Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-03

been attracted by q far pleasanter spccta-
Gle than the death Of the god. Not far
from where / sat was very handsome
barge, its bow and stern finely worked in
representation oflotus buds; its rose-color-
ed hangings were fastened to the Dlasts by
rings of gold and silken ropes.
From time TO time caught glimpse OF
ayoung girls beautiful face. She was OF
tho pure Egyptian type; black. velyety
eyes, artisticaily enlarged with anthony
nquiline. but perfectly formed nose, and a
skin Drowned by exposure 20 the sun. I'm
fortunately the moments when i could OBJ
tain an unobstructed view were few and
far between.
Whom the procession had passed she
made me sign to Join her. IL was not I'M
I'll then that ] recognized in her the frin-
cess Nabis, daughter OF Pharaoh Nepher-
keres. Our barges travelled together to-
ward the palace OF the Princess, one of the
city's architectural marvels.
Beyond the main entrance to the palace
was vast hall with scnlptured walls, and
intersected by q yeritablo forest of pillars,
some huted, others smoothly round and
polished. Their capitals were exquisitely
wrought. and represented for the most
part the full-blown lotus flowers. The roof
of the hall did not meet the capitals but
was supported by the stems which issued
iANlii t44S UtAAt VI tNfTN mower.
WORK or MEMPHIoS Artists.
We were met by crowd Of black slaves.
who Frustrated themselves Mt our feet and
called down upon us the blessings OF the
gods Beyond them was band Of harpIsts,
who. as they twanged their strings, chanted
the praises Of my hostess.
The Princess led me to her private cham
Der. In its construction the architect had
employed naught but tho most precious
stones. such "a elabaster, iaspar, black
basalt, green, white, and yiOlet-colored
porphyry, and roso-tinted granite. Using
the various colors of these stones he had
constructed most ingenious mosaics, rep
resenting figures of both animal and
human. Large vases at regular intervals
contained huge lunches of lotus flowers,
whose sweet and dangerous scent was
diGused throughout the rooms. Such
light as penetrated through the heavy silk
curtains of the windows was soft and dim.
Upon the plinth of each column an artist
had painted the various works Of woman
kiud-some were depicted fashioning
crowns tor their divinity. others weaving
fax on spindles Of green faieuce. Each
pose was reproduced with an astonishing
degree of Daturalncss. Rumor had IN re-
cognition Of bis skill the Princess had paid
the artist with a. much gold as he could
carry from her palace to his dwelling.
Upon pedestal of green Jasper i no
ticed a statue in solid gold Of the Goddess
Bess, the deity who prcsIdes over woman's
toilet. | remained alone for some time,
admring the beauty and elegance OF the
chamber. Perhaps the most striking OBJ
ject was throne of solid ivory. fashloned
in the form OF sphinx ana supported on
columns OF sculptured ebony. Beyond
this was a table ON which were arranged
q }. s.t Or xgnmngtfa toilet
of all sizes and description, boxes contain
ing spikenard and other fragrant ONT
ments, antimonv with which TO paint the
ewes, bracelets of gold, and collars OF pre-
clOuS stones.
THE STRANGE GBOTTo.
A slave approached me and asked me If
IL were my pleasure to be conducted TO the
banqueting-hall. On my consentlng he
oi>sned a small door which had been hidden
by a curtain Of alOes aud signed TO me TO
descend flight of stairs which now met
nv sight A torch which he carried threw
a red light upon the walls and gave LIE TO
the figures which were painted on them:
A dark and gloomy passage at tho foot OF
the stars brought me to tue most curious
part of this strange dwelling-hOuse.
I found myself in large hall, the walls
of which were composed of transparent
quartz: so, TOO, was the ceiling, which was
supported by enormous columns, each
different god. 1t was with
"A curious sense of fear that perceived tina:
In reality was under the Milo. Beyond
and above the walls OF quartz one cOuld
look into the ereenish water. At the mo,
mpnt of my entrance a monsuous ana
ferce-looking crocodile struck the wall
with its scaly tail; huge water-snakes
crawled above my head, stirring up the
mud Of the rivers bed.
From lamps of ONYX n thousand lights
sparkled IN the mysterious retreat. Down
the centre of the hall stretched long
table of dehcatelv yened marble standing
on legs OF green Jasper. At frequent inter
walls from the polished surface there
sprang up an artificial palm-tree OF green
and gold, whose leaves threw out Drill
liant flame of light. Behind each guest
stood "A gigantic slave, Nassaman, clothed
nm striped trousers, their boards cuTled IN
ringlets. heavy rings of gold upon their
arms and legs, and each holding loren OF
resinous cinnamon wood.
AT tins moment the Princess Nabls en-
tered. Her blue-black hair was crowned
bv n golden hawk. whose wings formed
sort of helmet, the head erect over her
forehead. Ia its beak the bird Eeld a string
of superb pearls, drawn back around her
head and hanging down upon her meek,
a single fringe of color; sandals OF the
satln-like papyrus bark protected her per-
fectly-formed feet, fastened to her limbs by
bands of white. pearly shells gathered
from the banks OF the Nile.
THE BANQUET.
Under her pencillod eyebrows an amo-
rous light shone from her large, black
ewes; her half-opened lips, whose black
mess was a proof Of her Egyptian blood.
disclosed q row Of whltest teeth. Her
checks were slightly rouged 10 the fashion
OF the day. and her periectly-tormed Dust
agitated when she breathed, the Jewelled
stomachcr from which by. cham OF goid
hung down a pair of ibis feathers.
/ took my place near her, reclining on a
nile of soft cushions. and in my heart gave
thanks to Isis in that | had attracted 10
myself the looks Of this royal lady. Slaves
Glled our goblets with wine and our plates
with rarest delicGcies; the musicians
brought forth sweet music from thelr IN
struments while they chanted words on
love. and fair dancers from Diospolis, with
their slow and langurous movements, gave
pleasure TO our sight.
Toward the end of the repast the Prln-
cess Nabjs. fixing a reaching look upon my
eves held a lotus flower close 10 my face
so that | must needs inhale its heavy per-
fume Little by little felt my head grow
dull and heavy and that was slowly losing
my senses.
Then ali at once, as l sank down upon
the cushions, she beckoned two of her
Nasamon slaves and cried to Them. Car
~ him 10 the house of Thetmosis, the en-
Lalmerln What could these strange words
signify? Did the Princess believe that |
wac really dead? Was 1t some jest on her
mart Upon her lips | could see. or fan
cied that ! could. strange, ironical smile.
The two slaves approached aud lifted me
upop a screen of reeds. l could see, could
understand, and / could hear, and yet |
could not make movement, speak a word
or lei them know that was indeed alive.
A sort OF numbness had seized upon my
will. and TO all appearances i was dead.
With my eyes wide open and fixed, my
limbs stif and cold my heart pulseless, the
slaves carried me toward the quarter OF the
city called Memnonla.
TO The TsiBALMER.
We crossed through the heart of Mem
nhis. On all sides was life and health and
strength; the children played about the
streets. the merchants cried their wares;
some laboring men. sweating with their
toll. cast toward me looks of envy, doubt
less thinking of the long sleep and rest be-
fore me, but | could see that their lea-
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