The jars were themselves preserved in a sarcophagus which, though of immense strength and hermetically sealed, could be opened easily.

Accordingly, I went at once to examine the jars.

A little--a very little of the oil still remained, but it had grown thick in the two and a half centuries in which the jars had been open.

Still, it was not rancid; and on examining it I found it was cedar oil, and that it still exhaled something of its original aroma.

This gave me the idea that it was to be used to fill the lamps.