THE AGE OF BRONZE IN EGYPT. 515 



The Egyptians ueie forced to import the tin neces.siiry ibr their ia 

 (histries, and this was certainly an enormous (luantity. They i)robal)ly 

 had recourse to Asia, for tliis precious metal, even more indisi>ensal)le 

 in antiquity than in our own days.* Copper, on the other hand, was 

 common, if not in their owu country, at least in the iaimediate vicinity. 

 The peninsula of Sinai {)Ossesses considerable mines, mining oi)eratious 

 in which began at a period very remote. 



* Ennan. ^(/ypteit, p. (J13. 



