THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 75 



the Usertesen pyramid was completed, the workmen's colony was 

 naturally dispersed, and so Kahun became gradually deserted. 

 Some few inhabitants lingered on till the eighteenth dynasty, when 

 the town was finally abandoned. But previous to this the rock 

 cellar tomb where our wonders were discovered had been used as a 

 sepulchre. 



Mr. Petrie, the Egyptian discoverer, is of the opinion that at the 

 end of the nineteenth or early in the twentietfi dynasty, (about iioo 

 B. C.,) the tomb was rifled and again used as a place of burial by 

 some new comers in search of a sepulchre for their family. As was 

 common, the later people plundered the early mummies, decorating 

 their own dead with the spoils. From that period until Mr. Petrie 

 broke into the cellar the place had been undisturbed. The light 

 of day had not entered since the time of Moses, some 3000 years. 



Several coffins were deposited in the vault, the mummies being 

 in a very decayed state, and much of the wood-work found was in 

 the same condition. Among the articles found here are some ex- 

 quisite specimens of the jeweller's, potter's and lapidary's art. Not 

 the least interesting is a large chair of black wood, perfect except 

 the seating and the front legs, which the custom was to break off 

 before entombment : this was done to prevent it being again used, 

 and in order that the ghost of the chair should duly accompany its 

 owner to the other world for future service. 



In the rich and varied collection gathered by Mr. Petrie in his 

 investigations, the whole life of the people is brought before our 

 eyes, from the toys of the children, through their every-day life, 

 down to their death and embalming. We seem to be dwelling in 

 Egypt and observing the daily life and customs of this old, old 

 race. There are many things shown which make us, living in this 

 nineteenth century after Christ, with all its wonders and inventions, 

 feel astonishment at the knowledge and practice of the Egyptians 

 who lived 1500 years before Christ. Amongst other marvels of Mr. 

 Petrie's collection may be mentioned a delicately wrought lady's 

 hand-mirror, ornamental beads for embroidery so small that one 

 wonders how they could be made — 93 only weigh a grain, papyri 

 dating from the time of Abraham, hinges that interlock, and an 

 incubator for hatching eggs. 



The tomb contained twelve large wooden coffins, all the mum- 

 mies having been badly embalmed. The best preserved of the 



