D'Athanasi, Giovanni; Salt, Henry [Hrsg.]: A brief account of the researches and discoveries in Upper Egypt: To which is added a detailed catalogue of Mr. Salts collection of Egyptian antiquities (London, 1836)

FINE CLIMATE OF THEBES. 61

should certainly be at a loss to attribute their so
perfect preservation to any other cause than the
fine quality of the atmosphere of Thebes. On the
same principle I am induced to account for the
preservation of a great many things which have
been thro wn by accident into the earth, and which
are now occasionally discovered not in the least
injured through the lapse of time. What would
the reader say, for instance, to find rolls of cloth
almost as white and as strong as at the day when
they were made. Such facts appear almost incre-
dible to those who do not know the splendid
climate .of this country; but that no scepticism
may exist on the subject, I need merely announce
that several pieces of cloth of this description
are contained in the collection which I recently
brought to this country.—(See Catalogue, No.
1065.J)

In 1824, in the course of one of our excava-
tions we found the mummies of three musicians,
with their instruments of music all in excellent
preservation. A harp with twenty-two strings
was so well preserved that very harmonious sounds
might still be produced from it. It is not larger
than that which is found designed in the little
chamber of Bruce's Royal Tomb. A drum also,