DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12249#0186
150
TOMBS OP VARIOUS GRADES.
native speculation insists must be there. I came, how-
ever, upon one of those plain tunnel tombs with
its contents unrifled. But they were very meagre,
and consisted merely of four coffins of the ordinary
Egyptian shape, coarsely finished and entirely under-
rated, lying wedged together on the floor of a small
crypt, some thirty feet from the outer air. The
mummies were the subjects of as little adornment as
their cases; and the only memorial adjunct among
them were four coarse pottery figures of the genii of
the Amenti, fastened to the bandages of the shoulders
of one.
Another tomb of similar character, which may be
worth describing, was found in one of the rocky
undulations in front, and not far from the foot of
El Shekh Abd-el-Goorneh. Several brick cones * were
dug up near the entrance, which itself showed other
signs of previous exploring; but presently the out-
line of mummies seemed to break against the dim
light which the clearing of the doorway allowed to
penetrate into the interior. In instances where there
was any prospect of finding a deposit in such a con-
dition as to render an examination of it in its integrity
desirable, a very necessary rule, both for this purpose
and to guard against the risks from fingers of doubtful
reliance in such circumstances, was to enter the tomb
before the workmen were permitted to do so, or effect
any disturbance, and as soon as possible after the
* See p. 137.
TOMBS OP VARIOUS GRADES.
native speculation insists must be there. I came, how-
ever, upon one of those plain tunnel tombs with
its contents unrifled. But they were very meagre,
and consisted merely of four coffins of the ordinary
Egyptian shape, coarsely finished and entirely under-
rated, lying wedged together on the floor of a small
crypt, some thirty feet from the outer air. The
mummies were the subjects of as little adornment as
their cases; and the only memorial adjunct among
them were four coarse pottery figures of the genii of
the Amenti, fastened to the bandages of the shoulders
of one.
Another tomb of similar character, which may be
worth describing, was found in one of the rocky
undulations in front, and not far from the foot of
El Shekh Abd-el-Goorneh. Several brick cones * were
dug up near the entrance, which itself showed other
signs of previous exploring; but presently the out-
line of mummies seemed to break against the dim
light which the clearing of the doorway allowed to
penetrate into the interior. In instances where there
was any prospect of finding a deposit in such a con-
dition as to render an examination of it in its integrity
desirable, a very necessary rule, both for this purpose
and to guard against the risks from fingers of doubtful
reliance in such circumstances, was to enter the tomb
before the workmen were permitted to do so, or effect
any disturbance, and as soon as possible after the
* See p. 137.