The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-05-27
PAYABLE YEARLY.

Il, phagi being composed Of durable and covered Wv
Impcrishabe materials. arranged exclude the
AR. might probably have preserved their contents
sail longer period come. than that they have already
passed through since the greater cause Of decompo
son the air enclosed IN the sarcoDhagas wnen u
FIRST Celled up.
There are independent Of these reflections marks
OF genufnencss - every part Of these IeQues which
az once carry conl IcOn the heart Of the observer
ana there IS something iE them combination which we
are ready to say the science OF modern Europe could
MOI attain, and which the ignorance OF modern EeYH
would not attempt.
My respected colleagues, Professor Eevereu. Dr's
Jackson, GoTham sad Blgeow have examined The o.
ects described above and believe are perfectv sat-
sheo that they are tic genuine works ancient tgypi
Aou VIII therefore, gentlemen. with an. Van Len
nep have the qualification Of aiding great public
Charity and Of contributing the improvement az die
leaned and curious. Your donation will give them
an opportunity Of observing specimens the most an
clen III the Werd, Of Egyptian sculpture painting and
manufactures OF witnessing the great perfection az
Tins people N preserving tile remains Of their friends
from corruption and Of enjoying the reflections as-
socia'cd with the reIques Of an obscure and mystic
rogS antiquity. j. O. WARREN
Boston, May 49, 1928.
.Note.-The Egyptians were Ted 10 TIE operation ~
embalnng by their peculiar notions of the conirxion
between The soul and body. They believed thar TIE
soul was immortal; that while the body remained cf-
the, the soul continued Wh il that as soon as TIE
DOuy ueCdyGt, the spirit passed INTO tie body
quadiuped. whence their reverence Of animals fur
tner they belize ed that after period Of three thou,
and years, the soul was allowed inhabit another m
man body
The ancient Egyptians employed different modes Of
embaming, according to the rank and estimation az
the deceased person. The following was considered
the most perfect Soon after death tie body was dey-
cred TO the embalmers who began their operations bv
removing tile yisceTa. The brain was taken ou through
The n0stns, by breaking down the etumoid bone and
passing curved knife hook into the cavity III tie
skull whatever could not lie removed in this way
was washed out by certain liquids. All ncision ] 2.
inches long made into the left side throuoh which
all the vscera were drawn out excepting ne heart and
kIdnles. The cavities were we'll washed, filled with
aromatic gums and covered with naron Carbonate ~
soda.) Aiter the soda had been applied 10 DAYS tie
body was dried and covered with a>phaltps the btu
men Of India The corpse afterwards envelopeG
IN multitude Of turns OF la ndages and covered with
cloth. Having completed their labors the emhain~
ers returned the body to the friends. who caused 4
wooden box Or sarcophagus Of sycamore wood 10 he
made on which kind Of plaster applied, and
covered with characters and hierogly phics. This box
carved end represent the face Of the de-
ceased person. and after being closed placed up
right IN room devoted to the purpose where II re-
manned year or more, before il was carried to tile
calaconbs.
In Genesis chapter 20 il is said that tile process ar
embalming the body Of Jacob, in Egypt required 40
days. THIS occurred al 10 r,od some hundred wears
before the reign Of Sesosais that the practice Of
embalmng IN Egypt was OF great Antiquity. III II proh-
able that the operation then less perfect and re-
ounce eSs times thar III suhscauent ages when III was
performed ~ the manner described above on lie az
thority Of the Greek historians.