2l8 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION 



many seem to think. An experienced official of the Museum at 

 Cairo believes that the great sites and fields of exploration in that 

 laud will be virtually exhausted within fifteen years, and that later 

 explorers will have only a gleaning from the harvest. A more cau- 

 tious scholar thinks that the opportunities for exploration in Egypt 

 may continue for twenty years yet, except the supply of classical 

 papyri, which is likely to be exhausted earlier ; but the work of 

 exploration is so well done now and is so largely under American 

 influence that no reason exists for another special expedition to 

 Egypt. A multiplication of agencies in so limited a field is not 

 desirable, and no new leader would accomplish so much with the 

 same means as the present explorers. 



Turkey. — The Turkish government theoretically approves of arche- 

 ological explorations in its territory, and allows them under certain 

 conditions. Naturally, the consent of the owner of the land on which 

 excavations are to be made must be secured, a government inspector 

 must be paid, etc.; but these are mere matters of detail. Practi- 

 cally, however, the necessary firman for excavations is often delayed. 

 Every request for such permission must receive the approval of the 

 Sultan, and since the supreme head of the Turkish Empire allows 

 little authority to his ministers of state and holds in his own hands 

 all the reins of the chariot of government, so that many matters of 

 importance to the realm are left without attention, no one can feel 

 surprised that petitions which interest no Turk are often and long 

 postponed. An American, Dr. Banks, recently has had action on 

 a request for permission to conduct excavations delayed for more 

 than two years (I think, for five years) on one pretext or another ; 

 one site proved not to be available in the opinion of the government, 

 because the neighboring tribes of Arabs were unruly and might cause 

 trouble ; another site was not available because part of it was occu- 

 pied by Turkish graves ; and similar excuses are found without diffi- 

 culty by Turkish officials. But in the past, English and Americans 

 have been allowed to make excavations in the Turkish Empire — wit- 

 ness the American excavations at Assos and at Nippur, and the Brit- 

 ish excavations at Koyunjik and at Ephesus ; and excavations are in 

 progress at present in Asia Minor under the care of Germans, Aus- 

 trians, and recently by the French. So, with patience, permission 

 may be secured for any American excavations in that region. Well 

 informed persons believe that Dr. Banks's request was opposed by an 

 influence which would not be exerted so strongly against excavations 

 near the Mediterranean. No longer would it be possible for a for- 



