LIGHT IN THE EGYPTIAN TOMBS.
[TO THE BOMB OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—A.8 I see some remarks of mine on this subject quoted not quite exactly, permit me to state my own impressions.
I will not venture to be certain as to the use of reflectors versus lamps in the internal work of excavations; I only know that there is no need to invoke the electric light. A very small amount of reflected sunshine is enough to work by. I have taken photographs at Gizeh (which require far more light than is needed by a painter or sculptor) by means of four successive reflections of sunshine from common sheets of -tin-plate, such as biscuit-tin lids. These four reflections sent the light round corners, into what was absolutely dark space, a distance of over thirty feet, and the effect was brilliant to the eye. I feel certain, therefore, that with larger reflectors there would be no difficulty whatever in lighting any part of the Kings' Tombs more brightly than by small lamps.
On the other hand, we do not know of any Egyptian lamps of native design ; and the wax-candles mentioned by your correspondent were certainly Coptic, by the locality. My guess is that the ancient Egyptian lamp was any vessel with a floating wick on the oil ; such was the mediaeval lamp, and is the present lamp, of native Egypt. Hence our not finding any lamps in Egyptian remains, as a pottery saucer would be used without showing a mark subsequently. Such lamps are like night-lamps, feeble but smokeless, and a galaxy of them— • a large raft of floating wicks—might have been easily used without leaving any trace. "Light—more light," we need.— I am, Sir, &c.,
Bromley, Sent. WILLIAM FLINDERS PETRIE.
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