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CHAPTER XIV.

ON THE OLD LOCKS AND KEYS.

In the use of the word “ old ” at the head of thischapter, it may be proper to remark, that we use itonly to distinguish the whole of the locks whichwere in use previous to May, 1851, from the modernlocks which have been invented since that period,and which will be fully described in the chapteron modern locks.

We shall endeavour to describe the various locksmentioned, Avith all possible regard to their chrono-logical order, and also the usual modes of picking-each variety as we proceed.

The first lock, of which there is any distinctaccount or representation, is the Egyptian lock,fig. 79. These locks are described generallyin Eton ’s Survey of the Turkish Empire , pub-lished towards the end of the last century, as