54 ELLIOT SMITH, Distribution of Mummification. 



acquisition of knowledge useful to them for the preserva- 

 tion both of their food and their dead relatives ! 



To the constituent elements of the " heliolithic " cul- 

 ture may now be added the practices of anointing with 

 oil or ungents, the burning of incense and the offering of 

 libations, all derived from the ritual of embalming. 



In considering the southern extension of Egyptian 

 influence it must be remembered that as early " as 2600 

 B.C. the Egyptian had already begun the exploitation of 

 the Upper Nile and had been led in military force as far 

 as the present Province of Dongola " (62, p. 23). For 

 several centuries Nubia and the Soudan were left very 

 much to themselves. Then during the time of the Middle 

 Kingdom Egypt once more exerted a powerful influence 

 to the South. At the close of that period Egypt was 

 overrun by the Hyksos. 



At Kerma, near the Third Cataract, Reisner has 

 recently unearthed a cemetery which he refers to the 

 Hyksos Period (62, p. 23). " The burial customs are 

 revolting in their barbarity. On a carved bed in the 

 middle of a big circular pit the chief personage lies on 

 his right side with his head east. Under his head is a 

 wooden pillow : between his legs a sword or dagger. 

 Around the bed lie a varying number of bodies, male and 

 female, all contracted on the right side, head east. Among 

 them are the pots and pans, the cosmetic jars, the stools, 

 and other objects. Over the whole burial is spread a 

 great ox-hide. It is clear they were all buried at once. 

 The men and women round about must have been 

 sacrificed so that their spirits might accompany the chief 

 to the other world. .... I could not escape the belief 

 that they had been buried alive" (62). These funerary 

 practices supply a most important link in the chain which 

 I am endeavouring to forge. I would especially call 



