TAA i.2.1.137

JANUARY 1925.

19th.

Arrived Luxor from Cairo.

Remained the day at the Winter Palace.

Called upon Tewfik Eff. Boulos the present Insp. in Chief of

the Antiquity Depart.

Called upon the Bey the Marmour of Luxor.

Callender returned from Erment.

We crossed over to Gurna 11 am.

Called on Lythgoe.

21st.

Saw Merzbach in the afternoon, when we sent wires to the Min.

P.W.D. and Bedawi Pasha re opening the Tomb if possible on

Saturday (24th).

22nd.

Went to the Valley of the Kings with Merzbach and his wife

in the morning.

We found the Tomb to be covered with about 50 C/ms of

rubbish. The kiosk and material removed and placed before

the entrance of the Akh.en.Aten Cache, that we used for a

dark-room.

We found the entrance of the laboratory (tomb No.15) covered

with a construction of a kind of lattice-work completely

plastered over with white plaster. I trust the painted

sculpture of the door-jambs of the tomb has not been damaged

by the plaster.

We found that beaute/<i>ful linen pall that covered the King's

grave, and for which I brought out Dr Alexander Scott, Mr and

Mrs Newberry from England especially to preserve it and had

made a special lining for it, left out in the open unprotect-

ed from the Sun and wind. It is ruined! They had removed

the carpenters kiosk and placed it on the pall.

The magazine (No.4) from all outward appearances seems to be al

alright. In the place of my locks (broken) a pad-lock was

fixed upon the door. A wooden Sun-screen was erected before

half of the entrance.

23rd.

Merzbach came over this morning./<, and we with Callender went to the Valley.>

Baraize began clearing the entrance of the Tomb at about

11.15am. And completed it at 4pm.

H.E. the Mudir of Keneh accompanied by tht^sic Bey the Marmour of

Luxor called 12.45, just as we were leaving to meet him at

Luxor. We lunched together at the Winter Palace.

Merzbach was informed by phone or wire from Cairo that the

official handing over of the Tomb and laboratory, etc.,

would take place on Sunday (25th) 10am.

24th.

Received telegraphic authorisation for opening the tomb

from the Minister of Public Works.

Went intp^sic Luxor 3.30pm. when I handed the above message

to Merzbach and informed the Mudir of Keneh.

Returned with Callender in the evening.