The chamber from which our specimen was taken, was
said to be very rich in such illustrations; the walls being completely
covered with fresco paintings and bas-reliefs, while statues, vases,
and Mosaic work of rich patterns, indicated the vast wealth of the
deceased.
The treasure had been deposited in the Museum precisely in the
same condition in which Captain Sabretash had found it;- that is to
say, the coffin had not been disturbed. For eight years it had thus
stood, subject only externally to public inspection. We had now,
therefore, the complete Mummy at our disposal; and to those who are
aware how very rarely the unransacked antique reaches our shores, it
will be evident, at once that we had great reason to congratulate
ourselves upon our good fortune.
Approaching the table, I saw on it a large box, or case, nearly
seven feet long, and perhaps three feet wide, by two feet and a half
deep. It was oblong- not coffin-shaped. The material was at first
supposed to be the wood of the sycamore (platanus), but, upon
cutting into it, we found it to be pasteboard, or, more properly,
papier mache, composed of papyrus. It was thickly ornamented with
paintings, representing funeral scenes, and other mournful subjects-
interspersed among which, in every variety of position, were certain
series of hieroglyphical characters, intended, no doubt, for the
name of the departed. By good luck, Mr. Gliddon formed one of our
party; and he had no difficulty in translating the letters, which were
simply phonetic, and represented the word Allamistakeo.
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