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was going on below。 At last the rope ceased shaking and a faint shout
came rumbling up the well； announcing Ali's safe arrival。 Then； far
below； a tiny star of light appeared。 He had lit the candle； thereby
disturbing hundreds of bats that flitted up in an endless stream and
as silently as spirits。 The rope was hauled up again； and now it was
my turn； but； as I declined to trust my neck to the hand…over…hand
method of descent； the end of the cord was made fast round my middle
and I was lowered bodily into those sacred depths。 Nor was it a
pleasant journey； for； if the masters of the situation above had made
any mistake； I should have been dashed to pieces。 Also； the bats
continually flew into my face and clung to my hair； and I have a great
dislike of bats。 At last； after some minutes of jerking and dangling；
I found myself standing in a narrow passage by the side of the worthy
Ali； covered with bats and perspiration； and with the skin rubbed off
my knees and knuckles。 Then another man came down； hand over hand like
a sailor； and as the rest were told to stop above we were ready to go
on。 Ali went first with his candleof course we each had a candle
leading the way down a long passage about five feet high。 At length
the passage widened out； and we were in the tomb…chamber： I think the
hottest and most silent place that I ever entered。 It was simply
stifling。 This chamber is a square room cut in the rock and totally
devoid of paintings or sculpture。 I held up the candles and looked
round。 About the place were strewn the coffin lids and the mummied
remains of the two bodies that the Arabs had previously violated。 The
paintings on the former were； I noticed； of great beauty； though；
having no knowledge of hieroglyphics； I could not decipher them。 Beads
and spicy wrappings lay around the remains； which； I saw； were those
of a man and a woman。＇＋＇ The head had been broken off the body of the
man。 I took it up and looked at it。 It had been closely shavedafter
death； I should say； from the general indicationsand the features
were disfigured with gold leaf。 But notwithstanding this； and the
shrinkage of the flesh； I think the face was one of the most imposing
and beautiful that I ever saw。 It was that of a very old man； and his
dead countenance still wore so calm and solemn； indeed； so awful a
look； that I grew quite superstitious （though as you know； I am pretty
well accustomed to dead people）； and put the head down in a hurry。
There were still some wrappings left upon the face of the second body；
and I did not remove them； but she must have been a fine large woman
in her day。
＇*＇ This； I take it； is a portrait of Amenemhat himself。Editor。
＇＋＇ Doubtless Amenemhat and his wife。Editor。
〃'There the other mummy；' said Ali； pointing to a large and solid case
that seemed to have been carelessly thrown down in a corner； for it
was lying on its side。
〃I went up to it and carefully examined it。 It was well made； but of
perfectly plain cedar…woodnot an inscription； not a solitary God on
it。
〃'Never see one like him before；' said Ali。 'Bury great hurry； he no
〃mafish；〃 no 〃fineesh。〃 Throw him down here on side。'
〃I looked at the plain case till at last my interest was thoroughly
aroused。 I was so shocked by the sight of the scattered dust of the
departed that I had made up my mind not to touch the remaining coffin
but now my curiosity overcame me； and we set to work。
〃Ali had brought a mallet and a cold chisel with him； and； having set
the coffin straight； he began upon it with all the zeal of an
experienced tomb…breaker。 And then he pointed out another thing。 Most
mummy…cases are fastened by four little tongues of wood； two on either
side； which are fixed in the upper half； and； passing into mortices
cut to receive them in the thickness of the lower half； are there held
fast by pegs of hard wood。 But this mummy case had eight such tongues。
Evidently it had been thought well to secure it firmly。 At last； with
great difficulty； we raised the massive lid； which was nearly three
inches thick； and there； covered over with a deep layer of loose
spices （a very unusual thing）； was the body。
〃Ali looked at it with open eyesand no wonder。 For this mummy was
not as other mummies are。 Mummies in general lie upon their backs； as
stiff and calm as though they were cut from wood； but this mummy lay
