Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1877-11-09
THE EGYPTIAN MUMMIEs.

of history, and are insensible to its
poetic association, they are Indifferent
to whatever disposition may be made
of the Pharaonic remains. They might
object to the demolition of the Pyra-
mlds, as they attract travellers to
Egypt, who spend great deal of
money in Cairo aud Alexandria during
the winter season. The mummy pits
around the Pyramids and the site OF
ancient Thebes have for some time
been spo'iated on for old bones for
shipment to England to manure the
fields of that country with their phos
plate. Practically, the ancient Egyp-
tians are of no use to anybody, and
they themselves could not object, Oh
their own theory, to have their bodies
converted to the benefit Of the living
According to the doctrine Of metempsy
Ghosts, their souls have transmigratpd
into other shapes, and perhaps may be
lodged in the myriads Of bats that
now inhabit the tombs of the Kings
of Thebes Millions on millions OF
the inhabitants Of ancient Egypt are
buried in the mummy-pits that line
the border of he desert from Grand
Cairo to the cataract at As ouan. Ia
one that | visited near the Pyramid
Of Cheops, and which was part, II
doubt, OF the cemetery Of Memphis,
thousands on thousands Of mumm.cs
were piled i'll tiers, one above the 9th
er, to an unfathomad depth. When
dragged out their bones cracked like
dry wood, and thrown upon "a fire the
air was filled with aromatic perfumes
, from the substances in which they
, were embalmcd. One Of the Arabs
with Us, who incautiousIy jumped
. into the pit, almost sank out OF sigh
as he crashed through the brittle mass
, Of dry bones and Withered Skeletons
Every mummy has papyrus scroll
around his waist descriptive Of his
gcneaIogy and personal history
kind of autobiography in brief. Where
many are entombed together it was d
receptacle of the common dead. tht
great, the royal, the noble and tn
. military caste were placed in separate
tnnlbs, their bo les encaSed i'll q triple
series Of gaudi!y-painted chests COY
cred all over with hierogIyphicS am
embIcmatic devices, ard the face val
nished with gold A giIded face al
ways indicates mummy of rank
, who, in his day, played an importan
part in the affairs Of his country
The skulls have not mach breadth o.
front or height of brow, and they d
not denote highly intellectual race
Nevertheless, the old Egyptians dI'
great things i'll their day They i'll
vented letters, they graded the arts
and sciences, and they built the mos
colossal and imposing and enduring
monument Of architecture the worl,
has ever seen. The Copts Of moder
Egypt are said to be descended from
them, and probably they are, for the.
have the same grave, mysterious.
sphinx-lke features that ancient dWelI
2 ers of the country had, as pictured oI
: the painted walls of the royal sepui
l cheers at Thebcs and Danderrah. Lik'
: their ancestors they do not asslmiIat'
Y with other races, and keep up thei
: generic characteristics and purity o
: blood. The Khedive has tolerated ths
: commerce of the common run OF mum
! mics, but he has for several years pas
: forbidden the export or sale OF tin
t ariStocratc class, whose precious re
e mains are 50 elegantly preserved II
ornamental Ghosts of hirh IntrifiS