We may here observe (although in digression), that from the accuracy of the description of Embalming by Herodotus, and its late and absolute proof, not a doubt can now be entertained as to the truth of the unheard-of crime practised by the Egyptian Embalmers upon the female bodies; and which led, he writes, to a custom, or law, that the wives of the nobility, and the beautiful or celebrated women, should not be even prepared for embalming until the third or fourth day after decease. Here, then, is the secret why the Mummy bodies of the men of the first class are in better preservation than the bodies of the same class of the other sex. The men, instantly upon their death, were prepared and forthwith embalmed, thus checking even the first symptom of flesh decay; but with the superior or beautiful women, a delay took place of three or four days, for the express purpose of preventing the crime, which could only be done by the commencement of decomposition; and which decay, all the art of the Embalmers could never restore to that state when Death first made the fleshy-walls his chosen habitation!
Another, and a conclusive proof of the truth of Herodotus in regard to this Voyage, will be given at the conclusion of this Chapter.
This expedition was repeated, upon the authority of Pliny, by the Egyptians themselves nearly 500 years after the first expedition by the Tyrians. This second undertaking was piloted by Eudoxus, at the command and expense of Ptolemy Lathyrus. The Greco-Egyptians had, during his reign (B. C. 116), become a powerful commercial nation,—Alexandria having been founded 215 years before by the warrior whose name was given to the emporium. The Voyage by Eudoxus seems to have been but the imitation of a previous one,—with this exception, viz., that the pride of the Egyptians was called into action, to equal the former glory achieved by the Tyrians; and consequently in this voyage they had their own pilots, vessels, and mariners. Even the cognomen of this Ptolemy,—viz., Lathyrus,—(by simply omitting the letter-h,—or pronouncing it hard, as in thyme,—a herb) would seem to have some hidden meaning in reference to that pride. The nomen Ptolemy was a general name possessed by a long line of Kings from the death of Alexander,—as Pharaoh had been ages before the Macedonian,—but the cognomen, or surname was placed, or used, for some great event connected with the history of the possessor. The Romans practised this custom,—as instanced in the case of Scipio,—surnamed Africanus;—one of their Emperors received the cognomen of Germanicus,—and at an earlier period, Caius Marcius received the surname of Coriolanus,—all these were given for victories in the countries, of which their names of honourable distinction were the derivatives. In reference, therefore, to the surname Lathyrus,—by the omission, or hard sound of H, or by its silence as the letter P,—in the original name,—it would read Ptolemy Latyrus, and which might be easily rendered, in direct allusion to the second great Voyage having equalled the first.—Ptolemy the Tyrian.
Enough has been adduced in support of the Expedition, as mentioned by Herodotus, to authorize a continuation of the subject.
In order to give a perfect illustration to the following remarks, and to the extracts from Scripture, a full elucidation of the celebrated "East-Wind" will be required, not only for the general reader, but for the advancement of this work. To facilitate the explanations, the reader should have before him a Map of the Atlantic Ocean (or a terrestrial globe), and observe where the Equator, or the equinoctial line, crosses the waters from the continent of Africa to that of America. It will be found to cross the shore of Nazareth Bay (Gulf of Guinea) on Africa,—and Jones' Land (at the mouth of the river Amazon) on America. This line (of course) passes around the entire globe. The reader will then trace 30 degrees of latitude from that line, both towards the North and the South Pole. Towards the North Pole the line of 30 degrees (crossing the Atlantic) touches at the point of the kingdom of Morocco on Africa, enclosing within that line the Fortunate Isles (i. e. the Canaries): on America it touches at St. Augustine,—enclosing within the same line all of Florida. The two sentences in Italics will be referred to in the subsequent pages. Towards the South Pole the line of 30 degrees touches at the minor Namquois river on Africa, and at Tramaday on the American Continent. Now between these 60 degrees,—the Equator forming the centre,—there is a perpetual East-Wind blowing FROM Africa across the Atlantic TO America, and so around the Earth,—from East to West on our diurnal, and West to East on our nocturnal hemisphere.
This current of air has been called in modern times—the Trade Wind,—a name evidently derived from the facility given by it to commercial intercourse, from Europe, Africa and India, with Central South America, and the West India Islands. It is, however, in the Bible always mentioned as the East-Wind, and as a proof of the truth of Scriptural record, (apart from its Religion) wherever a city or place is stated to have been effected by this East-Wind, it will be found to be within the 60 degrees (as detailed above) on Asia or Africa! Thus Science will support Scriptural record, although some writers have hazarded the contrary assertion. This ancient phenomenon (which is now explained by Science) must have been encountered by the Tyrians during this celebrated voyage, and is alluded to by the Prophet Ezekiel,—as will be shewn in proof that this expedition was accomplished.
The reader will remember that this perpetual East Wind blows from the African to the American Continent;—any vessel, therefore, going to the Western Hemisphere (within the degrees specified) with its sails set,—square before the wind, and its rudder secured on its centre,—the ship would then reach America (tempests excepted) without a single seaman or pilot to man or steer the vessel: and as a consequence, therefore, any ship from America to Europe or Africa,—or from India, having doubled the Cape of Good Hope, and coasting along the western coast of Africa (and being within the 60 degrees), would meet that East-Wind,—and would have to encounter what is technically called "a head wind,"—and consequently be in great danger of being "broken in the midst of the Seas" and there foundering; and especially in crossing in the line of the Equator; for directly over that line is the Sun nearest to the Globe,—varying (of course) according to the seasonal changes.
This constant current of air,—this Boræan Mercury, capped and heeled with wings of Light,—passes from Africa over the broad Atlantic,—crossing the Continent of America and the great Pacific, he pursues his faithful flight over the vast lands of China, Australia, and Hindoostan,—is borne across the waters of the Indian Ocean, the Sea of Oman and the Gulf of Persia; the sands of Arabia, and the wall-divided sea of Israel; avoiding Europe and the Mediterranean, he reaches his fiery and cradled-home on Afric's burning deserts; but no cessation is here given to his perpetual course, his energies are but renewed, and on he speeds,—his "royal progress," commenced at Creation's birth, and must continue until Nature ceases,—the glorious Sun his mighty Parent,—Light itself his swift-speeding herald,—the Breeze, Gale, Storm, and Hurricane his children and attendants,—the golden eyes of Heaven, with their princely North-star, the witnesses of his constancy,—Earth and Ocean his grand and gorgeous kingdoms,—the central line of the entire Globe, and for two thousand miles on either side, his broad and majestic pathway! Man, his only opponent;—his only conqueror,—Science,—the imaged mind of that God, who in the Eden of the Universe planted the undying Trees of Knowledge and of Life.