308 



a piece of fine fishing-line, and the thumb is turned in on th^ 

 hand in a remarkable manner — a custom observed by the 

 ancient Hebrews, and still adhered to by the religious Jews 

 of Palestine — namely, to tie the thumb after death into the 

 cleft, between the fore and middle fingers, lest the extended 

 thumb should make the chirogram of'* Jehovah," a name they 

 feared to write while living, and were unwilling to express 

 when dead. The hands of Egyptian mummies, which Dr. 

 Wilde produced, were similarly compressed. The right arm 

 is concealed under several bags, filled with some substance as 

 yet unknown ; they are large, and similar in construction to 

 those found outside, but exceeding them in colour. On 

 these were placed two vessels of highly ornamented pottery. 

 Vessels of a similar kind are at present used for sipping a 

 kind of tea with a tube, in the very position this mummy 

 now presents. The lower parts of the body and hips were 

 wrapped in folds of striped cloth, which appears to have 

 been a kilt, a sort of garment worn by the ancient Incas of 

 Peru. The feet are clad in sandles, fastened on by thongs 

 of leather. The body was found to be covered with num- 

 berless minute shining crystals, probably of an animal na- 

 ture. The head is particularly remarkable from its shape, 

 and the probable race of mankind to which it belonged. 

 The hair is divided along the whole length of the head, is 

 particularly long, and beautifully plaited. Dr. Wilde also 

 exhibited the head of a young female covered with brown 

 hair, of great fineness, and likewise beautifully plaited, and 

 adorned with small golden ornaments attached to the end.of 

 the plaits ; over the face, was tied a mask of skin. 



In reference to an observation of Dr. Pettigrew of 

 London, Dr. Wilde does not think the subject was buried 

 alive ; and he remarked, that it was in such excellent condi- 

 tion, and so perfectly dry, as to allow of its being very well 

 preserved. 



Dr. Wilde concluded by mentioning that Mr. Burton 



