Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1895-05-30
MuMMlEp ANIMALS.

The Egyptians Embalmed More Than
Twenty Kinds of Beasts and Birds.
Not only did the ancient Egyptians
embalm the bodies of the human dead.
they performed a like operation upon
the remains of the sacred animals,
though in general less expense and
trouble were taken over them, animals
being chiefly prepared by soaking in
natron. The list of sacred animals is a
long one, though the very ones that
were most highly esteemed in some
places were most abhorred in others.
The list includes dogs, cats, monkeys,
lions, wolves, jaclSals, foxes, hyenas,
bears, ichneumon, shrew mice. bulls,
deer, goats, sheep, hippopotami, vul-
tnres, eagles, falcons, hawks, owls,
ibis, geese, swallows, crocodiles, toads,
lizards, serpents, fish of various kinds,
rats, mice, beetles, and even insects
and flies. As a rule. with the large
animals the head only was mummied,
the body being represented by pieces
of wood. The birds are squeezed to-
gether and lose their shape, except the
ibis, which, according to Belzoni, is
formed like fowl ready to be cooked.
The ibis and the hawk appear to have
had the most care bestowed upon them,
for resin and asphalt are frequently
found within their envelopes. Birds
in general, having been wrapped in
their bandages, were then placed in an
Sarthsrn urn and deposited in the
tomb. No mummies of animals are to
be met within the tombs of the higher
class persons; most of them had their
own proper sepulchers consecrated and
appropriated to their species only but
they we're occasionally found mixed.
The catacomb OF birds is distinct
from the catacombs of human mum
mics. One bird only is inclosed in each
earthen pot, and an infinite number of
pots were found in good order, whole and
sealed; the hot nature of the materials
with which they had been embalmed
had, however, dried up the greater
number to powder. Upon the posses
sion of Egypt by the French upward Of
FIVE hundred mummies of the ibis alone
were discovered in the catacomb Of
birds. Certain animals were main
tanned at the public expense in sacred
parks, and persons were appointed TO
nourish them with the greatest care.
Bread, milk, honey, meat. birds. fish,
etc, were all supplied according to the
nature of the animals; no expense was
spared; the keepers bore upon their
persons the resemblance of the spe-
cies TO which their care was devoted,
and the people paid marks OF respect
10 them as they passed along. The
greatest sorrow was manifested at the
death of any OF them; they were en-
balmed and inferred with great pomp
and splendor. So great was the venera-
tion in which these animals were held
that though when a famine afflicted
Egypt the people were driven to
eat human flesh, yet the sacred beasts,
birds. reptiles, or fishes were always
respected. They would rather eat
their own species than lay sacriligious
hands on what might be gods IN dis
guise. Animals of the lowest charac-
ter, even noxious insects, were fostered
10 their temples, nourished by theh'
priests, embalmed after death, ,emtomb-
ed with pomp. and received all kinds
OF honors. Those who, either by acci-
dent or design, occasioned the death of
any Of these animals paid the forfeit
of their lives as the penalty of their
offense. Diodorus Siculus says: "IIe
who has voluntarily killed eonser
Grated animal is punished with death.
but II any one has even involuntarily
killed eat or an ibis. IL is impossible
for him 10 escape capital punishment;
the mob draRs him to it. treating him
10 every cruelty, and sometimes with
out waiting for Judgment TO be
passed. Detroit Free Press.