Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-23


AT its head group of musicians, clad in
garments of mourning, filled the air with
a solemn chant, to the accompaniment
of bronze horns and drums of crocodile
skin. then advancing in double file, with
tunics of snow white linen, pointed san
dals of byblus wood, close shaven heads
wrapped round with bands of papyrus
covered with hieroglyphics, came the hun
| bred priests of Apis; their austere figures
seemed a foreshadowing of the mysteries
of death, and their eyes looked forward
into the infinite.
In their midst four and twenty neo-
phytes, their bodies oiled and painted with
vermilion, drew the massive throne of the
OK Apis. In white figures upon his skin
of glistening black were the three mystic
signs, triangle and crescent upon his
forehead, an eagle upon his back. His
chest was decorated with breast-plate CT
enamel and between the golden horns was
the royal insignia. Above his hoofs,
which were also of gold, were bracelets OF
precious stones set in lapislazuli. His
head could scarcely be seen for the thick
clouds of incense, the scent of which he
seemed to inhale with an air of tolerant
content.
Behind followed the serartors of the
temple, whose funeral chants filled the
minds of the spectators with a nameless
fear; one could fancy, in the air, a rushing
of wings as if Nephtys, Goddess of Death,
were lowering above the procession.
Apis, having been placed upon sacred
barge, was conducted toward the rivers
deepest spot, where, being laid upon a
screen of reeds and despoiled of all his
ornaments, he was hurled into the water,
amid the groans and lamentations of the
whole crowd. The corpse was then dragged
by the priests to the rivers bank and de-
livered over to the hieratical embalmers.
During the ceremony my attention had
been attracted by a far pleasanter spec
tacle than the death of the god. Not far
from where | sat was a very handsome
barge, its bow and stern finely worked in
representation of lotus buds; its rose
colored hangings fastened to the masts by
rings of gold and silken ropes.
From time to time | caught a glimpse
of young girls beautiful face. She was
of the pure Egyptian type black, velvety
eyes, artistically enlarged with antimony,
aquiline, but perfectly formed nose, and
skin Drowned by exposure to the sun. I'm
fortuentely the moments when | could OBJ
tain an unobstructed view were few and
far between.
When the procession had passed she
made me sign to join her; it was not
Princess Nabis, daughter of Pharaoh Ne
pherkeres. Our barges Travelled together
toward the palace of the Princess, one of
the citys architectural marvels
Beyond the main entrance to the palace
was vast hall with sculptured walls, and
intersected by veritable forest of pillars.
some futed, 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
from the heart of every flower.
We were met by crowd of black slaves,
who Frustrated themselves at our feet, and
called down upon US the blessings of the
gods; beyond them was band of harpists,
who, as they twanged the strings chanted
the praises of my hostess. The Princess
led me to her private chamber; in its con-
struction the architect had employed
nought but the most precious stones, such
as alabaster, jasper, black basalt, green,
white and violet. colored porphyry, and
rose-tinted granite; using the various
colors of these stones, he had constructed
most ingenious mosaics, representing fig
ures of both animal and human. Large
vases, at regular intervals, contained huge
punches of lotus flowers, whose sweet and
languorous scent was difused throughout
- IL, Io,Lt tod 1cyb
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 womankind; some were depicted
fashioning crowns for the divinities 9TH
ers weaving fax on spindles of green fai-
ence; each pose was reproduced with an
astonishing degree of naturalness. Rumor
had it that in recognition of his skill, the
Princess had paid the artist with as much
gold as he could carry from her palace to
his dwelling. Upon pedestal of green
Jasper noticed a statue in solid gold Of
the GOODIES Bes, the deity who presides
over woman's toilet. remained alone for
some time, admiring the beauty and ele-
gance of the chamber. Perhaps the most
striking object was throne of solid ivory,
fashioned in the form of a sphinx, and
supported on columns of sculptured ebony.
| Beyond this was a table on which were
arranged the various articles of woman's
toilet, Jars of all sizes and descriptions,
boxes containing spikenard and other
fragrant ointments, anthony with which
to paint the eyes, bracelets Of gold and
collars of precious stones.
A slave approached me and asked me if
...o.o 49,, ,,laoe,,ra ha ao,7duofad n th O
banaueting hall. On my consenting, he
opened small door which had been hid
| den by curtain of aloes, and signed me
to descend flight of stairs which now met
my sight. A torch which he carried threw
red light upon the walls and gave life to
the figures which were painted on them.
| A dark and gloomy passage at the foot OF
the stairs brought me to the most curious
part of this strange dwelling-house.
/ 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 rep
resenting a different god. 1t was with a
curious sense of fear that | perceived that
in reality / was under the Nile. Beyond
and above the walls Of quartz one could
look into the greenish water; at the mo-
ment of my entrance monstrous and
ferce-looking crocodile struck the wall
with its scaly tail; huge water snake:
crawled above my head, stirring up the
mud of the river bed.
From lamps of onyx thousand lights
sparkled in the mysterious retreat. Down
the center of the hall stretched long
table Of delicately-veined marble, standing
on legs of green jasper. At frequent in
tervals, from the polished surface there
sprung up an artificial palm tree of greer
and gold, whose leaves threw out brill
liant fame of light. Behind each CUES
stood gigantic slave, a Nasamon, clothed
in striped trousers, their boards curled il
ringlefs, heavy rings of gold upon thei
arms and legs, and each holding torch o
resinous cinnamon wood. At this momen
the Princess Nabis entered; her blue-blacl
1 lo.r