The Shasta courier., 1867-08-31

these little objects are often found in the
cofilns OF mummies, and there is not Gu
rloslty shop but what possesses more or less
q these little figures in blue paste but an
unexpected and touching detail was flower
found under each arm-so well preserved
that a botanist would no doubt have been
able to name It, Was it a lotus blossom or
persea? No one could tell US, as our com.
pany was mostly composed of sdgontS. This
incident made US all pensive Whose hand
had placed there these poor flowers, as last
adleu, at the moment when this deeply re-
gretted body was about to disappear forever
from mortal eyes :? Flowers four thousand
years old! What subject for mediation
little berry OF fruit, whose species it would
pc difficult to name, was also found, from
lime to time, in the bandages.
Perhaps 1t was one of those narcotics
which renders oblivious those who inh hale the
fragrance. On a fragment of cloth was
written the name of an unknown king be.
longing to some dynasty equally ignored
The mummy opened at the Universal Ex-
hibltion fills void in history and reveals
new Pharoah. The face still remained con.
cealed beneath its mask of linen and bitumen.
which it was difficult to remove, owing to
Its immense age. The scissors finally re-
moved the last object, and two large black
eyes shoDe with semblance of life between
two blaekened eyelids. These eyes were of
enamel, such as the ancients always put in
a carefully prepared mummy.
The effect of these two fixed staring eyes
IN that dead face was somewhat startling
The corpse seemed to contemplate the livings
beings before it with disdainful surprise
The eyebrows were left clearly defined by
the falling away of flesh. The nose, we are
Obliged to avow it, was hattened at the end
to conceal the incision which had been made
In the removal of the brains of Mes. Khons,
and piece of gold leaf was plastered over
her mouth like q seal of eternal silence
Her fine, well preserved hair, fell in light
rlnglets about her ears, and was of that Pc
cullar reddish tint so recherche among the
Venetian ladies, and which the caprice of
some Of our elegaRteS has brought into favor
at the present day We hardly believe that
this pc uliar shade, (Which brought Mes
Khons into the latest fashion) could have
been natural, as without doubt she was a
brunette, like her fellow Egyptians, and
perfumes and drugs used in the embament.
This same golden tint is found on the heads
Of two women exposed in the glass case, and
what is strange, one of them has the same
Couture as the Venus of Milo. and the other
profusion of braids forming a sort of
casque, as the hair is worn at this time
The body was soon exposed to view in all
its painful nudity. The skin on the body
was red, and covered with little blue spots
like the mould on pictures, caused by the
contact with the air. From the iucision
made to take out the entrails, aromatic saw
dust mixed with grains of resin, was drop
ping like bran from an unsewed doll. The
long emaciated arms, with their bony hands
and decorated finger nails were extended,
with sepulchral modesty in the attitude of
the Venus of Medicis. The feet, which were
slightly contracted from the drying of the
flesh and nerves, seemed to have been orig.
inally small; the toenails like those of the
fingers, being covered with bits of goldleaf.
Was she old or young, pretty or ugly, this
Mes Khons, daughter of Horus and Ronsa,
named lady by her epitaph? 1t would be
difficult to judge. Nothing remains but dry
bones enveloped in yellow skin, in which
it would be impossible to recognize the grace
ful form of the Egyptian woman.