1914] on the- Mortuary Chapels of the Theban Nobles 167 



thus preserving them from further damage. The scenes have also 

 suffered through the collapse of the roofs during earthquakes, through 

 the grinding of the walls by l->ats, through wasps and hornets making 

 their nests on the mud plaster and the detachment of this latter from 

 the walls, through holes being cut in the walls by plunderers, through 

 smoke and dirt caused by their continuous inhabitation even up to 

 the present time, and through the attempts to detach scenes or frag- 

 ments of scenes for sale to Museums and tourists. 



The work of preservation and restoration divides itself into three 

 parts : — 



1. The expropriation of natives who are living in the tombs. 



2. The preserv^ation of such tombs as are already exposed. 



3. The excavation of those which are still buried. 



With the able assistance of the Chief Inspector of Upper Egypt, 

 Mr. Howard Carter, and, more recently, ]\Ir. Weigall, and also 

 that of the native inspector, Rushdi Effendi, who has conducted the 

 actual negotiations, the work of expropriation has proceeded smoothly, 

 and the natives have transferred their abode from rock-cut chapels 

 to new houses which they have built for reasonable compensation — 

 an arrangement which has satisfied both expropriee and expropriator. 

 Where ceilings, walls or columns have icollapsed or been removed, 

 these have been replaced, as far as necessary for the structural 

 stability, by stone walls, brick arches or girders. The replacing of 

 such fragments or destroyed sculptured walls or detached p'trtions of 

 painted mud brick, and the securing of such portions as may have 

 become loosened, is steadily being proceeded with. Copper cHps or 

 studs, plaster-of-Paris cement, either alone or mixed with glue, and 

 similar substances, are used for carefully refixing the detached frag- 

 ments. Wherever possible, casts of fragments preserved in European 

 museums are being obtained, to be replaced in the position from 

 which they originally came. Partly and completely buried tombs are 

 being systematically and carefully excavated, the coartyards are being 

 surrounded with walls to prevent further debris from falling into them, 

 and all chapels which contain sufficient detail to render their accessi- 

 bihty advisable are being fitted with iron gates, with wire netting 

 to prevent bats and wasps having access to the interior. A monthly 

 system of inspection has been instituted, and by these means their 

 safety during the immediate future is effectually provided for. To 

 prevent the abrasion of the colours on the walls, various substances, 

 such as Kessler's magnesium fluo-silicate, a solution of cellulose 

 in acetone, white of eggs, and similar bodies, have been and are 

 being exhaustively tested, as the excessive dryness of the climate 

 and equability of temperature permit the use of a wider range of 

 substances than are permissible in Europe. For instance, cel- 

 lulose solution applied some ten years ago when last examined 

 had still retained the freshness of the colour, and its surface 



