[5] It was the good fortune of the author of this volume to form the acquaintance of Mariette Bey in Egypt, in 1874, and to meet him again in Paris a few years later. The death of this eminent archæologist is greatly regretted by all students of the history of ancient Egypt. [Illustration: THE NAME OF EGYPT IN HIEROGLYPHICS.] "In the early half of this century," said the Doctor, "many of the tombs of the ancient Egyptians were explored, and their contents carried away to the museums of Europe. In 1850 the French Government sent an officer, Auguste Edouard Mariette, to examine the ruins of Memphis. His mission was successful, as he discovered the Serapeum, or tombs of the Sacred Bulls, and opened one of the principal temples of the long-ruined city. In 1856 the Egyptian Government appointed him Director of the Department for the Preservation of Egyptian Antiquities, with the title of Bey, and gave him a liberal allowance of money for carrying on his work. Through his efforts an order was made forbidding the exportation of antiquities, and establishing a museum near Cairo for their preservation. So much has been found that the museum at Boulak has been filled, and a new and larger building has been erected on the opposite side of the Nile, to which the collection will be transferred. Many interesting discoveries have been made, and every year reveals something new. Much light has been thrown on the history of ancient Egypt, and many questions that were formerly matters of dispute have been set at rest. It is safe to say that we have learned more about ancient Egypt through the labors of Mariette Bey than through those of all other explorers combined, with the possible exception of Champollion." [Illustration: PTOLEMY IN HIEROGLYPHICS.] Frank asked who Champollion was, and what he discovered. "I know," said Fred; "he discovered the Rosetta Stone, and told what was written on it." [Illustration: THE ROSETTA STONE, WITH SPECIMEN LINES FROM THE INSCRIPTION.] "He did not discover the Rosetta Stone," the Doctor answered, "but he translated it. The stone was found at Rosetta, in 1799, by a French engineer, and when the English came to Egypt they sent it to the British Museum. It was a slab, with an inscription upon it in three languages. "Previous to that time nobody could make anything out of the Egyptian hieroglyphics; there were plenty of them, but no one was able to read a syllable, or even a letter. A key was wanted, and Champollion found it in the Rosetta Stone.