In front of the pyramid of Usertsen (Senusret) III at one time stood the usual funerary temple, but it has been totally destroyed.  By the side of the pyramid were buried some of the princesses of the royal family, in a series of tombs opening out of a subterranean gallery, and in this gallery were found the wonderful jewels of the princesses Sit-hathor and Merit, which are among the greatest treasures of the Cairo Museum.  Those who have not seen them can obtain a perfect idea of their appearance from the beautiful water-colour paintings of them by M. Legrain, which are published in M. de Morgan’s work on the “Fouilles a Dahchour” (Vienna, 1895).  Altogether one hundred and seven objects were recovered, consisting of all kinds of jewelry in gold and coloured stones.  Among the most beautiful are the great “pectorals,” or breast-ornaments, in the shape of pylons, with the names of Usertsen II, Usertsen III, and Amenemhat III; the names are surrounded by hawks standing on the sign for gold, gryphons, figures of the king striking down enemies, etc., all in cloisonne work, with beautiful stones such as lapis lazuli, green felspar, and carnelian taking the place of coloured enamels.  The massive chains of golden beads and cowries are also very remarkable.  These treasures had been buried in boxes in the floor of the subterranean gallery, and had luckily escaped the notice of plunderers, and so by a fortunate chance have survived to tell us what the Egyptian jewellers could do in the days of the XIIth Dynasty.  Here also were found two great Nile barges, full-sized boats, with their oars and other gear complete.  They also may be seen in the Museum of Cairo.  It can only be supposed that they had served as the biers of the royal mummies, and had been brought up in state on sledges.  The actual royal chamber was not found, although a subterranean gallery was driven beneath the centre of the pyramid.

The southern brick pyramid was constructed in the same way as the northern one.  At the side of it were also found the tombs of members of the royal house, including that of the king Hor, already mentioned, with its interesting contents.  The remains of the mummy of this ephemeral monarch, known only from his tomb, were also found.  The entrails of the king were placed in the usual “canopic jars,” which were sealed with the seal of Amenemhat III; it is thus that we know that Hor died before him.  In many of the inscriptions of this king, on his coffin and stelo, a peculiarly affected manner of writing the hieroglyphs is found,—­the birds are without their legs, the snake has no tail, the bee no head.  Birds are found without their legs in other inscriptions of this period; it was a temporary fashion and soon discarded.