Distribution of Pearls and Pearl-shell. 75 



the South as far as Ceylon, were perhaps already opened 

 at the time of the xilth 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 (Jsurtasen, 

 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 

 Egypt, they do not appear to have been employed to any 

 great extent in their decorations. 10 They are represented 

 on old Egyptian monuments, and diadems of pearls have 

 been found from time to time in ancient sarcophagi. 

 From about 1506 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. 11 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 



10 Kunz and Stevenson, op. cit., p. 6. 



11 K. \V. Streeter. "Pearls and Pearling Life," London, 1886, pp. 

 33-34- 



- Kunz and Stevenson, op. cit., p. 6. 



