GRAPHIC ART OF THE ESKIMOS. 817 



top — one a figure of rectangles within one another, and the other a 

 figure of rude rings surrounding one another. 



It is strange that these two designs should be suggested upon the 

 Roman lamp from Carthage, the latter of an early Christian period, 

 and from the same quarter of Africa. It is probable that both designs 

 may liave their origin in the peculiar Oriental patterns so fi^eely 

 employed in Mohammedan countries, in some of Avhich they even ante- 

 date the birth of Mohammed. The occurrence of like designs in Turk- 

 estan is also mentioned, and their apparent absence in Hindustan, 

 as illustrated by the collections in the National Museum, is rather 

 remarkable. 



The delicate zigzag lines on the middle band of the sheath are appar- 

 ently made in the same manner as like xiatterns on Polynesian weapons 

 and ornaments, by pressing forward upon the tool, and at the same 

 time rocking it from side to side, the lateral incised points being made 

 as the lateral cutting edge is depressed, and again liberated when 

 turning the tool toward the opjjosite side to make a similar mark. The 

 work is performed rapidly, and may be crudely though similarly imi- 

 tated by means of a very narrow chisel and a piece of hard wood. 



The recent discoveries in Egyi)t by Mr. Flinders-Petrie are of so 

 high an interest to arclucology generally, that a brief reference thereto 

 may be of interest, especially so because some of the pottery is deco- 

 rated not only with figures of animals and birds, but a common decora- 

 tive motive which represents "a long boat with two cabins, an ensign 

 pole, and many oars; sometimes the figure of a man is added." A red 

 ware, said to have been imported from the Mediterranean region, bears 

 decorations of "dents de loup," flowers, and plants. 



Of great interest is the discovery of vessels bearing numerous 

 figures of concentric circles, vases of ruder type than the lathe-made 

 ceramics of the Egyptians, and recognized to be the workmanship of a 

 foreign people. 



These intruders, the evidences of whose general culture, beliefs, aud funeral cus- 

 toms show them to have been strangers in the Nile ^'alley. Not a single detail of 

 their culture did they hold in common with the Egyptians. Moreover, their num- 

 ber, which was found to have spread o\er a considerable portion of upper Egypt, 

 from Abydos to Gebelen, over one hundred miles, whilst their influence was observ- 

 able from Tenneh to Hieraconpolis, i. e., over three hundred and fifty miles, and 

 absolute control of the region which they assumed and which is shown by the total 

 absence of any object recalling Egyptian civilization, show them not only to have 

 been invaders, but invaders who once had swept over the region and who, settling 

 down, had lived there for a considerable i)eriod, borrowing little or nothing of the 

 people whose land they occupied. ' 



In connection with the report made by Mrs. Cornelius Stevenson, 

 whose words I have quoted. Doctor D. Gr. Brinton remarks that these 



'Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pa., XXXV 

 18%. p. 57, Plate IV. 



NAT MUS 95 52 



