Contents:—Mummy of an infant.
62. Plain rectangular gable-topped coffin. The outer surface of this coffin is covered with a thin paint of pinky hue. The lid is slanting on either side, has a longitudinal beam in the centre, and an upright head and foot piece on its ends ([Pl. LX]. 62).
Contents:—Three mummies: two were of adults lying side by side, the third of a child placed at their feet. The child’s mummy had upon its neck an amuletic necklace composed of round and barrel faience beads of red and green colour with pendant amulets of the same material, and in the centre a brown stone turtle; on the arms were bead-bangles composed of bone and faience beads; and lying near the hands, tied upon a piece of string, were two scarabs and a cowroid seal ([Pl. LXXII]. 62 A). One of the adult mummies had round its neck a cornelian bead necklace ([Pl. LXXIII]. 62); and upon the third finger of the left hand a green glazed steatite scarab ([Pl. LXXII]. 62 B).
63. Decorated rectangular coffin. The coloration of the detail, painted upon a strawberry-coloured ground, is similar to No. 7. On the end panels, the goddesses Isis and Nephthys are standing with the arms upheld ([Pl. LX]. 63).
Contents:—Two mummies of a man and a woman, lying side by side, and covered with a shroud. Beside the head of the woman were two grey pottery vases, and a larger one in black pottery; a dark blue faience bowl, and a wooden kohl-pot ([Pl. LXVIII]. 63). The woman had within the wrappings of the head a broken ivory comb ([Pl. LXVIII]. 63); and near the hands, lying loosely, were two cowroid seals ([Pl. LXXII]. 63 A). The man had no ornament upon him.
63 A. A four-stringed musical instrument ([Pl. LXXI]. 63 A). The neck, back, and belly are made of one piece of sycomore wood. The belly is hollowed out like a trough, and has its two sides curved slightly inwards at the middle, thus forming a kind of waist (this was probably due to the tension of the strained skin that covered it). Across the belly, longitudinally, is the combined tail-piece and bridge to which the lower fixed ends of the strings are attached: the tapering end of this combined tail-piece and bridge was inserted into a socket at the juncture where the belly and neck join, and its lower and broader end was bound to a protuberance, made for the purpose, at the extreme end of the belly. Near the top end of the neck, and into the back of it, the four key-pegs for receiving the strings are inserted. The strings themselves (their lower ends being fixed to the combined tail-piece and bridge), which were passed along the side of the neck and twisted round the key-pegs, had their upper ends brought over the neck and slipped under the tightened portion of the strings which pressed against the side of the neck (see Fig. 92, [Pl. LXXI]). For a sounding-board, skin was stretched over the whole of the belly, with an aperture left at the juncture of the belly and neck to allow the combined tail-piece and bridge to be inserted into its socket. The total length of the instrument is 1·37 metres. This particular specimen I believe to have been an actual instrument, while the others, Nos. 27, 28, and 92, were merely small models. With these models there are slight variations in the construction, but as the main idea is the same it is unnecessary to describe them.
64. Plain rectangular gable-topped coffin. Similar to No. 62, but has no traces of colour upon it.
Contents:—Mummy of a man sewn up in a shroud. Near the head a wooden head-rest; by the side a walking-staff; and under the head, wrapped in a piece of linen, were (1) a wooden kohl-pot of trefoil section, (2) a bronze razor and granular stone hone,[54] (3) a cord belt and loin cloth ([Pl. LXIX]. 64). On the third finger of the left hand was a blue glazed steatite scarab, mounted on gold funda: this was tied with string ([Pl. LXXII]. 64).
65. Plain rectangular gable-topped coffin. Similar to No. 62, but with no traces of colour.
Contents:—Two mummies of a man and woman, lying head to feet, and covered by a shroud. The mummy of the woman had a broken alabaster bowl ([Pl. LXIX]. 65) lying at the feet. The mummy of the man appeared to be re-wrapped, and had nothing on it.