The New York herald., 1850-06-13
The Opening of the Egyptian Mummy In
HOstOu.
[From the Boston Daily MALL

Prem the Boston Daily Mail
The Introductory process TO the opening OF the
mummy, took place yesterday at twelve O'Clock,
The mummy to be opened had been taken from
the outer box, aud was placed upright before the
audience. While the operation of saving the in
n.r box, or coffin, was going on, MIR. Gliddon
made some remarks upon the loss OF the art OF en-
balming, in connection with description OF the
pyramids in which these bodies were found, and
the exhibition Of embalmed birds and animals,
The mummy exhibited was obtained al his or.
der BY A. G.. Harris at Thebes, in February, 1916.
II was found at the mouth Of a pit, and no doubt
could be entertained Of its genuineness. In conse-
quence Of law passed in lSS, prohibiting the car
rying of Of mummies, this one did not reach him
until about six months since In taking II from
the outer box, there was adherence, IN conse-
quence Of the pouring Of hot pitch over the inner
box. This inner box, near the shape OF the human
body, was originally painted and gilded, and con-
tanned upon IL the name Of the person. with the
family TO which she belonged. The bitumen had
partly obscured the name, but from what was seen,
IL was ascertaned that she belonged to the Theban
arisfocracy. so much of the was distn-
euisbed, signitied " life"
The age of mummies, Mr.. Giddon said, could be
determined by the style In which they were en-
bamed. The oldest mummy now known, was
that Of The builder Of the "a pyramid, 5000 years
ego, which was now in the possession Of the Bn
tlsh Museum. Up to the 22d century before
Cbnst, or about the time OF ofAbraham, wooilen cloth
was used. which was exchanged for linen. About
this time the square coffin changed TO the oval
e,yle, and in the 10Th century before Christ, the
srnearing with bitumen or pitch, was first pracscd
Bitumen is supposed to have been brought from the
banks of the Euphratcs, and to have been intro
duced after the Assynan conqursts.
Mr. Gliddon exhibited the skull Of a girl, from
the collection Of Dr. Morton, Of Philadelphia, also
a skull and foot, to show the difference in the two
periods Of embalming. The foot, which was that
Of woman, and very small, he supposed belonged
TO some one who lived twenty-two centuries before
the Christian era. lie had also in glass cases, an
emhamed sacred calf from Memphis, ram from
Thebes, cat, jackalls, serpents, crocodiles, end
the ibis. Of this last he said. there were two
ETY. les in which they were embalmed-one at Mem
phis, and the other at Thebes. In the former no
thing found but bones, dust and fe " feathers.
One Of the other kind was opened by Prof. Agsssr,
who desired the lecturer TO say as he exhibited II
10 ihe audience, that II was the kind known ss that
Of the greatest antiquity. II was also observed by
Prof Agassz, that the bendages upon this ibis were
The mumines Of the ibis were taken from pit
near Memphis, Of great depth. Many crocodilcs
were also embalmed, and OF four or hive feet IN
length was exhibited to the audience. Mr: Shd,
don supposed there were millions Of these kinds OF
mpmnvvs; he said he had seen the crocodilcs Of a
size jost sfer coming from the egg. to that OF ~
feet IN length.
was turned upon the back and the upper par, was
taken up. As the bandsged mummy was brought
10 view, IL was received with shouts by the au-
diepcc. MIR. Gliddon said IL would he unrolled on
Wcdne esday, when the trinkets and other articles
which hould be brought to light, would be placed
in a glass for exhibition, and on Friday, re-
port would be made upon them.
The mummy was then taken from the box and
placed upon is feet, when the lecture closed, and
the audience were invited 10 examine all Of the
articles exhibited. The coffin in which Il was en-
closed, Mr.. Gliddon supposed wss made Of layers
| Of cloth, glued or stuck together firmly, and was
| ahouta quarter Of an inch thick. u appeared to
have been put on in a plastic state, and fastened
tightly on the back, before hardening. In saving
| the boz, the folds Of cloth on the body were
sehtly cut open.
| SECOND BAT.
| Mr Gliddon began by explaining the hero
rlyphcs in front OF the body. far as he had been
\ able To translate them. lie ssid the inscnpuon'
TO- nd on the mumrnies werr generally paris OF the
| fct1u'srirs in the Deos si the Dead" Thu