May I2th, /po8.] PROCEEDINGS. xxix 



threads so as to preserve them in position when the epitheh'um 

 fell away. This is an additional proof that the practice of 

 mummifying was resorted to at a much earlier date than had 

 been suggested by some Egyptologists, who had assigned 1600 

 B.C. as the time of its commencement. The practice was 

 rapidly discontinued on the introduction into Egypt of Chris- 

 tianity. 



Why mummification was instituted was not precisely known. 

 It is held by some believers in re-incarnation that the soul 

 cannot be re-incarnated whilst the body remains ; it is quite 

 possible that the Egyptians were averse to re-incarnation, and 

 devised this means of preventing it. 



On the coffin were a number of inscriptions, which were 

 variants of what are known as the Pyramid Texts. Some of 

 these read as follows : — "Thy mother Nut spreads herself above 

 thee ; she causes thee to be as a god without enemies "; " Comes 

 to thee, comes to thee thy mother Nut;" "ToAnubis, Lord 

 of Sepa, may he grant that thou cross heaven, and that thou 

 reach land at the pure places which are in heaven." 



Dr. Cameron pointed out the features of anatomical interest 

 in the remains. The most noticeable character of the bones 

 which lay upon the table was their slenderness. Measurements 

 of the capacity and "indices" of the skull showed that it com- 

 pared favourably with the average modern European type. The 

 limb bones, on the other hand, rather tended towards the 

 Simian character. Other markings indicated that Khnumu 

 Nekht was of lethargic habit and much given to squatting. His 

 height was probably between 5ft. 3in. and 5ft. loin., and his age 

 between sixty and seventy years. The teeth were of peculiar 

 interest, as, with the exception of one that must have been 

 absent before death, they were intact, but extraordinarily worn 

 down, showing that the food eaten must have been exceedingly 

 gritty. 



Mr. Julius Hubner pointed out that flax was the chief 

 material of the wrappings : there was no cotton or wool. One 



