
Amen in pure gold and precious
stones. how he made sacred cmblems
aud insignia of pure gold for all other
gods. and how he furnished temples
throughout tho land with vessels of
.oId. silver. copper and bronze. ana
-upplied them with precious stones.
linen. incense. inyrrh. perfumes. and
SO forth, until the gods and goddesses
: shouted and struck their breasts for
joy and danced for gladness.
In the mortuary chapel of Tutank-
hamen's viceroy OF Ethiopia there are
representations OF the arrival OF
tribute. which consists OF masses or
gold in rings and nuggets: gold and
silver vases. heaps Of precious stones,
teweIry and other rare materials.
Egypt itself was naturally rich in
gold, and the southern areas of the
desert, between the Nile and the Red
sea, are covered with old gold mines,
this probably being the famous land
Of Ophir. We know that Tutank-
hamen worked these mines. for ]
found his name and titles inscribed
on the side OF the road thither.
There is an interesting letter, eN-
tant. written shortly before Tutank-
hamen's reign, in which an Asiatic
sing asks the pharaoh for a gift Of
gold, because. he says. gold in Egypt
IS az common as dust; and it may
be remembered that I found the
mummy of Akhnaton, Tutankhamen's 5
predecessor, wrapped In sheets Of
solid gold. Tutu, the grand chamber
lain in the rein of Akhnaton, whom
7 believe to be Identical with Tutank-
hanen. has left REPRESENTATIONS at