74 Shells as evidence of the Migrations. 
at a very early period in their history. In their search 
for the Red Sea cowries, and other shells, used as 
desirable objects for placing in the graves of the dead in 
Pre-dynastic and later times, they must have soon become 
familiar with the mother-of-pearl shell.’ 
According to Kunz and Stevenson (of. ct, p. 6) the 
pearl-shell was in use as an ornament in ancient Egypt as 
early as the vith dynasty. In investigating the ruins of 
ancietit Thebes, Dr. J. T. Dennis discovered several of 
these shells bearing cartouches of that period. In graves 
of the XxIth dynasty, Red Sea pearl-shells have been 
found engraved with the name of Senusert I. These 
shells are perforated with two holes for wearing as a 
pectoral pendant, as in the Pacific Islands and elsewhere. 
In the ‘pan graves’ of the same period, mother-of-pearl 
bracelets occurred made of narrow strips of shell, per- 
forated at each end and threaded together, thus forming a 
flexible band” Similar discoveries have been made in 
Nubia." 
The presence of the marine pearl-shell in Egypt has 
been looked upon by some authorities as indicating an 
early trade wifh India. On this point Lacouperie’ re- 
marks: “Commercial relations between the Kushite 
emporia of South Arabia, the West coast of India, and 
® It is of interest to note that the use of cowries is intimately associated 
with that of pearls in most of the area occupied by the megalithic culture. 
* W. M. Flinders Petrie, ‘‘ Amulets,”” London, 1914, p. 27, pl. xliv., 
fig. 112a, An exactly similar specimen, engraved with the same name, from 
Kifeh, 1907, is in the Manchester Museum. 
7 W.M. Flinders letrie, ‘* Diospolis Parva, The Cemeteries of Abadiyeh 
and Hu, 1898-9,” 1901, p. 46, pl. xl. 
* G. A. Reisner, ** The Archwological Survey of Nubia.” Report for 
1907-08, vol. i., Archeological Keport, Cairo, 1910, p. 54, pl. 70%. 
* T. de Lacouperie, ** Western Origin of the Early Chinese Civilisation," 
London, 1804, pp. 97-08. 
