Whoever had placed the oil in the jars, and the jars in the sarcophagus, knew that there might be shrinkage in process of time, even in vases of alabaster, and fully allowed for it; for each of the jars would have filled the lamps half a dozen times.

With part of the oil remaining I made some experiments, therefore, which may give useful results.

You know, Doctor, that cedar oil, which was much used in the preparation and ceremonials of the Egyptian dead, has a certain refractive power which we do not find in other oils.

For instance, we use it on the lenses of our microscopes to give additional clearness of vision.

Last night I put some in one of the lamps, and placed it near a translucent part of the Magic Coffer.