Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-01-02

49, and the solemnity of that holy
2 place seemed to crush US. Above US,
cubit over cubit in its mighty measure, the
Pyramid lowered up 20 heaven and was
Kissed of the night air But we were deep
Ia the bowels of the rock beneath its base
We were alone with the dead, whose rest
we yere about to break; and no sound OF
the murmuring air and no sight OF life
came to dull the awful edge of solitude.
gazed on the sarcophagus; its heavy nd
had been lifted and rested at its side.
Around it the dust Of ages had gathered
thick, and there in the dust was the stamp
Of human feet. Then 1 trembled, for knew
that looked on the footprints of that fore
father of mine, who, gener ations gone, last
Of living men, had visited this holy place.
long had he been gathered to Osiris, and
yet there in tho powdered dust was the
press Of his dead foot.
''See, )" whispered, pointing to writing
dsubed with pigment upon the wall in the
sacred symbols Of ancient times.
"Read it, Harmachis," answered Cleo
patra, in the same low voice; ''for can
not"
Then read: 'T, Rameses Miamun, did,
in my day and In my hour of need, visit
this sepulcher. But, though great my
need and bold my heart, dared not face
the curse of Menka-ra. Judge, o thou who
shalt come after me, and, if thy soul be
pure and Khem be utterly distressed, take
thou that which have left"
"Where, then, is the treasurer she
whispered. SIS that sphinx face of golda"
"Even there" I answered, pointing to
the sarcophagus. "Draw near and see."
Aud she took my hand and drew near.
The lid was off, but within the depths OF
the sarcophagus lay the painted coffin OF
the Pharaoh. blew the dust from it with
lmy breath and read that which was
written thereon. And this was written:
"Pharaoh Menkara, the child of
Heaven.
Sun.
Pharaoh Menka-ra, who didst lie be-
meath the heart OF Nout
''Nout, thy Mother, wraps thee in the spell
OF Her holy name.
''The name of thy Mother, Nout. is the
mystery Of Heaven.
shout, thy Mother, gathers thee to the
number of the Gods.
'sNout, thy Mother, breathes on thy foes
and utterly destroys them.
80 Pharaoh Menka-ra, who liyest for
everI''
s.Where, then, is the treasurer she asked
again. 'Here, indeed, is the body Of the
divine Menka-ra; but the flesh even Of Pha-
raohs is not gold, and IL the face OF this
sphinx be gold, how may we move ita''
For answer bade her stand upon the
sphinx and grasp the upper part of the cof-
fln, while I grasped its foot Then, at my
word, we lifted, and the lid Of the case,
which was not fixed, came away, and we set
Il upon the floor. And there in the case was
the mummy of the Pharaoh, as three thou
sand years before 1t had been laid. large
mummy 1t was, and somewhat ungainly.
Nor was it adorned with q gilded mask, as
lie the fashion Of our day, for the head was
wrapped in cloths yellow with age, which
were made fast with pink flaxen bandages,
iwhereunder were pushed the stems of lotus
blooms. And on the breast, wreathed over
with lotus flowers, lay plate of gold close
ily written over with sacred writing. lifted
lup the plate, and, holding it to the light,
Tread:
At. Menka-ra, the osirian. aforetime Pharaoh
lof the Land OF khem, who in my day did live
Justly and ever walked in the path marked for
my feet by the decree OF the Invisible. Who
was the beginning and Is the end, speak from
my tomb to these who after me shall for ar
hour Sit upon my Throne. Behold, L Meuka
r. the Ostrian, having in the days Of my life
been warned OF dream that a time will come
strangers, and her monarch shall have great
need OF treasure wherewith to furnish armies
70 drive the barbarian back, have out OF my
wisdom done this thing. For It having pleased
the protecting Gods to give me wealth beyond
any Pharaoh who has been since the days OF
Horus-thousands Of cattle and geese, thou
sands of cameis and asses, thousands o
measures Of corn, and hundreds Of measure!
Of gold and gems-this wealth have I used
sparingly, and that which remains have
bartered for precious stones, even for emer
Aids the most beautiful and largest that are In
the world. These stones, then, have stored
mp against that day of the need OF Khem. Blu,
tbecaase rs there have been. so there shall be
Those who do wickediy on the earth, and who
IN the lust.of gain, might seize this wealth thai
lhase stored and put It TO their uses Behold
Thou Unborn One, who in the fullness of time
teaused to be written, thus have stored ths
t1xoasure; even among my bones. Therefore
10 thou Unborn One sleeping in the womb o
tNout, this say to theei II thou indeed has,
need OF riches to save Knem from the foes o
khem, fear not and delay not, but tear me, the
Iosirian, from my tomb. ieese my wrapping,
and rip the treasure from my breast, and al
shall be well with thee: for this only do com
mand: That thou doss replace my bone
within my hollow cofin. But II the need b.
passing and not great or II there be . gull,
within thy heart, then tha curse of Mcuka. r,
smfte him who breaks in upon the deadts
II must be remembered that the an
cient Egyptians held the dead in greater
awe and sanctity than the living. Aftel
death the body was still visited by the soul
and they looked forward TO Its persona
resurrection. Hence their care as to 1t.
embalmment and ths ssupendous workl
which they raised as tombs.
ION shes be the curse that follows the traitor
On thee be the curse that smites him who out
RACES the majesty OF the Gods' Unhapp,
shalt thou live, In blood aud misery shalt thos
die, and In misery saalt thou be tormantet
forever and forevefl For, Wicked One, ther,
fn Amensi shall We come face to face,
sAnd 70 the end Of the keeping OF this secre
hare L Menka-rA set up . Temple OF m!
Worship, the which have built upon tn,
eastern side of tins my House OF Death. To ths
hereditary High Priest Ct this my Temple
shah 10 be made known from tirno to time
And II any High Pftest rhss shsn be. DO ressa
Shb secret 70 anesher shan the Pharaoh. q
a lar who ,-e. ~ phasaoh's crown aAd 4