(h) Papyrus.—Papyrus needs damping and flattening out as far as possible without breaking its fibre. Lay it between two damp towels, and after flattening, pack it between sheets of paper in close tin boxes, filling each box up tightly. But the traveller will be wise not to try too much. As soon as the edges of his roll or fragment cease to be brittle to the touch he had best leave the papyrus as it is without further unrolling, and pack very carefully away.
(j) Glass, Glazed Objects, Pastes, Amber, Various Compositions.—None of these should the traveller try to treat. Glass must be left wholly alone if in a flaking state; other objects, if flaky or powdery, will, at least, be no worse for having been dipped in melted vaseline than they would be in any case, after transport.
No general hints can be usefully given about either the methods of discovering antiquities or those of detecting forgeries. It is not supposed that the travellers here addressed will undertake regular excavations. Should they propose to do so, they will need special training and much more elaborate instruction. Mr. Petrie’s ‘Methods and Aims’ will supply much of the latter, but the tyro excavator will not have Mr. Petrie’s success without serving a long apprenticeship.
The above hints will serve for the traveller who takes antiquities by the way and in the day’s work, having other objects more in view. For him the following list of necessities will suffice:—
1. Long extension camera and all photographic requisites, including, if possible, a stand and frame for overhead photography (v. [p. 52]).
2. ‘Squeeze’ paper, brushes with hand-straps or curved handles, and tin cylinders for carrying the paper and moulds; heel-ball, sealing-wax, tin-foil, beeswax.
3. Planning and drawing outfit.
4. Notebooks ruled en quadrille, magnifying-glass and hand-mirror.
5. Small hammer and chisels for metal work, hydrochloric acid, ammonia, emery-paper, tissue paper, burin, plate brushes, sheet zinc, vaseline, cotton-wool (not raw cotton-waste with hard seeds in it).