TAA i.2.1.35

(Nov. 26 Continued)

It was sometime before one could see, the hot air escaping

caused the candle to flicker, but as soon as ones eyes became

accustomed to the glimmer of light the interior of the chamber

gradually loomed before one, with its strange and wonderful

medley of extraordinary and beautiful objects heaped upon one

another. There was naturally short suspense for those

present who could not see, when Lord Carnarvon said to

me 'Can you see anything', I replied to him Yes, it

is wonderful. I then with precaution made the hole

sufficiently large for both of us to see. With the light of an

electric torch as well as an additional candle we looked

in. Our sensations and astonishment are difficult to

describe as the better light revealed to us the marvellous

collection of treasures: two strange ebony-black effe/<i>gies

of a King, gold sandalled, bearing staff and mace, loomed

out from the cloak of darkness; gilded couches in strange

forms, lion-headed, Hathor-headed, and beast infernal;

exquisitely painted, inlaid, and ornamental caskets;

flowers; alabaster vases, some beautifully executed of lotus

and papyrus device; strange black shrines with a gilded

monster <snake> appearing from within; quite ordinary looking white

chests; finely carved chairs; a golden inlaid throne;

a heap of large curious white oviform boxes; beneath

our very eyes, on the threshold, a lovely lotiform wishing

-cup in translucent alabaster; stools of all shapes

and design, of both common and rare materials; and,

lastly a confusion of over turned <parts of> chariots glinting with

gold, peering from amongst which was a mannikin -

the furniture . The first im

impression of which suggested the property-Room of an

opera-house <of a vanished civilization>. Our sa/<e>nsations were bewildering and full

of strange emotion. We questioned one another as to the

meaning of it all. Was it a Tomb or merely a Cache?

A sealed-doorway between the two sentinel statues proved

there was more beyond, and with the numerous cartouches

bearing the name of Tût-Ankh-Amen on most of the

objects before us, There was little doubt that there behind

was the grave of that Pharoah^sic {Pharaoh}.

We closed the hole, locked the wooden-grill which

had been placed upon the first doorway, we mounted

our donkie/<y>s {donkeys} and return[ed] home contemplating what we

had seen.

Advised the Chief Inspector of the Antiquity Department,

who was with us at the commencement of the opening of the

first doorway, and asked him to come as soon as possible,

preferably the following afternoon to enable us to prepare an

electrical installation for careful inspection of this extraordinary

<and pleasing> discovery.