HIEROGLYPHICAL RESEARCHES. 297 



Grey's manuscript related, not to the sale of a house 

 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, 

 all written in the Enchorial character of the Rosetta 

 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.* In those days, as 

 we know, the Egyptians were the best land-surveyors 



* And the persons concerned were equally well defined. In 

 this respect the Egyptians might vie with the writers of Conti- 

 nental 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 com- 

 plexion, and handsome figure, bald, round faced, and straight 

 nosed ; by Snachomneus, aged about twenty, of middle size, sal- 

 low complexion, likewise round faced and straight nosed ; and by 

 Semmuthis Persinei, aged about twenty-two, of middle size, sal- 

 low 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 Xechutes 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 securi- 

 ties for the validity of the sale. It was accepted by Nechutes 

 the purchaser." 



