Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-03-22

OF battling WlJh thO "" h;oh
ON going up to the object "hicI
had provoked so much ALARM |
tonnd II to be the body ola native W
n sitting posture. The seat upon
which il rested rudely Represented .he
chnir-such a one as is usually ue
s,ribed as a hall porter's-and hau
apparently been roughly hewn rom
\ fragment Of neighboring stone
The body seemed at first TO give
evidences OF n sudden death, but on
closer examination Recognized that
there was method in its disposltlon'
and, Judging by the fact that seNvr
NJ articles were placed methodlcal'y
in n half circle in front oil the OouS'
| came to the CONCLUSION that a. ma.
tive burial off more than ORDINARY
character had been here carried OUT
but how long since remains 10 TINS
day u mystery.
The body, found on close mspec-
ton under the light OF snnury
matches, was in IA extremely mum
flied condition. Indeed, have new
err seen anything OF a similar nrder
so well preserved. The most curious
fact was that there appeared TO DC
nothing on or about the body 10
show that any process had been used
to bring about such perfect pressrVa
ton. unless, as | afterward Thought,
smoke had acted as u preSerVatlFe'
| was led to fancy this from the large
quantity III wood ashes with when
the floor of the cavern was strewh,
aud the dark, grimmy appearance o.
the root, as seen by the dim light OF
the matches burned. The atmos'
phere OF the cave was very dry; no
moisture could he detected ON the
walls, this condition OF surroundings
going II long way in helping the
smoke to perfect its work.
As Tor the mummy itself, when in
life the man must have been ut an
age approximating to forty years
a fine specimen, too, OF his kind, con
siderably above six ieet in height
On touching it II gray kind OF dust
remained upon the finger, and the
body when tapped gave out "a sound
as does stretched parchment. There
was scarcely any shrunken appear
ance, except below the eyes, the lids
of which were down, the other parts
of the body appearing much the
same as they may have done during
lie; the lips, in particular, had re-
tanned their fulness. have never
been able 10 account for this extra
ordinary instance OF the flesh retain
ing it's solidity sufficiently long Tor
the skin TO become dry enough Ia
escape the ordinary shrinking, there
by losing, as most mummies do
what | may call their resemblance u
their living selves.
"Well, Geof what DO you think o.
him?" asked Nornh.
quite a puzzle, little woman; can
make him out mt all; there are nc
Katfirs living hercahouts, nor have
heard OF any ever having done so
yet he is Katfir. as his wool shows.
Don't you think, Geof, that b,
may have been some great swell
among n people living about her,
ages ago, or, perhaps, have come oui
on big hunting expedition and mej
with some accident or died very sud
/ denly, and so have been 'vaulted' IL
this cave MS II cheap and expedition
means Of interment? Do you know
seem to have an indistinct remem
brance of reading that somewhere ii
the interior Of Africa there did one
exist n tribe who were acquainte,
with some wonderful mems of pre-
serving their dead
Sixties" replied; won nrr 0i
now into vain imaginings, ns on
parson friend ut kiIpdriIt used To say
] never heard ofsuch report. no
do believe have you. hut IN tel
you whnt--i'm going To bring hin
along, us the Americans have it.
guess We'll trade him of to some al
vantage The cape Town Museum
rauthoi.ities ought to make bid
At any rate. they shall have n chanc
if the beggar doesn't cut mp rust
and make himself small by tnlliu,
into dust on his reappnarauc" il
brond daylight AMI fr.sh mir. "
How are you going to get hir
away from here, Gcol!" asked Norat
"Of course, the boys won't help yor
and-well, don't quite think ran.
"Oh, Ill find n new way to get Oh
old chap out of this. Why. he can
weigh much more than old bones.
hope ! shan't tumble him into tn
river There'll be good chance {
it, though, getting over those sir
perry powders"
"But, Geof, denr, If YOU get hir
out where is he to sleep? The secon
wagon is full, and we cannot hay
him in our wagon-that will he a
together too much"
"Why. Norah, | do believe you m
losing pluck. | thought you coul
stand anything?"
$50 can, Geoi-at lenst almo,
anything; but to have him in on
wagon at night-oh! don't believe
could. He might sit with us durin
the day I'd rather like that: 'twoul
he something to study and speculat
J over"
"We'll see what can he done. BIZ
take him | must. | reckon there vi