74 Shells as evidence of tJie Mii^iirtioris. 



at a ver\- eaii\- period in their history. In their search 

 for the Red Sea cowries, and other shells, used as 

 desirable objects for placing in the graves of the dead in 

 I^re-dynastic and later times, they must have soon become 

 familiar with the mother-of-pearl shell.'' 



According to Kunz and Stevenson {op. cit., p. 6) the 

 pearl-shell was in use as an ornament in ancient Kgypt as 

 early as the Vlth dynasty. In investigating the ruins of 

 ancient Thebes, Dr. J. T. Dennis discovered several of 

 these shells bearing cartcjuches of that period. In graves 

 of the Xllth dyna.sty. Red Sea pearl-shells have been 

 found engraved with the name of Senusert I.*^ These 

 shells are perforated with two lioles for wearing as a 

 pectoral pendant, as in the Pacific Islands aiul elsewhere. 

 In the ' pan graves ' of the >ame period, mother-of-pearl 

 bracelets occurred made of narrow strips of shell, per- 

 forated at each end and threaded together, thus forming a 

 flexible band.' Similar discoveries ha\e been made in 

 Nubia.'* 



The presence of the marine pearl-shell in Kg>'i)t has 

 been looked upon by some authorities as indicating an 

 early trade with India. On this i)()int Lacouperie'' re- 

 marks : "Commercial relations between the Kushite 

 emporia of South .Arabia, the West coast of India, and 



'- It is of intcre.st lo note iliat ihe use of cowries i^ iiiliinalely associated 

 willi that of jjearls in ni(»t of the area occupied by the nie_<,'ali;hic culture. 



•■ W. .\I. Flinders I'etrie, "Amulets,'" London, 1914, p. 27, pi. xliv., 

 fii,'. II2(?. An exactly similar specimen, engraved with the same name, from 

 Rifeli. 1907, is in the Mancliester Museum. 



■ W. .M. Flinders I'etrie, '• Dio^polis I'arva, Tiie Cemeteries of Al.adiyeh 

 and Hu, 1898-9," 1901, p. 46, pi. .\1. 



" (i. A. Rei-sner, '* The Arcluvolo^ical Survey of Xuhia.'" Report for 

 1907-0S, vol. i., Archiwjlogical Report, Cairo, 1910, p. 54, \A. 70/'. 



'■• T. de liacouperie, " Western Origin of the Earlv Chinese Civilisation," 

 London, 1894, pp. 97-yS. 



