442 
to exercise their conjectures upon. 
Travellers should, therefore, coilect 
asmany as possible of the hiero- 
glyphic characters and publish them 
carefully, that we may thus be fur- 
nished with more points of compa- 
rison for those symbols, through a 
greater variety of combinations. 
The study of the ancient language 
of Egypt would be equally necessa- 
ty for this purpose. I suspect that 
the true nature of the bieroglyphics 
has hitherto been mistaken, while 
all the symbolical figures and cha- 
racters have been supposed to be of 
the same sort. After copying a 
considerable number of hierogly- 
phics from obelisks, sarcophagi, 
urns, and mummies, I began to 
think I could perceive plainly that 
the large figures were emblems, of 
which the smaller might afford an 
explanation. I thought I could also 
distinguish, in these smaller hiero- 
glyphics, some marks of alphabetic 
characters, or at least of a mixed 
species of writing, bearing some re- 
semblance to the alphabetical. 
Wherefore by the study of the lan- 
guageof the Pharaohs, we may come, 
with more ease, to decypher these 
small characters. 
The hieroglyphic _ inscriptions 
are found chiefly in Upper Egypt, 
where al] the monuments, and even 
the walls of those superb temples, 
which are siill standing, are co. ered 
over with inscriptions of this sort. 
It is not less common upon the 
tombs of the mummies at Sakara. 
The embalmed bodies. have covers 
full of hieroglyphics ; and the se- 
pulchral urns are marked with 
them. Such as have been painted 
upon wood and cloth are in as good 
astate of preservation as those which 
are engraven upon stone. It is 
very probable, that, in the caverns 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 17092. 
of Sakara, if these were examined, 
there are other more precious an- 
tiquities. 
To collect these scattered re- 
mains, would be a matter of great 
importance. But travellers, seem 
to have neglected this care; orat 
least to have misemployed_ their 
pains uponit. They satisfy them- 
selves with examining what can be 
seen for money, by paying an infi- 
del guide; but they use no means 
to gain the friendship of the Arabs, 
who rule in Upper Egypt. With- 
out the good-will of this jealous race, 
it must be impossible to make such 
researches with ease or security. 
The Arabs, if cured of their natu- 
ral distrust, would assist, instead of 
obstructing the curious researches of 
strangers. But a person, who would 
gain their friendship, must stay 
longer in this country than is com- 
mon for vhat tribe of travellers who 
go into Egypt, merely that they 
may say they have been there. 
Other travellers are too indolent 
to take the trouble of copying these 
Strange and fantastic characters. 
This task became irksome to me, 
too, at first; but in a short time, 
the hieroglyphics became so fami- 
liar to me, that I could copy then 
with the same ease as alphabetic 
characters, and. found the task an 
amusement instead of a toil. 
But one cannot engage, particu- 
larly in such pursuits, without ex- 
posing one’s self to a variety of ine 
conveniences among an ignorant 
race, who regard Christians with 
distrust ; and are always ready to in- 
sult or abuse them. But we often 
bring such troublesome accidents 
upon ourselves, by neglecting to ac- 
quire a sufficient knowledge of the 
manners and language of the coun- 
try. 
I my- 
