364 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



ins. In that country they were not appreciated or un- 

 derstood, and he had the liberal wish that the tablets 

 of hieroglyphics particularly might find their way to 

 other countries, be inspected and studied by scientific 

 men, and their origin and history be ascertained. Be- 

 sides, he had an idea that immense discoveries were still 

 to be made and treasures found, and he was anxious 

 for a thorough exploration, in which he should himself 

 co-operate. The two tablets which I had attempted to 

 purchase were highly prized by the owners, but he 

 thought they could be secured by purchasing the house, 

 and I authorized him to buy it at a fixed price. 



In my many conversations with the prefect I had 

 broached the subject of making casts from the tablets. 

 Like every other official whom I met, he supposed that 

 I was acting under a commission from my government, 

 which idea was sustained by having in my employ a man 

 of such character and appearance as Pawling, though 

 every time I put my hand in my pocket I had a feeling 

 sense that the case was far otherwise. In the matter of 

 casts he offered every assistance, but there was no plas- 

 ter of Paris nearer than the Laguna or Campeachy, and 

 perhaps not there. "We had made an experiment at the 

 ruins by catching in the river a large quantity of snails 

 and burning the shells, but it did not answer. He re- 

 ferred us to some limestone in the neighbourhood, but 

 this would not do. Pawling knew nothing of casting. 

 The idea had never entered his mind before, but he. 

 was willing to undertake this. Mr. Catherwood, who 

 had been shut up in Athens during the Greek Revolu- 

 tion, when it was besieged by the Turks, and in pursu- 

 ing his artistical studies had perforce made castings 

 with his own hands, gave him written instructions, and 

 it was agreed that when he returned with the creden- 



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