CHAP. xxv.] FASTENING OF ANCIENT ENVELOPES 393
outside surface a square socket was neatly cut, intended for the reception of a clay seal. A string of hemp was passed in a cleverly devised fashion through the string-hole and then drawn tightly over both tablets near the square or right end. Grooves communicating with the seal socket held the string in regular cross-folds. The socket was then filled with clay, covering these folds of the string. When once the seal of the sender had been impressed into the clay, it became impossible to separate the pair of tablets without either breaking the seal impression or cutting the string.
Diagram of wedge-shaped double tablet, showing obverse of covering tablet, with string-hole (A)
and string fastened in seal socket (B).
Diagram of wedge-shaped double tablet, showing reverse of under-tablet, with string-hole (A) and
folds of string held by grooves (B).
The ingenious arrangement here briefly described, which the accompanying diagrams of Mr. F. H. Andrews' drawing will help to illustrate, rendered the communication written on the inner sides of the two tablets absolutely safe against unauthorised inspection. If the recipient desired to preserve the sealing and also retain a convenient fastening for the two tablets aftér having acquainted himself with the contents—an obvious advantage when such letters had to be kept for record—he had only to cut the string near the
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