Betzom's Researches and Operations in Egypt, N?ihia, ^c, 215 



the air, and supported by two hawks, which hold the cords 

 drawn by various figures ; and many other emblems and sym- 

 bolical devices. The figures on the wall of the well are nearly 

 as large as life. They appear to represent several deities j some 

 receiving offerings from people of various classes. 



" Next is the first hall, which has four pillars in the centre, at 

 each side of which are two figures, generally a male and a female 

 deity. On the right hand side wall there are three tiers of fi- 

 gures one above the other, which is the general system almost 

 all over the tomb. In the upper tier are a number of men pulling 

 a chain attached to a standing mummy, which is apparently un- 

 moved by their efforts. The two beneath consist of funeral pro- 

 cessions, and a row of mummies lying on frames horizontally on 

 the ground. On the left is a military and mysterious procession, 

 consisting of a great number of figures all looking toward a man 

 who is much superior to them in size, and faces them. At the 

 end of this procession are three different sorts of people, from 

 other nations, evidently Jews, Ethiopians, and Persians. Behind 

 them are some Egyptians without their ornaments, as if they 

 were captives rescued and retiirning to their country, followed 

 by a hawk- headed figure, I suppose their protecting deitv. (This 

 procession is represented on Plates 6, 7, and 8.) 



"I have the satisfactiouof announcing to the reader, that, ac« 

 cording to Dr. Young's late discovery of a great number of hiero- 

 glypijics, he found the names of Nichao and Psammethis his 

 son, inserted in the drawings I have taken of this tomb. It is 

 the first time that hieroglyphics have been explained with such 

 accuracy, whicli proves the doctor's system beyond doubt to be 

 tlie right key for reading this unknown language ; and it is to 

 be hoped that he will succeed in completing his arduous and 

 difficult undertaking, as it would give to the world the history 

 of one of the most primitive nations, of which we are now totally 

 ignorant. Nichao conquered Jerusalem and Babylon, and his 

 son Psammethis made war against the Ethiopians. What can 

 be more clear than the above procession ? The people of the 

 three nations are distinctly seen. The Persians, the Jews, and 

 the Ethiopians, come in, followed by some captive Egyptians, 

 as if returning into their country, guarded by a protecting deity. 

 The reason why the Egyptians must be presumed to have been cap- 

 tives is, their being divested of all the ornaments which served 

 to decorate and distinguish them from one another. The Jews 

 are clearly distinguished by their physiognomy and complexion, 

 the Ethiopians by their colour and ornaments, and the Persians 

 by their well-known dress, as they arc so often icen in the battles 

 with the Egyptians. 



" In the front of thib hall, fating the entrance, is one of the 



finc!-t 



