THE DISCOVERY OF THE PHARAOHS., 167 
it is sad to think of the priceless objects of antiquity which 
must have been dispersed and irrevocably lost during those 
13 years. 
Gradually it became known to the Museum Authorities that 
some very important papyri, and other objects of great histor- 
ical value were being acquired by travellers, and this at last 
led to a full enquiry being made. All these objects were 
traced to the family of Abd er Rasoul. The elder brother 
Ahmed was arrested and thrown into prison, but neither 
bribery nor threats would induce him to disclose the source 
of the treasure, although as much as £3,000 was offered to 
him if he would divulge the secret. JI am quite satisfied from 
the enquiries I made, that the charges which were brought 
against the authorities of cruelly beating their prisoner are 
quite unfounded, notwithstanding Ahmed’s statement to the 
contrary. That he was severely bastinadoed on a subsequent 
occasion there is no doubt, but this was for another offence 
which well merited it. 
The notables and principal men of Gournah, where Ahmed 
Abd er Rasoul lived, affirmed on oath that he was the most 
loyal and disinterested man in the country; that he had never 
dug for treasure, and never would dream of doing anything of 
the kind, and that he was incapable of making away with the 
smallest object of antiquity, least of all violating a royal tomb. 
With this evidence before the court of enquiry Ahmed was 
provisionally liberated, and returned home with this warrant 
of immaculate honesty vouched for by the notables of Gour- 
nah. 
Once more among his brethren, our friend felt that as he 
had sustained the burden and heat of the day it was only fair 
that he should receive in future a larger share of the plunder 
than his brothers. This did not altogether meet the views ot 
the other members of the worthy trio, and terrible and 
protracted quarrels ensued, which finally served as another 
illustration of the proverb that when rogues fall out honest 
