Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-07-18
The Mummy Mystery Explained-Sinsular De-
velopement.

An antiquarian friend, living near Bos-
ton, confirmed deliver into Egyptian lite
rature, has sent us the following interest
| ing sketch, which we think will explain,
to most minds, the strange metamorphosis
by which Mr. Gliddon's Mummy changed
its sex.-Springfeld (.uass.) Republican.
The interests attached to the recent
opening of the mummy, in Boston, l, of
course, shared in largely. That interest
has not yet died away, and various have
been the conjectures, indulged in, to ac-
count for mistake in the sex, which
some attribute to Mr. Gliddon's ignorance
and others more properly and more chari-
tably, to some blunder or some deception
as old as the mummy itself. The an
nouncement of the sex of Mr. Gliddon's
mummy, immediately recalled to my mind
story which l read some years since, in
an old Egyptian manuscript, work half
| of medicine and half of romance. To this
referred upon opportunity and my sur
prise you can well imagine, when l
found myself reading ofthe very Priestess
whose body Mr. Gliddon supposed he
possessed. The name was the same, and
the whole mystery was explained. ]
send you copy OF an imperfect transla-
ton:
"Rite-T -Thpunki was an office, Of mid
ding rank in the service Of the temple at
Thebes. In the discharge Of his sacred
duties he had occasion daily to visit the
abode of the High Priest his Superior,
Got-Thoth-l. Now Got-Thoth-I had one
daughter. and she was taller than all the
maidens of Thebes. Her feet and hands
were large, even for one OF her proper
tions her nose was real pug, and her
complexion sallow. Who would have
deemed it possible that she could disturb
the peace OF any young mans hours? But
her graces of mind far outwei ghed the de-
iects in her personal beauty. She played
upon the Cistrum as only Isis could and
not Osiris could surpass the wisdom and
justice of her opinions. Rite-Thpunki
who at first joined his brother priests in
the laugh at her honliness, did not long
remain nsensible to the mental charms
which she display Jed, and Anch Phis, de-
lighted at seeing in her lover all apprecia-
ton of her talents, and, independence
enough to brave the jeers Of bis light
minded associates, fully reciprocated the
! affections she had kinJled. Foolish pair !!
They little knew The temper Of the haugh-
ty Got-Thoth-I, and that he never would
consent to their union. Rte-Thpunki
had scarcely declared his passion to the
father of his beloved, than he was over
whelmed with torrent OF contempt, and
! forbidden to enter the palace or speak
again to his mistress on pain OF death.
The next morning as Anch Phis, whose
| duty it was TO file the claws and bill of
| the sacred Ibis, descended 10 the palace
yard for the purpose, the bird ran to her
| with his won,ed haste, and raising his left
wing disclosed note pinned 10 one Of
| its feathers. She seized il and read
sBulbul. when the Dog Star rises, meet me
by the mystic Lotus. Rite-Thpunki.'-
| They met-one embrace-a few hurried
words, and Anch Phis, receiving small
powder in her hand, departs leaving her
lover to mediate his plans.
In less than twenty-iour hours from
this meeting, the most distinguished ply
sicians in rhebes might have been seen
vending their way with anxious faces 10
the palace of Got -Thoh-I. And why
anxious? Alas! Anch Phis, the delight
Of their eyes-the life OF the many festive
entertainments, her father had given them
in token OF his esteem for the profession
Anch Phis was going to die. A sudden
illness was fast though gently, stealing
away her life. Had she been young and
handsome said Giv-Bred- Pill, the most
successful and wealthy practitioner OF
Thebes, i should think she was dying Of
disappointment in matters of love- In
agine the horror of o,-Thuth-l! He
had killed his only child. His iron
heart relen.ed. perhaps it is not vet toe
late.' a faint smile il!umined the face oi
his daughter. A messenger, fleet as the
wind, was sent 10 the temple for Rite.
Thpunki. He comes, but ii is too late
She grasps his hand, and ceased te
breathe.
And now with avoice, scarcely auiibl,
from well-dissembled grief,-the sever
hours Of watching having expired Rite
Thpunki begs that the body Of his love
may be sent to his cell, that he may EN-.
Oalin Id last act Oh ueVOtiOn. MS re-
quest is granted. But why, when his Gel
: door is SHUT and he is left alone with hi:
mistress liiieless form, and the half-wrap
ped mummies which surround them
why does his eye CLEAN with wild, ye
tender, delight ? lie can hardly command
his Joy. lie walks his narrow cell with
rapid strides. And see; he has taker
that mummy Of common soldier anc
placed i: by his lady's side. Just he'
length, lie almosts shouts, but restrain:
hinsell-'how fortunate And now RED
Aldebaran, which ever and anon he ha:
gazed at with s,raining eyes, shine:
through the narrow window over his head
The hour has come,' he says. aud iixe.
his eyes upon the face he adores. 'Cal
it be? Yes, she lives!' A faint sigh
a shudder--she opens her eyes. A ges
ture from her lover re>trains an exclama
> ton she is on the point oil making-sht
comes TO herself, and returns his arden
e embrace. Of course, the intelligent read
4 er understands the nature of the powder
e given under the mystic Lotus. wv,
have played boldly and won't says Rite
h Thpunki. A blush from his love ex