Evening star., 1932-09-18

their work equipped with saws and other tools
for q complete haul. They had no need for the
chairs and other palace furniture. Such thinss
intact were too hard to tr.nspoFt ans md -sse ere
robbers were after the precious metals 70 hv-
iShly plated over the furniture.
And when the metals were stripped Oh, the
thieves could still dispose of plaslks Of cedar,
sycamore and tamarisk wood. So, by the light
of lamps set in broken saucers, the vandals
chopped with their tools in the shadowy echoing
tomb, and wrecked household furnishings that
were undoubtedly works of art.
The main prize on which the tomb robbers
focused their attention was, Of course, the nest
of cases containing the Queens mummy. No
less than three collins each shaped to resemble
the human form and adorned with the Queens
portrait incased the mummy. And outside OF
that there was big sarcophaguS.
MI Winlock gives vivid description of the
systematic way in which the thieves worked:
They chopped, sawed and broke up the
sarcophagus and the third coffin because both
were so bulky that that the easiest way to
get into them. They seem to have considered
that some of the bigger pieces of wood were
worth taking, however. for they had sawed
through the corner dovetails to separate the
planks without breaking them, and all the
larger boards were missing.
The second coffin was opened without much
damage The lid was wrenched away, but that
only broke the edges opposite the lemons. Then
1t was methodicaly peeled, inside and out. the
sheets of gold were ripped up, nails and all,
and the t13en backing Of the gilded gesso was
stripped off the head. the shoulders and the
column of inscription, bringing OF the inlays
along with it. .-....t.
THE artificial eyebrows and eyelids were
pried out. They were glass and therefore re-
meltable, while the stone eyes themselves were
left as worthless.
"The first cofhn was treated in the same
way. and while it had no inlays the vultore
head, which was probably Of solid metal, was
well worth removing II there was q mask on
the mummy, it was taken away bodily.
,,THE bandases were then slit down the front
from crown to toes, and the inner wrap
pings, hardened with resin were hacked with
an adze as far as the jevelry went. Over the
heart scarab and the incision plaque this meant
practically to the skin.
las we have seen, the thieves missed Moth
ing barring a stray bead or two, a valueless
lock pin from a bracelet and the part of the
girdle which was stuck in the resin-soaked ban
dages across the back
Laden with plunder, the thieves sneaked out
Of the royal cemetery. 1t Is possible, Mr.. VIM
lock says, that the damage was discovered by
inspectors going the rounds. But more hkely,
he thinks, in few hours the news OF such rob-
berries leaked out by gossip and rumor from
house to house
''lF So" he continues, "the police or their
] infomers would have had hints Of the
theft in short order, and we may take 1t that
inspectors were at the tomb very soon after 1t
was broken open.
When q preliminary investigation had fixed
the seriousness of the damage done in the tomb.
q party of restorers was sent there with full
equipment The party brought linen to rewrap
the mummy, flowers to redecorate It and offer
ings to lay at its feet. They brought paint