Past experience had taught us that it would be well to resume our work on the tomb of Tut-ankh-Amen as soon as the decline of the great heat rendered it practicable, our aim being to carry it out with due scientific procedure, with the least possible interruption and to be able to open the tomb to the public as early as possible during the tourist season. Our anticipations were fully justified, for, between January 1 and March 15, 1926, there were over 12,000 visitors to the tomb, and during the same period I received 278 applications for permission to inspect the objects and the work in the laboratory.

After having purchased necessary materials for the campaign, I left London on September 23 and arrived in Cairo on the 28th. There was as usual not a little to be done in Cairo before I could leave for Luxor. In work of this sort in Egypt, delays may be anticipated and must be patiently accepted. Monsieur Lacau, the Director-General of the Department of Antiquities, was absent in Europe. On October 1 I saw Mr. Edgar, acting for Monsieur Lacau at the Museum, when I arranged with him that the electric light in the Valley of the Tombs of the Kings should be in readiness to start from October 11, and at the same time I took the opportunity to discuss with him the general programme for the season's work.