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)

110

TIMBUCTOO.

and hieroglyphics which it contained were the
most beautiful and of the best gilding which have
ever been found. If the case to which it belonged
had not been injured by the rain, this would have
been the finest specimen and the most admirable
of all the antiquities found up to the present
moment. (See Catalogue, No. 1126.J

Speaking one day with Mr. Lignon, I learned
from him that in the mountains between Beni
Souef and Menia, an Egyptian tomb had been
discovered; but he would not tell me in what di-
rection it was, and was greatly alarmed lest any
one should publish an account of it before himself;
1 trust therefore he will lose no time in laying before
the world an account of this, together with the other
interesting discoveries which he has made during
his travels. I understand that this gentleman is
going to Timbuctoo, on account of the French
Government; of all men, there is not another
more capable of undertaking such an expedition,
and of succeeding in it, accustomed as he already
is to all the incidental fatigues and privations.

From the moment I heard of this perilous pro-
ject I began making enquiries on the subject, and
at length, two years ago, met with a pilgrim from
Timbuctoo, named Hadgi Mohammed Houssen