For some months in 1921 he came before the public in another guise. An article of his in the _Nineteenth Century_, in which he pointed out the influence being exercised by the Kinematograph on our national life, attracted the attention of the late Lord Northcliffe, who invited Mr. Weigall to write a long series of articles in the _Daily Mail_ on the subject. This led to an intensive study of the whole subject of “films,” and the articles, of a fervently patriotic character, had the effect of removing some unpleasant features from the motion-picture theatres, while the general improvement in the tone of this form of entertainment is largely due to his influence. At the time of writing (January, 1923) Mr. Weigall is once more in Egypt, and further archæological works from his pen may be expected. In November, 1922, the present Publisher re-issued, and within a few weeks sold out, a revised (fourth) edition of _The Life and Times of Akhnaton_, perhaps the author’s most popular historical work; and it is hoped that this new volume will be found to be of equal interest and entertainment. The essays published herein were written between 1907 and the present year. Some of them appeared as part of a book many years ago; others were printed in various leading journals; and yet others have been specially written for this volume. In this regard the Publisher’s thanks are due to the editors of the _Nineteenth Century_, the _Fortnightly Review_, the _Cornhill Magazine_, _Blackwood’s Magazine_, the _New Statesman_, the _Century Magazine_, _Putnam’s Magazine_, and the _Quarterly Review_. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I.--EGYPTOLOGY IN THE OPEN 3 II.--THE NECESSITY OF ARCHÆOLOGY TO THE GAIETY OF THE WORLD 26 III.--THE MISFORTUNES OF WENAMON 46 IV.--THE PRESERVATION OF ANTIQUITIES 69 V.--THE MORALITY OF EXCAVATION 84 VI.--THE TEMPERAMENT OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS 109 VII.--EXCAVATIONS IN EGYPT 136 VIII.--THE TOMB OF TIY AND AKHNATON 153 IX.--THE TOMB OF HOREMHEB 174 X.--LOWER NUBIA AND THE GREAT RESERVOIR 198 XI.--A NUBIAN HIGHWAY 216 XII.--THE ALABASTER QUARRIES IN THE WADY ASSIOUT 235 XIII.--A RIDE TO WADY SALAMÛNI 245 XIV.--THE CHILDREN OF EGYPT 262 XV.--AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN POEM 277 XVI.--THE STORY OF THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR 283 XVII.--THEBAN THIEVES 304