egyptian and assyrian antiquities. 57 



Assyrian Antiquities : — 



The general re-arrangement of the Babylonian and 

 Assyrian collections (the unexhibited section) has been con- 

 tinued ; the tablets of the Kuyunjik Collection have been 

 re-examined, and all "rejoins" have been noted on the 

 labels ; a considerable number of important fragments have 

 been identified. The paper " squeezes " of cuneiform texts 

 have been sorted, and a large number of new impressions 

 have been made for purposes of publication. Two thousand 

 two hundred and fifty-seven tablets have been numbered ; 

 three thousand nine hundred and thirty-two Babylonian 

 tablets have been re-numbered; the numbers of 26,676 

 tablets have been entered in the registers ; and sixteen 

 thousand eight hundred and seventy-six boxes have been 

 prepared for tablets. 



One hundred and eighty-three tablets have been cleaned, 

 and two hundred and seventy-four tablets have been 

 repaired. 



An index to the " Evil Spirit texts " has been made. 



Four hundred and seventy texts have been copied for 

 publication ; three thousand and fifty-four tablets have been 

 registered. 



Publications. — Parts XIV. and XV. of "Cuneiform Texts 

 from Babylonian Tablets, &c. in the British Museum," have 

 been compiled and issued, and the first volume of " The 

 Annals of the Kings of Assyria" has been compiled and 

 printed. 



Students. — About two thousand five hundred and sixty 

 visits have been made to the Department by students and 

 others ; and about eight thousand objects have been issued 

 for their use. 



Six hundred and thirty persons have been personally 

 conducted through the Department by the staff". 



TI. — A cquisitions. 

 Egyptian : — 



1. Four red and buff* ware vases ornamented with 



figures of boats, ostriches, and linear designs^ of 

 the Predynastic Period. From Gebelen in 

 Upper Egypt. Not later than B.C. 4000. 



2. An ostrich egg, pierced for suspension, and 



covered with traces of a painted design. Pre- 

 dynastic Period. Not later than B.C. 4000. The 

 egg of the ostrich appears to have possessed 

 some religious significance, even in the Pre- 

 dynastic Period, and it is probable that the 

 custom of hanging ostrich eggs in mosques and 



