Page 232 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

558 Records of Bahrain

123. This second barrier blocked tho entrance to the tomb itself at a
distanco of thirty feet six inches from the first circular wall of blocks.
124,. On nearing this inner wall we found the passage on either side to be
roughly mortared, and whero the well welded barrier forbade access, the wall
on 'either 8ido had two coats, one of rough and the other of smooth mortar.
Tho laltor underlying tho former, which still here bore tho marks of the plas­
terer’s finger smears. Tho under-coat was of dilfcrcut material, and so smooth
nud hard that wo had to use our picks to remove it.
125. Tho transverse wall of cemented blocks had been built in after the
side-walls had been finished. Wo blew this out.
12G. Prom the platform* on which theso blocks were placed, a drop of three
• RfguWly built of big flut ilouc* feet six inches brought us to the smooth and mortared
cemented together. floor of the tomb; here we turned up, amongst tho
stones and rubble masonry, a large amount of charcoal in such big pieces, that
I take it tho roof must have been at one time supported by date treo trunks,
which hnvo become charcoal fiom age nud pressure. Some pieces of a thinner
character present the appearance of bamboo-matting charcoaled. I have kept
specimens of these things.
127. The mortar itself used in laying the blocks had a layer of damp (?)+
palm leaves laid as well above as below it in several
■f OrfrcMi.
places; for wo found thin layers of charcoal, which
could not well liavo been anything else in such positions.
128. On the right and left of the passago were two shelves on either side,
the lowest of which at any rate was carefully lined with mortar, but held nothing
but yellow dust, with which they were tilled up. These were four feet long by
seven inches of aperture, by eight iu depth, aud a height of six feet nine from
the ground or platform. There is nothiug to show to what use these can have
been put.
129. On descending from tho platform (the cud of the passage) tho walls
carefully mortared still continued right and left for threo foot two inches, and
then turned at right angles forming small mortuary chambers of tho same
shapo ns those in tho lessor tomb previously described.
130. -No doubt, also, they have tlioir counterparts at the other end of the
central passage, and iu ouo of these no doubt also are to be found tho remains of
the person entombed, as it was in tbc north eastern eh amber of tho small tomb
that I found tho skeleton as previously related.
331. The dimensions of these chambers right and left of the passago arc
roughly seven lcct three (longth) by three fcot three (breadth) by live feet six
(height).
132. Prom the interior walls of these chambers stretched hack through piles
of rubble and fallen blocks tho side walls of a passago some four feet broader
than the gallery by which we bad entered.
133. I give a plan and section of all roughly correct,
131. Having got so far, I was obliged disappointedly enough to stop work,
partly from uncertainty as to the time left mo to finish clearing out tho tomb and
as to tbc safety of the work, and partly because I thought that nothing worth
having could be obtained from under 6ucli a crushing mass of rubbish as that
winch filled the inside passage.
135. This latter alono however would not have made me stop work, as (here
is tn cry olianco of the mortuary chambers at tbc other end being clear of debris,
tho roof baying probably fallen in, in tho middle and outwards towards this cud.
llicsc arc likely enough loft for a luckier man to explore without much trouble.
130. To giveanidoaof tho size of the stones used, there is a big mass now
lying in tho passago, probably a wholo stone, and one of those that formed the
roof, whoso dimensions aro livo fcot by four, by two fcot nine, and another lying
alone iu the left hand side chamber, 11 vo feet long bv one loot ten thick. Of
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