EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES. 599 



Nearly all the jewels are of gold, often inlaid with precious stones; 

 others are of amethyst, carnelian, turquoise, or lapis lazuli, cut in the 

 form of scarabs, pearls, and pendants, and often set in gold. The mir- 

 rors are of silver or bronze, mounted in gold; the vases of alabaster, 

 carnelian, lapis lazuli, and obsidian, frequently having gold mountings. 



The workmanship of the jewels is exquisite in form, precision, and 

 especially in the composition of designs. The inlaying and the carving 

 are especially beautiful. All this denotes an extremely advanced civil- 

 ization, more developed than it was possible to suppose from what we 

 know about the twelfth dynasty. It would be impossible for me to 

 describe in detail all the forms and particulars of each one of the 

 iewels. I shall content myself by noting the principal objects, those of 

 the greatest historical or artistic importance. 



In the first treasure I found a breastplate in gold, enriched with 

 precious stones and representing the cartouche of King Ousertesen II 

 supported by two crowned hawks, two bracelets, several clasps of 

 necklaces, all in gold, inlaid with lapis lazuli, carnelian, Egyptian 

 emerald, turquoise, and obsidian (?), and several scarabs, one of which 

 contained the name of Ousertesen III, and another that of the Princess 

 Hathor-Sat. These two scarabs are veritable marvels, both because of 

 the material of which they are engraved — they are amethyst — as well 

 as because of the workmanship. Other objects discovered were six 

 crouching golden lions with collars made of pearls of gold, amethyst, 

 and lapis lazuli; large golden shells, figured with cypresses, others 

 representing pearl oysters: a golden collar; a mirror of silver enriched 

 with gold; and a lot of small objects of the most perfect workmanship. 



The second treasure is much more important than the first, and 

 includes several hundred objects, among the choicest of which I will 

 mention a breastplate of gold enriched with stones. In the center 

 is the cartouche of King Amenemhat III. On both sides the king is 

 seen, upright, raising his club and striking an Asiatic captive, desig- 

 nated by a text at the side, and above a vulture soars with outspread 

 wings. The reverse contains the same representations in chased gold; 

 the inlaying of this piece is on lapis lazuli, Egyptian emerald, Mdspath, 

 turquoise, carnelian and black obsidian ( ?). These gems are not only 

 cut in the requisite forms, but are also so delicately engraved that the 

 heads of king and of captive and the bodies show in relief the smallest 

 details. Another pectoral of the same king bears his cartouche, sup- 

 ported by two griffons. Four captives are figured on this jewel, two 

 Asiatics and two negroes. On the reverse are the same scenes engraved 

 in gold. These two pieces, of first importance, are, with the pectoral 

 of Ousertesen II, the finest jewels discovered, and the next in rank are 

 the inlaid bracelets containing the cartouche of Amenemhat III. There 

 were also found numerous scarabs with the names of kings and prin- 

 cesses; three mirrors, two of them of silver with gold mountings; a collar 

 of lion heads, joined together in fours, each pearl of the collar as large 

 as an egg; shells of gold as large as the lion heads; clasps of collars 



