THE NAME OF APIS, AN EGYPTIAN GOD, IN HIEROGLYPHICS.
"They believed that the soul after death took its flight from the body and passed to another world, where it was judged according to its deeds, and received its proper punishment or reward. In course of time it could return to the body it had inhabited, and the length of the period of absence was determined by the god before whom it had been brought to be judged. Of course no one was expected to know the length of the separation of soul and body. It was certain to be for a long period (not less than three thousand years), and therefore it was necessary to preserve the body from decay. This, in brief, is the outline of the religion of the ancient Egyptians, and the reason of their careful preservation of the bodies of their friends.
KING AND QUEEN OFFERING TO THE GODS.
"As the possessor of the greatest wealth the king was more carefully embalmed than his humble subjects; the process of embalming was a secret with certain classes of men, and its professors were looked upon with great respect. The whole work occupied seventy days, and consisted in preserving the body by means of strong salts, and the application of various kinds of aromatic spices, peppers, and the like. The bodies of the rich were carefully wrapped in fine linen, and sometimes hundreds of yards were used for a single operation. The fingers and toes were separately wrapped, and at each turn of the linen aromatic oils were poured on the cloth so as to saturate it thoroughly. A wooden case, into which the body fitted closely, was made for it, and covered with a history of his life, or with extracts from the 'Book of the Dead.' Another case was placed outside the first, and the whole was then enclosed in a stone coffin or sarcophagus. Then, with suitable ceremonies, the mummy was laid away to await the day of the return of the spirit, and the consequent resurrection."
DIFFERENT FORMS OF MUMMY CASES.
While the Doctor was making this explanation the boys were examining the mummy that lay before them. He was a very quiet mummy, and made no objection to being handled, though the case was different with the attendant in charge of the place. The latter intimated that visitors were not expected to touch anything they saw, but if they wished to look into the box he would open it for them. The hint was taken, and a franc slipped into his hand; the result was our friends had the pleasure of examining the specimen to their complete satisfaction.