TREASURES OF A TOMB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18283, 27 December 1922, Page 5

TREASURES OF A TOMB.

THE EGYPTIAN DISCOVERIES. FABRICS 3000 YEARS OLD. (Received 8.5 p.m.) United Service. LONDON. Dec. 24. The Daily Mail says that extraordinary interest is displayed all over the world in Lord Carnarvon's discoveries in the Valley of the Tombs of the Kings. The Egyptian Government has erected a barrier to prevent people from entering the newly found tomb and spoiling its treasures. Already there are great demands for hotel accommodation in the Luixor district. The pilgrimage will begin on a large scale as soon as it is possible to admit visitors. Lord Carnarvon was received at Buckingham Palace by Their Majesties, to whom he desoribed the treasures. The Queen was particularly interested. Lord Carnarvon reports that he has received a cablegram from Mr. Carter, who is in charge of the excavations, which might be construed that he has made further discoveries. It appears that for the first time fabric has been found in which Egyptian sovereigns were dressed. The dresses or Tutenkhamum and his queen are of diaphanous material such as is portrayed on Egyptian monuments, but never before has fabric been seen or handled of so beautiful and delicate workmanship. The preservation of the dresses will be a matter pf great difficulty, as the objects are liable to fall to dust on exposure to air. At tho back of the King's throne, is a unique portrait of the King, comprised of precious stones. Nothing to compare with its beauty has been ever before found in Egypt. Life-size statues of tho I Pharonhs are known to have been fashioned at that period from actual plaster I masks. Thus a true portrait of Tutenkhamun has been discovered- Another discovery is that tl\p Egyptians lighted their palaces by using twisted linen bands soaked in oil and held up in metal holders. Egyptologists hope that the papyri found in the tomb will throw new light on the period.