Evening star., 1923-02-18

edge of the sumptuous spIendor of
ancient Egypt's golden age
Never in all the history of Egyp-
tIan archaeology was there such a
weird and thrilling scene as yester-
day inside and outside the tomb of
Tutankhamen in the valley of the
kings. Here ii is believed is the
tomb OF the pharaoh practically in
tact-a scene laid more than thirty
centuries ago and disturbed. if at ali.
only so lightly as not to affect mate
rally discovery which can illu-
inmate with startling clearness scenes
or Egypt of the fourteenth century
before Christ.
COnjectures Current for Weeks.
Conjectures had been current for
weeks as to whether beyond the
sealed door of the ante-chamber of
the tomb discovered by Lord Car
narvon and Howard Carter last No
vember were mummies of the
pharaoh, the contents of the sarco-
phagus and all the regal magnificence
of the eighteenth dynasty. 1t was
known yesterday that an attempt to
solve this fascinating question would
be made later i'll the day. but it was
overpoweringly hot, and all the
silence, all the dreariness, all the
heat and glare concentrated in the
majestic Valley of the Kings were
avoided by those unaware of the agi-
tation pulsing through those in the
secret. Accordingly, when the glare
and heat were at their worst and
most of the life on the tomb side of
ha 10 Sia
came a small procession to the tomb.
Above the barrier were the sentrieS
and a few newspapermen, not a single
tourist being present.
1t was a quarter past l o'clock
when this quiet and subdued process
sion filed from an adjacent tomb
where they had nibbled at a luncheon
preparatory to advancing to the stage
for this historic occasion. Lord Car
narvon led the way past the barrier,
followed by his daughter. Lady Evelyn
Herbert; his brother, the Hon.
Mervyn Herbert; Sir William Garstin,
the Hon. Richard Bethel, Prof.
Breasted, Mr.. Winlock. Mr.. Lithgoe
and DIR. Alan Gardiner, with the eX-
pert staff, including four members of
the New York Metropolitan Museum
of Art exposition, at Thebes.,
Party ManifestIy Nervous.
For a few minutes they sat inside
the barrier and looked down into the
mouth of the locked tomb, manifestly
nervous. and seeking to hide their
AGITATION under conventional chat-
fer which deceived nobody. Ten min
utes later there arrived Abdel Hamld
Soliman PaSha, the underSecretary or
nubIic works of the Egyptian gov
ernment, and NJ. Lacau, director OF
the Egyptian ANTIQUITIES departme;nt, pt;n
and all were ready ioi TIC
into the past.
slowly and conscious of the mo-
mentous nature of the occasion, MT.
Carters staff unlocked the outer
wooden doorway and merged INTO lne
darkness of the steep passage lead
ing to the antechamber. Mr.. carter
Followed. while the guests above,
warned that the atmosphere OF the
tomb would be sitting, dlvested
themselves Of their coats and collars
At a word the native bearers com
menced to carry several chairs down,
stairs to the antechamber. and Lord
Carnarvon who was gradually sue
cumbing to the excitement sought re-
lief in the suggestion that the party
was going to enjoy a concert. There
were strained laughs in response, fol-
lowed by moments of embarrassed
silence. Then Mr.. Carter's voice
doomed from the depth of the tomb,
Won't you all come DOWN."
Debate Admitting Reporters.
But before a general movement into
the tomb shaft there was an inter-
ruption which, because it came into
such a surcharged atmosphere, SEEM
ed startlingly ominous. The ques-
tion arose whether the press be ad-
mitted There had been a strong
fight for the privileges, and for a few
seconds the issue hung in the ball
ance. Lord Carnarvon. desired to ad-
nit the London Times correspondent
and delay the entry of the others for
a few days, but Hamid Soliman
Pasha insisted that either all the
correspondents or none be admitted.
The noes had it and the press rep
resertatives were left to languish in
the broiling sun.
Strain Was Intense.
From that moment there was a
ADJUSTMENTS.