Distribution of Pearls and Peart-shell. 7. 
g / 
the South as far as Ceylon, were perhaps already opened 
at the time of the x1Ith dynasty of Egypt.” But, he 
goes on to say, “the proof is not above suspicion. It 
consists of a shell of mother-of-pearl, such as those of 
Ceylon, which, inscribed with the cartouche of Usurtasen, 
was bought in Egypt in 1883 by Professor Sayce. It 
may have been engraved long after the reign of that 
sovereign.” There is no reason, however, to doubt the 
authenticity of this specimen in the light of the more 
recent discoveries mentioned above, but the evidence of 
its Ceylon origin is untrustworthy. As the same species 
of pearl-shell inhabits the Red Sea, it is more probable 
that this was its true source. 
In addition to the mother-of-pearl shell, pearls them- 
selves were used by the Egyptians, though from an 
examination of representations of the costumes of ancient 
Eeypt, they do not appear to have been employed to any 
great extent in their decorations.” They are represented 
on old Egyptian monuments, and diadems of pearls have 
been found from time to time in ancient sarcophagi. 
From about 1500 B.c., Egyptian women wore earrings, 
generally simple loops of gold, from which hung pendants 
of precious stones and pearls. They, likewise, wore neck- 
laces made of alternate rows of shells (cowries, etc.), coral, 
scarabei, precious stones and pearls. One ornament worn 
by both sexes was the gorget, upon which pearls were 
embroidered in elaborate patterns." It was not, however, 
until after the Persian conquest in the fifth century B.C. 
that pearls were used extensively.” 
The Egyptians were also familiar with their own local 
1° Kunz and Stevenson, of. cz/., p. 6. 
11 FE. W. Streeter, ‘fPearls and Pearling Life,” London, 1886, pp. 
33°34. 
12 Kunz and Stevenson, of. c7f., p. 6. 
