ACCOUNTS, &C. OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. IJ 



Department of Oriental Antiquities. 



I. — Arrangement. 



In the Egyptian division additional recesses in the Northern Egyptian Gallery have 

 been fitted up and glazed, and a large table-case for the reception of small objects has 

 been placed in the Northern Gallery. 



Six large objects have been mounted on granite plinths, 15 other objects on new stone 

 pedestals, six tablets have been framed and glazed, and three objects placed under glass, 

 in the Egyptian Galleries. 



94 small Egyptian objects have been mounted. 



Eight Egyptian paintings from the walls of tombs have been repaired, mounted, "-lazed, 

 and fixed in the Northern Egyptian Gallery. Five of these were presented by H. D. 

 Seymour, Esq. 



Many of the smaller Egyptian tablets in the galleries have been fixed to the shelves 

 with iron brackets. 



38 pieces of Egyptian papyri have been unrolled, 34 have been mounted, 12 bound in 

 portfolios ; 15 sheets of papyri have been mounted, and seven glazed. 



32 pieces of linen inscribed with Hieratic inscriptions have been unrolled and mounted, 

 and 13 have been glazed. 



Eight pieces of leather with Coptic inscription of a magical character have been glazed 

 and bound in portfolios. 



Seven Egyptian inscribed tiles have been placed in cardboard boxes. 



282 Egyptian objects have been catalogued. 



17 papyri have been catalogued. 



513 descriptive slips have been inserted in the Egyptian Catalogue. 



Fac-similes of an Egyptian Hieratic papyrus preparing for publication have been 

 revised and 12 plates of the same printed oft". 



In the Assyrian division progress has been made in the glazing of the Assyrian sculp- 

 tures displayed in the basement, and the slabs on the west side have been protected 

 by glass. 



The recess behind the Assyrian winged Bull, on the south side of the Assyrian 

 transept, has been fitted up with shelves for the reception of Assyrian and Babylonian 

 bricks. 



Progress has been made in the detailed examination of Assyrian clay tablets, the whole 

 of the unexhibited historical fragments have been classed, arranged, and placed in card- 

 board boxes ; the astrological and bilingual divisions have been examined and classed, and 

 many fragments of the same cleaned, repaired, and joined. 



The inscriptions of many of the engraved cylinders in hard stone have been examined 

 and deciphered. 



The presses for the temporary reception of Assyrian clay tablets under examination 

 have been fitted v/ith doors and locks. 



An additional table-case has been placed In the Nimroud Gallery, and various objects 

 from that locality arranged for exhibition on It, and the drawers filled with Assyrian 

 inscribed clay tablets. 



12 small Assyrian objects have been mounted on stone. 



551 Assyrian inscribed clay tablets have been joined and repaired. 



197 Assyrian inscribed clay tablets and 32 Ivories have been placed in cardboard 

 boxes. 



12 small Assyrian objects have been mounted. 



133 engraved cylinders and stones have been mounted. 



The description of the Oriental Collections In the Guide has been revised. 



1,910 objects have been registered and had registration marks attached to them. 



527 descriptive labels have been prepared for objects exhibited to the public. 



205 numbers have been printed to attach to objects in the collections. 



II. — Acquisitions. 



The number of objects acquired by the Department during the year was 84. 



Amongst them the following are the most remarkable: — 



The outer, inner coffin, and mummy of Shepshet, a female, the coffins elaborately 

 painted with scenes and hieroglyphics representing the goddess Nu, judgment of the dead, 

 visit of the soul to the body, and other vignettes and dedications. Found In a tomb 

 three miles N. W. of the Colossi of the Plains of Gournah, of the period of the 26th 

 dynasty, about B.C. 650. Presented by H.K.H. the Prince of Wales, k.g. 



Coffin and mummy of a female named Bakrans or Bocchorls, with similar scenes painted 

 in bright colours. Found In the same tomb at Gournah. Of the period of the 25th 

 dynasty, about B.C. 720. Presented by H.K.H. the Prince of Wales, k.g. 



Wooden pallet of a scribe, and top of a wooden flabellum Inscribed with the name of 

 Nebseni, a functionary. Presented by A. W. Franks, Esq. 



274. B 3 Woode 



