ANIMALS. 265 



all newn out of the rock ; and in each of the catacombs are to 

 be found several of these apartments, communicating with each other. 

 They extend a great way under ground so as to be under the city of 

 Memphis, and in a manner to undermine its environs. 



In some of the chambers, the walls are adorned with figures and 

 hieroglyphics ; in others, the mummies are found in tombs round the 

 apartment hollowed out in the rock. These tombs are upright, and 

 cut into the shape of a man, with his arms stretched out, There are 

 others found, and these in the greatest number, in wooden coffins, or 

 in cloths covered with bitumen. These coffins, or wrappers, are co- 

 vered all over with a variety of ornaments. There are some of them 

 painted, and adorned with figures, such as that of Death, and the 

 leaden seals, on which several characters are engraven. Some of 

 these coffins are carved into the human shape ; but the head alone is 

 distinguishable ; the rest of the body is all of a piece, and termi- 

 nated by a pedestal, while there are some with their arms hanging 

 down ; and it is by these marks that the bodies of persons of rank 

 are distinguished from those of the meaner order. These are gene- 

 rally found lying on the floor, without any profusion of ornaments ; 

 and, in some chambers the mummies are found indiscriminately piled 

 upon each other, and buried in the sand. 



Many mummies are found lying on their backs ; their heads turned 

 to the north, and their hands placed on the belly. The bands of 

 linen, with which these were swathed, are found to be more than a 

 thousand yards long ; and, of consequence, the number of circum- 

 volutions they make about the body must have been amazing. These 

 were performed by the beginning at the head, and ending at the feet ; 

 but they contrived it so as to avoid covering the face. However, 

 when the face is entirely uncovered, it moulders into dust imme- 

 diately upon the admission of the air. When, therefore, it is pre- 

 served entire, a slight covering of cloth is so disposed over it, as that 

 the shape of the eyes, the nose, and the mouth, are seen under it. 

 Some mummies have been found with a long beard, and hair that 

 reached down to the mid-leg, nails of a surprising length, and some 

 gilt, or at least painted of a gold colour. Some are found with 

 bands upon the breast, covered with hieroglyphics, in gold, silver, 

 or in green : and some with tutelary idols, and other figures of jasper, 

 within their body. A piece of gold, also, has often been found under 

 their tongues, of about two pistoles value ; and, for this reason, the 

 Arabians spoil all the mummies they meet with, in order to get at the 

 gold. 



But though art, or accident, has thus been found to preserve dead 

 bodies entire, it must by no means be supposed that it is capable of 

 preserving the exact form and lineaments of the deceased person. 

 Those bodies which are found dried away in the deseits, or in some 

 particular church-yards, are totally deformed, and scarce any linea- 

 jients remain of their external structure. Nor are the mummies 

 preserved by embalming, in a better condition. The flesh is dried 

 away, Hardened, and hidden under a variety of bandages ; the bowels, 

 as we have seen, are totally removed ; and from hence, in the most 

 perfect of them, we see only a shapeless mass of skin discoloured 



