xxiv PREFACE TO SECOND SECTION 
nothing oi Arabian workmanship, but, in reality, 
the particular kind of Tomb which Historians 
have actually ascribed to Alexander, — a Sorosj 
as it is mentioned hy Herodian\ covered w4th 
hieroglyphics; being, therefore, an imcription in 
the sacred ivriting' of the Priests, by whom it had 
been more antiently guarded and revered ; — if 
this prove to be the case, it will be found a very 
difficult matter to prevent the public from iden- 
tifying such a relic, however unsuitable the 
consequence may be, to the views and feelings 
of any private individual, or set of individuals, 
belonging to the British Museum. Powerful evi- 
dence bears down all opposition ; — it asks not 
for opinion ; it demands assent. 
It has indeed been urged, that other condi- 
tories of the same kind were found in Alexandria ; 
one of a similar description being now placed 
with the Alexandrian Soros in the British Museum : 
but this is not true: and even if it were, no 
other can lay claim to the tradition which so 
remarkably distinguished this. The other 
antiquities alluded to, came from Cairo, and 
from Upper Egypt: that, in particular, now 
(1) In describing the visit paid to it by Caracal/a, who placed 
upon it his purple vest ; — tTifr.xt rn IkiUou SOPni. yid, Herodian. 
Hist. lib. iv. Hitt. Rom. Script, np. H. Steph. 1568. 
(2) 1o7} ri 'Upoi; yptcfifisc^iy. See the Inscription on the Rosella Stone. 
