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.V.J THE METHOD USED. 247

larger diameter, immediately below, communicating
with the oven, through whose ceiling it is pierced.
By this also the man descends to observe the eggs;
but in the cold season both these are closed, and a
lamp is kept burning instead; another entrance at
the front part of the oven being then used for the
same purpose, and shut immediately on his quitting
it. In the upper room is the fire, disposed along
the whole length of two troughs, based with earthern
slabs, reaching from one side to the other, against
the front and back walls, from A to B, and from
C to D.*

In the oven the eggs are placed in a line cor-
responding to, and immediately below the fire,
A B, and in another corresponding to C D, where
they remain half a day. They are then removed
to A C, and B D; and others (from a heap in the
centre) are arranged at A B and C D, in their stead,
and so on, till all have taken their equal share of
the warmest positions: to which each set returns
again and again, in regular succession, till the ex-
piration of six days.

They are then held up, one by one, towards
a strong light, and if the egg appears clear, and of
an uniform colour, it is evident it has not succeeded;
but if it shows an opaque substance within, or the
appearance of different shades, the chicken is

* Even without the plan, these letters will render the descrip-
tion more intelligible by the imaginary square A B C D.