The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-09-28

the appearance of having been carelessly
thrown down in a corner, for it was lying on
it's side.
l went up to it to examine it. 1t was well
made, but cf perfectly plain cedar wood
not an inscription, not solitary god on it.
'sNever see one like him BEFORE" said ALI.
ssBury great hurry, he no 'mahsh,' no
sineesh.' Throw hun down there on SIDE"
looked 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-but
now my curiosity overcame me, and we set
to work.
Ali had brought mallet and cold chisel
with him, and having set the coffin straight he
began upon it with all the zeal of an expert
enced omb-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 mortses cut to re-
ceiye 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 we'll 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 deep layer
of loose spices "a very Unusual thing, was
the body.
Ali looked at it with open eyes-and no
wonder. For this mummy was not as other
mummies are. Mummies in general lie
upon their backs, as stiff and calm as
though they were cut from wood; but this
mummy lay upon it's side, and, the wrap
pings Notwithstanding, it's knees were
slightly bent. More than that indeed, the
gold mask, which, after the fashion of the
Ptolemaic period, had been set upon the
face, had worked down, and was literally
pounded up beneath the hooded head.
It was impossible, seeing these things, to
avoid the conclusion that the mummy be-
fore us had moved with violence since it
was put in the coffin.
ssHim very funny mummy. Him not
s1nafsh' when him go in there,' said Ali
ssNonsenser' l said ssWho ever heard
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 our
first find. 1t was roll Of papyrus, care
lessly fastened and wrapped in a piece of
mummy cloth, having, to all appearance,
been thrown into the coffin at the moment
of closing.
Ali eyed the papyrus greedily, but I
seized it and put it in my pocket, for it was
agreed that / was to have all that might be
discovered. Then we began to unwrap the
body. 1t was covered with very broad,
strong bandages, thickly wound and rough.
ly tied, sometimes by means of simple
knots, the whole work bearing the appear
ance of having been executed in great haste
and with difficulty. Just over the head was
large lump. Presently the bandages COW
ering it were off, and there, on the face, lay
a second roll of papyrus. lput down my
hand to lift it, but it would not come away.
It appeared to be fixed to the stout, seam
less shroud which was drawn over tae
whole body and tied beneath the feet, as a
farmer ties sacks. This shroud, which was
also thickly waxed, was in one piece, being
made to fit the form like garment. took
candle and examined the roll, and then
saw why it was fast The spices had con-
gealed and glued it to the sack-like shroud.
It was impossible to get it away without
tearing the outer sheets of papyrus.
At last, however, wrenched itleose and
put it with the other in my pocket.
Then in silence we went on with our
dreadful task. With much care we ripped
loose the sack-like garment, and at last the
body of . man lay before us. Between his
knees was third roll of papyrus. Sc
cured it, and then held down the lights and
looked at him. Being doctor, one glance
at his face was enough to tell me how he
had died. ss &
(. This body was not much dried up Evi
IDENTIFY it had not passed seventy days II
natron, and therefore the expression and
likeness were better preserved than ID
usual. Without entering into pr iculars,