Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-10-10

the appearance of having been carelessly
thrown down in a corner, for it was lying on
its side.
went up to it to examine it. 1t was well
made, but Ct perfectly plain cedar wood
not an inscription, not a solitary god on it.
'sNever see one like him before" said ALI.
"Bury great hurry, he 10 'matish,' no
sineesh.' Throw HIM down there on side.''
Hooked at the plain case till at last my
interest was thoroughly aroused. I had
been SO shocked by the sight of the scattered
dust of the departed that had made up my
mind not TO touch the remaining coffin-bui
now my curiosity ovcrrame me, and we set
to work.
Ali had brought mallet and cold chise.
with him. and having set the coffin straight he
began upon it with all the zeal Of an expert
enced tomb-breaker. And then he pointed
out another thing. Most mummy cases are
fastened by four little tongues of wood, two
on either side, which are fixed in the upper
half, and passing into mortises cut to re-
ceive them in the thickness of the lower
half, are there held fast by pegs of hard
wood. But this mummy case had eight
such tongues. Evidently it had been
thought well to secure it firmly. At last
with great difficulty, we raised the massive
lid, which was nearly three inches thick,
and there, covered over with a deep layer
Of loose spices "a very unusual thing, was
tho body.
Ali looked at it with open eyes-and nc
wonder. For this mummy was not as Other
mummies are. Mummies in general Ii.
upon their backs, as stiff and calm a.
though they were cut from wood; but thi.
mummy lay upon its side, and, the wrap
pings notwithstanding, its knees were
slightly bent. More than that, indeed, ths
gold mask, which, after the fashion of tn.
Ptolemaic period, had been set upon ths
face, had worked down, and was literally
pounded up beneath the hooded head.
1t was impossible, seeing these things, t.
avoid the conclusion that the mummy be
fore US had moved with violence since il
was put in the coffin.
"Him very funny mummy. Him moi
smafish' when him so in there" said Ali.
"Nonsenser' l said. "Who ever hearc
Of live mummy"
We lifted the body out of the coffin
nearly choking ourselves with mummy
dust in the process, and there beneath it
half hidden among the spices, we made o our
first find. 1t was a roll of papyrus, care
iessly fastened and wrapped in a piece o,
mummy cloth, having, to all appearance
been thrown into the coffin at the moment
of closing.
Ali eyed the papyrus greedily. but
seized 1t and put it in my pocket, for it was
agreed that l was to have all that might be
discovered. Then we began to unwrap ths
body 1t was covered with very broad
strong bandages, thiclzly wound and rough
ly tied, sometimes by means of simple
knots, the whole work bearing the appear
ance of having been executed in great hast,
and with difficulty. Just over the head wa,
| large lump. Presently the bandages GOV
ering it were off, and there, on the face, lay
second roll of papyrus. Iput down N,
hand to lift 1t, but it would not come away
1t appeared to be fixed to the stout, seam
less shroud which was drawn over tn,
whole body and tied beneath the feet, as
farmer ties sacks This shroud, which wa
alse thickjS waxed, was in one piece, being
made to fit the form like q garment. I tool
candle and examined the roll, and then
saw why it was fast The specs had con
| gealed and glued it to the sack-llke shroud
| 1t was impossible to get it away withou
| tearing the outer sheets Of papyrus.
At last, however, l wrenched it loose AM
| put it with the other in my pocket.
Then in silence we went on with GU
| dreadful task. With much care we rippe,
| loose the sack-like garment, and at last tn,
body of man lay before US. Between hi
| knees was third roll of papyrus. sc
| cured it, and then held down the lights ant
| looked at him. Being doctor, one glanc
at his face was enough to tell me how h
| had died.
| This body was not much dried up. Ev
| IDENTIFY it had not passed seventy days i
natron, and therefore the expression an
likeness were better preserved than
usual Without entering into particulars