The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-02

EGYPTIAN PRINCESS. &C. I 3s2.sis Pt
/ We mentioned In Thursdays Dispatch,
tthat Wednesdays philadelphia steamer
drought from the Centennial city a foreign
princess, whose noble blood can be traced
far beyond the pedigree OF any royal dy-
mast. The princess was duly escorted to
DR.. Curry's residence from her aEding-
place in the dock, and: from, there carried
out to Richmond College, where in the
chapel last night she had her first reception
in the Old Dominion. 'bs'.s Z .;'-lss
t9iThe chapel was full OF people who had
gathered to- see the Egyptian miimmy and
to hear DR.. Curry's address explanatory OF
the history Of her highness. Several female.
schools were present, and Of course the
girls had a ..splendid timeo seeing every
thing that WINS to be seen and hearing every;
thing that was to be heard. Indeed, there
was very. intelligent audience present.
They were highly delighted, and brokecup
reluctantly. H--. .s: ~
The mummy exhibited is in state Of ex-
cellent preservation. The coffin is very rich
in coloring and hierogiyplls. The upper lid
is embellished by well-eXecuted face in
relief and by numerous symbolical charac-
tiers. The under-lid is covered with en-
tirelS different figures. Besides various in
scriptions, the interior is decorated with
pictures of a woman. The coffin shows
that the person enclosed was a woman Of
high rank and priestess.
Besides the mummy, there was on eXhi-
bition quite q collection Of valuable an
tiques from Egypt, Nubia, Jerusalem,
Pompeii, and other places. A papyrus
manuscript, handsomely bound, dates back
to the twentieth dynasty-nearly twelve
hundred years before Christ. This manll-
script Is OF much value. Bronze deities,.
ancient lamps, a sphinx, Etruscan vases,
the robe OF an African king, the dress OF an
Egyptian woman, armlets, ne cklaccs, shoes,
&c, were exhibited aud explained. The
effort OF the college authorities to establish
4 museum worthy OF the college and the
city deserves grateful recognition and libe-
raj cooperation. In Europe these collec-
tions constitute portion of the attractions
for travellers, and are educatory in their in
tluence. A geological and meteorological
cabinet and a museum OF curioSities ut the
college will be open to the public, and while
helping the professors in their teaching will
be OF interest to our citizens and all intelli-
gent travellers.
DR.. Curry, besides giving interesting his
torical and personal incidents connected
with the objects exhibited, gave also an ac-
count of Egyptian funerals, as witnessed by
him on his recent journeys, and Of the an
cient process Of embalming. The iniorma-
ton was too full and minute to be de-
scribed here.
What probably the audience as much en-
ioyed as anything else said was sketch OF
the visit Of his party to the Tombs Of the
Kings, near "hundred-gates Thebes,
| The mountains are honey-combed with
tombs and were the metropolis for the
teeming population. These tombs are i'm
mense in size and decorated in the most
. magnificent manner. The Egyptians be
leved in the immortality Of the soul, anC
+ not few symbols are preserved represent
ing the trial Of the dead and their victory
| over evil spirits.
Nearly an hour was spent by the audience
in examining the curiosities, and they lef
. the chapel greatly pleased with the evening
entertainment.