The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-22

this was the only mummy Child in this country.
! The inner coffin of fhe lady who was about TO
be removed from the clothes was richly painted
and gildsd, and covered with figures Of various
kinds, the lines Of which were very vived ar.
Gliddon said this inner coffin was composed OF a
substance technically called cartonage. 1t was
formed Of strips OF linen cloth glued together
and moulded so as to fit the body; it was then
sewed together at the back and covered with
stucco, upon which paintings were made.
The inscription on the outside OF this CONN
sho ned that the body was that of Got-mns-as-
anlk, the daughter Of Gofhar-af-assh, "the Just1-
fied"--the farther priest of Thebes. From
the declarations on the coffin, it was probable
that the body was richly embaImed. There
were three kinds of embalming-the richest
style cost about $1,000, the second kind $500,
and that used for the common kind OF Tgyp-
tians, 1870. With the richer corpses, jewery
was often found, though the relatives OF the de-
ceased were generally deceived by the embam-
ers, who stole the jewels. The Arabs some
times opned the coffins Of rich mummies, take
out the Jewels and put the bodies back Al
these were contingencies which might arise,
and to which the mummy in question was liable.
The probability was that this lady had been en-
balmed from 1000 to $50 years before Christ.
A committe, composed Of DR.. II. s. Patter-
son, DR.. David Gilbert, and Dr.. VIM. X. Grant,
were then appointed to superntend the unroli-
ing aud assist Mr. Gliddon and Mr.. Moore, his
assistant
The richly decorated inner coffin was laid
upon hurdle, and section of the head sawed
off, the seam at the back unripped, and the
body taken ont; upon inspection Mr.. Gllddon
pronounced IT intact, and as originally embalmed.
The committee then began to unwrap the
bandoges They were of linen; and some, with
the selvage upon them, We're wrapped circularly,
and then pieces of linen placed longitudinally,
and other circular bandages applied. The papy-
rus--book of the dcad--was found on the breast,
written, as Mr.. G. announced, in hierattic cha
racters, the symbol writing used by the priests.
The scarabaens, or sacred beetle, was also found
OH the breast of the mummy. 1t was so covered
with pitch that it was impossible to say whether
it was accompanied by precious jewel or a
piece of common pottery. The feet were found
broken and ono of the legs came oil at the
knes; a result due to the injuries committed by
the probes of the custom-house officers.
The body was then unwrapped to the last
bandage, which was found to be so tightly glued
to the body that it was evident that to take it
off would be work of considerable time. 1t
was soft, however, and showed the figure plainly.
One of the hands was entirely covered The
further examination Of this mummy was then
entrusted to the committee, who will report on
Monday evening next.
The body of the child was then unwrapped
It was embalmed in better style than the com
mon Egyptians, with whom mating was gen.
erally used 1t wrapped in coarse cloth
and embalmed in different manner from that
of Got-7nus.ask- dnk Bitumen was freely used
so much so as to make it probable that a ham
mer and chisel would have to be used to loosen
some of the bandages. The pitch had been APP
Piled cold, as was supposed, some ofthe hail
of the head having been obtained about half an
inch long, and very soft and fine. The exami
nation of this mummy was also entrusted to the
committee, who will report at the next lecture