The Assignment

Document received by Belzoni from Burckhardt and Salt as reported in Belzoni’s “Narrative of the Operations…”

Boolak, June 28, 1816

“Mr. Belzoni is requested to prepare the necessary implements, at Boolak, for the purpose of raising the head of the statue of the younger Memnon, and carrying it down the Nile. He will proceed as speedily as circumstances will allow to Siout, there to deliver his letters, prepared for that effect, to Ibrahim Bashaw, or whoever may left in the charge of the government; and he will, at that place, consult with Doctor Scotto on the subject of his further proceedings. He will take care to engage a proper boat for bringing down the head, and will request Mr. Scotto to provide him with a soldier to go up with him, for the purpose of engaging the Fellahs to work whenever he may require their assistance, as otherwise they are not likely to attend to Mr. Belzoni’s orders; and he should on nno account leave Siout without an interpreter.
Having obtained the necessary permission to hire workmen, &c., Mr. Belzoni will proceed direct to Thebes. He will find the head referred to on the western side of the river, opposite to Carnak, in the vicinity of a village called Gornou, lying on the southern side of a ruined temple, called by the natives Kossar el Dekaki. To the head is still attached a portion of the shoulder, so that altogether it is of large dimensions, and will be recognized, – 1st, by the cirmumstance of its lying on its back with the face uppermost – 2dly, by the face being quite perfect, and very beautiful – 3dly, by its having, on one of its shoulders, a hole bored artificially, supposed to have been made by the French for separating the fragment of the body – and 4thly, from its being a mixed blackish and reddish granite, and covered with hieroglyphics on its shoulders. It must not be mistaken for another, lying in that neighbourhood, which is much mutilated.
Mr. Belzoni will spare no expense or trouble in getting is as speedily conveyed to the banks of the river as possible; and he will, if it be necessary, let it wait there till the river shall have attained sufficient height, before he attempts to get it into the boat. But, at the same time, he is requested not to attempt removing it, on any account, if he should judge there would be any serious risk of either injuring the head, of burying the face in the sand, or of losting it in the Nile.
If, on arriving at the ground, too, he should perceive that his means are inadequate, or that the difficulties of the undertaking, from the nature of the ground, or other causes, are likely to prove insurmountable, he will, at once, relinquish the enterprise, and not enter into farther expense on that account.
Mr. Belzoni will have the goodness to keep a separate account of the expenses incurred in this undertaking, which, as well as his other expenses, will gladly be reimbursed; as, from the knowledge of Mr. Belzoni’s character, it is confidently believed they will be as reasonable as circumstances will allow.
The boat meant to carry the head should be hired for a sufficient time to allow of its being carried directly down to Alexandria; but, on the way, Mr. Belzoni will not fail to stop at Boolak for further instructions. If Mr. Belzoni should ascertain the certainty of his being able to accomplish his purpose, he is requested immediately to despatch an express with the gratifying intelligence to Cairo.”

- Henry Salt.

From Narrative of the Operations and Recent Discoveries within the Pyramids, Temples, Tombs, and Excavation, in Egypt and Nubia
By G. Belzoni, 1820