Litchfield enquirer., 1850-07-11
MlSCgLLAM Y.
A SINGULAR DEvELoPEMENr.

u A SINGULAR DEVELOPMENT.
An antiquarian living near Boston, |
confirmed deliver into Egyptian literature,
has sent the Springfield Republican the
following interesting sketch. which We
think will explain. to most minds, the
strange metamorphosis by which Mr..
Gibbons mummy changed its sex:
To tie Editors:
The interest attached to the recent
opening Of the mummy, in Boston. I of
course shared in largely. That interest
has not yet died away. and various have
been The conjectures indalged in, to &C.
eouas for d mistake IN t5es sex, inch
some attribute to MI. GliddoK Igm0f-
'anee, aud others. more properly and more
charitably, to some blunder or some de-
ception as old as the mummy ITSELF
The announcement of the sex Of Mr..
Gibbons mummy, Immediately recalled
to my mind a story which read some
years ago in an old Egyptian MS, q work
half Of medicine and half of romance.
TO this referred upon opportunity and
my surprise you can we'll imagine when
found myself reading of the very
Priestess whose body Mr.. G. supposed
he possessed. The name was the same
and the whole mystery explained. /
send you copy Of an imperfect transla-
| ton.
Rite .Thpunki was an officer 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>I. No" Got-Thoth,.l had
one daughter and she was taller than all
the maidens Of Thebes. Her feet and
hands were large, even for one Of her
proportions her nose was real pug,
and her complexion sallow. Who would
have deemed it possible that she could
have disturbed the peace of any young
mans hours? But her graces Of mind
far outwe ghed the defects Of her person
al 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 homliness, did not long remain in
sensible to the mental charms which she
displayed, ana Anch Phis, delighted in
seeing in her lover an appreciation OF
her talents, and independence enough to
Grave the ieers of his light. minded as
sociates, fully reciprocated the affection
she had kindled. Foolish pair! They
little knew the temper of Got Thoth.l,
and that he never would consent to their
union. RiLe-Thpunki had scarcely de-
clared his passion to the father OF his be-
loved, than he was overwhelmed with a
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 to the palace
yard for the purpose, the bird ran to
ncr with his wonted haste, and raising
his left wing disclosed note pinned TO
one OF its feathers. She seized and
| read .s...
| Buloul! when the Dog Star rises. meet me
by the mystic Lotus. RirE-fHPUNKI.
They mct--one embrace few
hurried words, and Anch Phis, receiving
"a small powder in her hands, departs,
leaving her lover to mediate his plans.
Sc In less than twenty -four hours from
this meeting. the most distinguished
physicians III Thebes might have been
seen vending their way with anxious
faces to the palace Of Got-Thoth-I.--
And why anxious ? Alas /! Anch Phis,
the delight OF their eyes--thc life Of the
many festive entertainments her father
had gwen them ia token Of his esteem
for the profession Phis was 60
ing TO die. A sudden illness was fast,
though gently stealing away her life
8 Had she been young and handsome,
said Gev- Bred Phi, the most successful
and wealthy practitioner of Thebes, Il
should think she was dying of disap-
pointment in matters OF love- Imagine
the horror of Got-Thoth-I. He had
killed his only child His iron
heart relentcd. Perhaps it is not yet too
late. A faint smile illumined the face Of
his daughter. A messenger, feet as the
wind, was sent to the temple for Rite
Thpunki. He comes but il is too late.
Shv grasped his hand, and ceased TO
breathe! $500, t.t..,.,a.
And now with voice scarcely audl>
49, n - AZ.