upon its side； and； the wrappings notwithstanding； its knees were
slightly bent。 More than that； indeed； the gold mask； which； after the
fashion of the Ptolemaic period； had been set upon the face； had
worked down； and was literally pounded up beneath the hooded head。
〃It was impossible； seeing these things； to avoid the conclusion that
the mummy before us had moved with violence /since it was put in the
coffin/。
〃'Him very funny mummy。 Him not 〃mafish〃 when him go in there；' said
Ali。
〃'Nonsense！' I said。 'Who ever heard of a live mummy？'
〃We lifted the body out of the coffin； nearly choking ourselves with
mummy dust in the process； and there beneath it half hidden among the
spices； we made our first find。 It was a roll of papyrus； carelessly
fastened and wrapped in a piece of mummy cloth； having to all
appearance been thrown into the coffin at the moment of closing。＇*＇
＇*＇ This roll contained the third unfinished book of the history。 The
other two rolls were neatly fastened in the usual fashion。 All
three are written by one hand in the Demotic character。Editor。
〃Ali eyed the papyrus greedily； but I seized it and put it in my
pocket； for it was agreed that I was to have all that might be
discovered。 Then we began to unwrap the body。 It was covered with very
broad strong bandages； thickly wound and roughly tied； sometimes by
means of simple knots； the whole working the appearance of having been
executed in great haste and with difficulty。 Just over the head was a
large lump。 Presently； the bandages covering it were off； and there；
on the face； lay a second roll of papyrus。 I put down my hand to lift
it； but it would not come away。 It appeared to be fixed to the stout
seamless shroud which was drawn over the whole body； and tied beneath
the feetas a farmer ties sacks。 This shroud； which was also thickly
waxed； was in one piece； being made to fit the form like a garment。 I
took a candle and examined the roll and then I saw why it was fast。
The spices had congealed and glued it to the sack…like shroud。 It was
impossible to get it away without tearing the outer sheets of
papyrus。＇*＇
＇*＇ This accounts for the gaps in the last sheets of the second roll。
Editor。
〃At last； however； I wrenched it loose and put it with the other in my
pocket。
〃Then we went on with our dreadful task in silence。 With much care we
ripped loose the sack…like garment； and at last the body of a man lay
before us。 Between his knees was a third roll of papyrus。 I secured
it； then held down the light and looked at him。 One glance at his face
was enough to tell a doctor how he had died。
〃This body was not much dried up。 Evidently it had not passed the
allotted seventy days in natron； and therefore the expression and
likeness were better preserved than is usual。 Without entering into
particulars； I will only say that I hope I shall never see such
another look as that which was frozen on this dead man's face。 Even
the Arabs recoiled from it in horror and began to mutter prayers。
〃For the rest； the usual opening on the left side through which the
embalmers did their work was absent； the finely…cut features were
those of a person of middle age； although the hair was already grey；
and the frame was that of a very powerful man； the shoulders being of
an extraordinary width。 I had not time to examine very closely；
however； for within a few seconds from its uncovering； the unembalmed
body began to crumble now that it was exposed to the action of the
air。 In five or six minutes there was literally nothing left of it but
a wisp of hair； the skull； and a few of the larger bones。 I noticed
that one of the tibi？I forget if it was the right or the lefthad
been fractured and very badly set。 It must have been quite an inch
shorter than the other。
〃Well； there was nothing more to find； and now that the excitement was
over； what between the heat； the exertion； and the smell of mummy dust
and spices； I felt more dead than alive。
〃I am tired of writing； and this ship rolls。 This letter； of course；
goes overland； and I am coming by 'long sea；' but I hope to be in
London within ten days after you get it。 Then I will tell you of my
pleasing experiences in the course of the ascent from the tomb…
chamber； and of how that prince of rascals； Ali Baba； and his thieves
tried to frighten me into handing over the papyri； and how I worsted
them。 Then； too； we will get the rolls deciphered。 I expect that they
only contain the usual thing； copie