HIEEOGLYPHICAL EESEAECHES. 297 



or field, but to portions of the collections and offer- 

 ings made from time to time for the benefit of a 

 certain number of mummies. The persons of whom 

 the mummies were the remains were described at length 

 in bad Greek ; but though bad, a comparison between 

 it and the Enchorial writing gave important informa- 

 tion regarding the orthography of ancient Egypt. Mr. 

 Grey's collection contained three other similar deeds, 

 .11 written in the Enchorial character of the Kosetta 

 stone, and endorsed with the Greek registry. The 

 dates of these documents closely corresponded with that 

 of the Cassati manuscript, which was 146 years before 

 Christ. They refer to the sale of land, the boundaries 

 of which were very clearly defined. 1 In those days, as 

 we know, the Egyptians were the best land-surveyors 

 in the world. The comparison of these documents 

 formed, as might be expected, an epoch in the history 

 of Egyptian literature. . >, * 



1 And the persons concerned were equally well defined. In this 

 respect the Egyptians might vie with the writers of Continental 

 passports. The following is a translation of the famous papyrus of 

 Anastasy, recording a deed of sale : ' There was sold by Pamonthes, 

 aged about forty-five, of middle size, dark complexion, and hand- 

 some figure, bald, round faced, and straight nosed ; by Snachomneus, 

 aged about twenty, of middle size, sallow complexion, likewise 

 round faced and straight nosed ; and by Semmuthis Persinei, aged 

 about twenty -two, of middle size, sallow complexion, round faced, 

 flat nosed, and of quiet demeanour; and by Tathlyt Persinei, aged 

 about thirty, of middle size, sallow complexion, round face, and 

 straight nose with their principal Pamonthes a party in the sale ; 

 the four being of the children of Petepsais of the leather-cutters 

 of the Memnonia ; out of the piece of level ground which belongs 

 to them in the southern part of the Memnonia, 8,000 cubits of 

 open field. ... It was bought by Nechutes the less, the son of 

 Asos, aged about forty, of middle size, sallow complexion, cheerful 

 countenance, long face, and straight nose, with a scar upon the 

 middle of his forehead, for 601 pieces of brass, the sellers standing 

 as brokers, and as securities for the validity of the sale, It was 

 accepted by Nechutes the purchaser. 



