Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-23
EMBALMED ALIVE.
TRANSLATED for the Louisville Courier-Journdl
from the French of Gustaye 1ondonze.l
III. =, .. - sc Ma,,,,l,s e1art


from the French of Gustave fondonze.l
The city of Memphis slept.
1t was the noxious hour when Ph-t-ah
the terrible god of Fire, and Ph-Ra, tn,
Sun, poured out, in emulation of eacl
other, their rays of scorching heat upor
the land of Egypt and bringing death tC
TIE imprudent traveller.
had taken refuge from the heat of the
day in an inner chamber of my summer
palace, lazily stretched on cushions Of
brilliant hues, fashioned by the people Of
Lyria. Three slaves, captives from the
Canaan land, beat upon the sultry air with
fans of gigantic palm-leayes.
The palace, standing upon the banks OF
the Nile, was my favorite retreat, whose
decoration / had intrusted to the most
celebrated artists of the day. On the
walls of the room in which 1 lay were
represented the victories and conquests of
the great Pharaoh Ramises Meiamoun,
called by the ancient Greeks, Tesostris,
and from whom | traced my descent. The
azure of the ceiling was studded with stars
yellow adorned the llntels of the doors
and windows curtained with mats of plait-
ed alves and rushes. A row of Jars of
porous earthenware, containing cold spring
water, contributed their aid to cool the
heated atmosphere.
Plunged in sweet reverie, my eyes
strayed to the paintings and sculptures
which surrounded me; the figures, which
ingenious art had fashioned on the walls,
appeared to move, the terrible Ramises,
like an avenging god, threatening with
his lash the people on their knees before
him.
The scaret-plumaged ibis pecked at the
grains of corn which lay scattered on the
marble flag; from time to time their mel
ancholy cry mingled with the dull and
monotonous voice of the river against its
artificial banks of granite.
Shaking off the torpor which had, by
degrees, stolen upon my senses, | seized an
ivory stick and beat upon drum of hip
popotamus skin standing near my couch.
At the signal the curtains parted and gave
entrance to the chief of my slaves. His
Jet black skin, small deep-sunken eyes, and
thick, protruding lips proclaimed him
of the Naziki race. From his right
shoulder the skin of Lybian panther
hung down around his body, while his
lower limbs were clothed in drawers of
scarlet linen, fastened around the waist by
broad leather strap; from either ear hung
thick ring of gold. His position in my
palace is Intendant of the Slaves.
prepare my barge" | said; "the one
which was lately built for me by Ramne-
ton of Thebes. | wish to attend the cere-
monies in memory of the death of the
God Apis, and would set out at once"
Leaving my chamber, soon found my
self at the head of the granite stairway at
the foot of which the barge was moored.
The sight Of my new purchase gave me in
slant delight; the builder, Ramneton, had
indeed surpassed himself. The hull, which
was narrowed to point at either end, was
built of acacia wood, transversed by planks
of cedar; leaves of the byblus tree, coated
with bitumen and impervious to water,
were used to calk the seams; at the prov
was a figure of Isis wrought in ivory; the
sides were gaily painted and adorned in
MANY colors. In the poop, which was
thickly strewn with soft silken cushions,
protection from the SUMS rays was afforded
BY double folds of blue-tinted byssus, sup
ported at each corner by little golden
masts. Within a few moments 1 was
floating upon the Nile. Two powerful,
copper-colored Philippians bent to the oars
of cedar wood, the blades OF whichSthrew
up the water at each stroke in showers of
pearly drops Standing upright in the
PROV, the Naziki kept a watchful guard
lest any obstacle should impede our course
and from time to time the long pole which
he held would smite the rugged back of a
sleeping crocodile.
Before my eyes passed in procession the
majestic and imposing buildings of Men,
phis, its colonnaded temples, monstrous
catacombs covered with hieroglyphicsigns
the palaces of dark-red granite, with their
obelisks and avenues Of colossal statues,
charming villas, half-hidden in their YER
dant gardens, and cabins built of reeds and
mud, where dwelt the fishermen of the
Nile The broad fields and open meadows
came into view. Forests of mimosa trees,
of palms and cedars, lotus flowers hanging
from their large green leaves, and inland
lakes of golden corn stretching in waves
beyond the distant horizon. At times,
from among the weeds and mangroves, a
hippopotamus would raise his massive
head, and, scared at our approach, plunge
suddenly into the muddy stream, causing
the barge to rock upon the mimic waves.
Upon the sandy banks l perceived huge
lizards, seeking and preying upon the eggs
left by crocodiles in the suns fierce heat, a
wise dispensation of the goddess Isis to
check the increase of the amphibian rep
tile.
X
As we turned one of the rivers numer-
Gus bends our passage was checked by a
veritable fleet of various craft. A palm
trees trunk, clumsily followed ont and
padded by single man, darted about
among gilded barges urged by a dozen
rowers The Pelasgian from the distant
shores of the Hellespont exposed to our
sight his body tattooed in red and blue
the skin of a wild beast his only protec
ton against a scorching sun; his light
skiil hustled against the craft which held
the grave and dignifed Hyniaritan, pc
SCISSOR of the land which produces incense
One could recognize In his rich and train
ing robe, and wearing tiara covered Will
precious stones, the son of Assour, shell
tered from the burning rays by canopy
of many colored silks. Here and there
was to be seen, timorous and hiding among
the rigging of the heavy ships of com
merce, some humble Ben Heber, an exii,
from the plains of Goshen. Long canoes
of sycamore, covered with hippopotamu.
hide, made their way among the crowd
full of Egyptian soldiers whose weapons
.glistened in the sunlight; man of Oeri
stood motionless in the prov Of each canoe
bearing the insignia OF two golden horn
upon his helmet, and his harp grasped il
his hand. In princely barges were seated
like so many gods of carven stone, tn
chief rulers of Memphis, with plated hair
and fixed stony looks as of hawk inten
upon its prey.
Through the middleof the crowd wild
aud open space was left; it was here tina