The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-07-31

Valley of the Kings. Luxor. Egypt
While the world has been following
with unahated interest and curiosity
the wonderful archaeological discov-
cries in tile Valley Of the Kings, little
thought has been given to the years
of toll, research and patience given
by archaeologists in these far-o.f
| ruins
1t is perhaps little Understood that
| the recent unearthng of the tomb Of
| King t-Ankh-Amen by Howard Car
| ter, British eXcayator, represents
continuous effort of So years of re-
| search and excavation. Carter began
| digging on the site of Thebes. the an
Client capital of Egypt, when he was
eighteen and has never ceased his la
| bors.
He was never rich enough TO con-
duct his own excavations, but has In
variably worked for others. Some OF
his most notable work was done under
Theodore NJ Davis of Boston, who
from 1907 to 1914 discovered six royal
tombs and wealth of rare and valu-
able antiquities. In more recent years
Carter has been associated with Lord
CarnarvOn. who financed the excavat-
ing work of Tut-Ankh-Amen's tomb.
Carter has derived no pecunfary re-
ward from his years of research
American visitors at the newly found
tomb have remarked that the now
famous excavator wears the same suit
Of clothes the same hat and shoes.
daily, Sunday, and throughout the
year
Called Modern Hern1its.
Carriers devotion and labors in the
cause of Psychological science are
typical Of the example of all excava-
tors, British American and French.
In the ancient ruins of Egypt. These
men may be described as modern
hermits in this 5.Oo0-yearold Valley
of the Kings. They lead one-sided
and narrow existence. Cut off from
all civilizing and uplifting influences,
the score or more of them who com
prise the foreign colonies of Luxor
move within a narrow groove and sell
dom even come in contact with one |
another. /
The Valley of tile Kings and the |
Theban hills, $50 miles up the Nile |
from Cairo, are infested with wolves, |
jackals, wildcats, foxes, snakes.
lizards, scorpions, vultures, beetles
and vermin. The archaeolOgists live |
in unpretentious stone and mortar
houses with nothing but the barest
furniture and the most
primitive household equipment The
house occupied by the American ex-
perts was built through the generos-
ity of the late j. Pierpont Morgan.
who was moved to pity by their priva-
lions and exposure.
Plague of Flies and Insects.
The natives of the valley are pathet-
ically poor and untutored. Food Is
scarce and expensive. Water, where
It exists at all, has to be brought from
affair in hand buckets. The nights are
,oId and fuel is difficult to obtain. The
heat of the valley is severe during
The day, and the entire area is
plagued with flies and pernicious In
,ects.
The American visitor to the cav
s1nous valley which holds the imperial
lead of bygone ages is overawed by
he majesty and dignity of the great.
sandstone cliffs that stand
sentinel on either side of the necrop
Ills He is reminded of the heights of
he Grand Canyon of the Colorado, or
# Yellowstone falls when the noon
lay sun transforms them into gold
n valley
Sleeping in the heart Of these noun
aims are Tut-Ankh-Amen and his royal
insfolk. Some Of the tombs go DOWN l
SO feet and extend back a distance ]
f three city blocks. The ancients be-
teved these were the portals to
eaven and everlasting life.