71 



tons of sand were thrown out. In another tomb lay a well-made 

 mummy in a black painted but uninscribed case, at its head stood 

 a most curious model of a granary, this contained several com- 

 partments still filled with grain, with an inscription of the particu- 

 lar grain over each door. This was useful to Egyptologists as 

 it showed the correct hieroglyphic signs for different grains. 

 On the floor of the granary stood a man with a basket. This 

 curious model and that of a boat found here are now in the 

 British Museum. Another boat and a model in wood of women 

 kneading bread formed part of Lord Grenf ell's collection. When 

 this collection was sold, the boat and the kneading women were 

 bought by the late Mr. MacDougal, and form part of the trea- 

 sures which he placed on loan in the room of the Society. Lord 

 Grenfell proceeded to speak of various objects which had formed 

 part of his collection. The most important one was a head, in 

 black basalt, probably of Amenopfiis III., of an early Dynasty, 

 which he had found in a tomb at Assuan. It was one of the 

 finest and most artistic pieces of Egyptian sculpture, being the 

 sole remains of a seated figure of the King, which was probably 

 smashed to pieces during the Persian or some other invasion, and 

 had been sold for £260 at the sale of his collection. He also spoke 

 of the large boat found in the VI. Dynasty tomb which was 

 intended to convey the deceased from the east to the west bank 

 of the Nile. 



He described the origin and period of the L T shebti figures. 

 Herodotus tells how the death of a Scythian chief was followed 

 by the slaughter of his wife and servants so that they might 

 accompany him to the next world. The Egyptian was satisfied 

 to reproduce in effigy those for whom he cared and whom he 

 wished to attend him in Amenti or Paradise, including servants, 

 relatives, boatmen, workers in the field, and the whole estab- 

 lishment he considered necessary to his future life. These were 

 reproduced and hidden not only in the tomb, but in various other 

 places, so that should his tomb be desecrated, still the reserve 

 elsewhere would ensure what he needed in the future life. So, 

 too, with all objects of luxurv or necessity which the " Ka " 

 would desire to have at hand, including his food and drink, 

 Egvptologists believe that the essential part of this ritual dates 

 back as far as the Memphis period. 



As a rule, these statuettes did not exceed 8 to 12 inches in 

 height, though a few are larger. They are of different materials, 

 some of wood, others of limestone or granite, but for the most 

 part they are made of terra cotta and covered with a green or 

 blue enamel and called Egyptian porcelain. They are mummv- 

 UVp. their hands crossed uoon their breasts; hoe and pick are on 

 their back, and a sack full of grain hangs from their shoulders. 

 This is pxolained by a picture in chanter 90 of th* Ritual which 

 shows the dead tilling-, sowing, and harvesting in the fields of the 

 other world. The text calls these little figures " Ushebti " or 



