Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08

Il
traveller to me at our hotel in Cairo on
the evening of our arrival at the
Egyptian capital, Ito know how many
thousands of tourists have been drawn
to Egypt since 1922 as result of the discovery
of the tomb of King Tut Ankh-Amon by
Howard Carter. 1t would be even more inter-
esting to know how great treasure has been
brought to this country through tourist ex-
penditures here in consequence of the finding
Of that tomb and its rich contents"
That thought REQUIRED to me few mornings
later when / stood in front of the tomb of Tut
Ankh-Amon and saw Howard Carter descend the
steps leading down TO the entrance. The tomb
was closed to visitors, for Mr.. Carter was en-
gagged in experimenting the removal Of the
remaining treasures. So all got Of King Tuts
last resting place was this glimpse Of the back
of the man who restored him to fame. Yet it
was with lively sense Of the service Mr.. Carter
has rendered TO Egypt that saw him go down
into the depths to carry on the work begun by
him eight years ago.
Internationally many thousands of people
have been attracted to Egypt by the discovery
Of this tomb. And practically all of them make
the journey up to Luxor and across the Nile to
the west bank and through the rocky deflles Of
the Valley Of the Tombs of the Kings to the
scene Of the work of the Carnarvon expedition.
They have, with few exceptions, seen nothing
of the tomb itself. But they have had the
satisfaction Of glimpsing the forbidding area
for the repoSal Of their mummies and the riches
Of their burial equipment.
TT is indeed a hideous region, utterly devoid
of vegetation, twisting road-now made
into an excellent, smooth highway by the
Egyptian government to facilitate visitation
winding around between craggy hills, binding
white in the glare of the sun. On the way to
the place where King Tut Ankh-Amons tomb
was found, which is the end Of the modern road
many signs appear of earlier efforts to locate
t0nbs, rectangular shallow pits dug into the
loose rock and gravel at the base Of the cliffs
There are many scores Of these trial pits"
which have yielded no results.
In the immediate neighborhood of the Tut
tomb are several others, discovered long ago,
some of them Of great Importance In the
revelation Of ancient history and religious pre-
cepts in the form Of the paintings and carvings
of the interior. For example, that Of Ramses
TX is just around the corner, as it were, from
that of King Tut, splendid example Of the
mortuary provisions of ancient Egypt. 1t is q
veritabe picture gallery. its long passages and
numerous chambers being covered with paint
ings, the study. Of which has greatly enriched
the modern knowledge of the customs and the
htngical history Of Egypts golden era.
None OF the tombs save that of King Tut
Ankh-Amon contain today the mummies that
once repoSed in them. Many years past some
Of these pitiful bodies Of the monarchS
were taken out and put ON exhibition in
museums. Others have been destroyed by
vandals and ghouls of long ago in search Of
treasure. The mummy Of Tut Ankh-Amon
however, almost the least Of the rulers Of old
Egypt in point of years and of significance,
remains in place, though eventually it may be
removed
Save for the new road, Biban el-Muluk-which
literally means "Tombs of the Kings"-E as it
was before the Carnarvon expedition entered
the area and sought the tomb of Tut. Yet
thousands now make the journey over it where
a few years ago only few scientists entered
the valley 1t takes only about three-Quarters
of an hour to reach the tombS from ones hotel
in Luxor, first by crossing the Nile in small
boat and then by motor car. I would not be
thought to suggest that the trip is not worth
while when I say as far as King Tuts tomb is
concerned the visitor might as well remain in
Luxor. The trip is decidedly worth while. 1t
is Q thrilling penetration into place which
was chosen because 1t was thought to be secret
and secluded. It Is worth while looking upon
even the barred entrance to reflect upon the
words of the discoverer when he descended the
first fight Of newly uncovered steps, poked his
head through an opening that had just been
made in the curtain wall, turned on an electric
11ashlight and exclaimed Wonderful thingsl"
RUT the fact stands that for many years
Biban el-Muluk was open to visitors, with
as rich treasure to display as today, and
few people visited it because 1t had not become