Wilkinson, John Gardner: Topographie of Thebes, and general view of Egypt: being a short account of the principal objects worthy of notice in the valley of the Nile, to the second cataracte and Wadi Samneh, with the Fyoom, Oases and eastern desert, from Sooez to Bertenice (London, 1835)

Chap. II.] THE FOUR NATIONS----DRAWING. 107

feathers in their hair, and crosses or other devices
about their persons, and dressed in long flowing
robes, the east.* These then are not in the charac-
ter of prisoners, but a typification of the four divi-
sions of the world or the whole human race; and are
introduced among the sculptures of these sepulchres
in the same abstract sense as the trades of the
Egyptians in the tombs of private individuals; the
latter being an epitome of human life, as far as re-
garded this people by themselves, the former refer-
ring to the inhabitants of the whole world.

On the end wall of this hall is a fine group, which
is remarkable as well for the elegance of its draw-
ing as for the richness and preservation of the color-
ing. The subject is the introduction of the king,
by Horus, into the presence of Osiris and Athor.

Though not the most striking, the most interest-
ing drawings in this tomb are those of the un-
finished chamber beyond the hall; nor can any
one look upon those figures with the eye of a
draughtsman without paying a just tribute to the
skill and freedom of touch manifested in their
outlines. In Egyptian bas-reliefs the position of
the figures was first decided by the artist, who
traced them roughly with a red colour, and the
draughtsman then carefully sketched the outlines
in black, and submitted them to the inspection of
the former, who altered (as appears in some few
instances here) those parts which he deemed defi-
cient in proportion or correctness of attitude; and

* Such is the dress of the Refoo, their Eastern enemies.