ANIMALS. 267 



served in perfect form. The intestines were not taken out of the 

 body, but remained pliant and entire, as in a fresh subject ; and the 

 breast was made to rise and fall like a pair of bellows. The embalm- 

 ing preparation had a very strong and pungent smell, which the body 

 preserved for more than a month after it was exposed to the air. This 

 odour was perceived wherever the mummy was laid, although it remain- 

 ed there but a very short time, it was even pretended that the peasants 

 of the neighbouring villages were incommoded by it. If one touched 

 either the mummy, or any part of the preparation, the hands smelied 

 of it for several hours after, although washed with water, spirit ot 

 wine, or vinegar. This mummy, having remained exposed for some 

 months to the curiosity of the public, began to suffer some mutilations. 

 A part of the skin of the forehead was cut off, the teeth were drawn 

 out, and some attempts were made to pull away the tongue. It was 

 therefore, put into a glass case, and shortly after transmitted to the 

 king of France's cabinet at Paris. 



There are many reasons to believe this to be the body of a person 

 of the highest distinction ; however, no marks remain to assure us 

 either of the quality of the person, or the time of his decease. There 

 only are to be seen some irregular figures on the coffin, one of which 

 represents a kind of star. There were also some singular characters 

 upon the bandages, which were totally defaced by those who had torn 

 them away. However, it should seem that it had remained for several 

 ages in this state, since the first years immediately succeeding the in- 

 terment, are usually those in which the body is most liable to decay. 

 It appears also to be a much more perfect method of embalming than 

 that of the Egyptians; as in this the flesh continues with its natural 

 elasticitv and colour, the bowels remain entire, and the joints have 

 almost the pliancy which they had when the person was alive. Upon 

 the whole, it is probable that a much less tedious preparation than 

 that vised by the Egyptians would have sufficed to keep the body from 

 putrefaction ; and that an injection of petreoleum inwardly, and a 

 layer of asphaltum without, would have sufficed to have made a 

 mummy ; and it is remarkable that Auvergne, where this was found, 

 affords these two substances in sufficient plenty. This art, therefore, 

 might be brought to greater perfection than it has arrived at hitherto, 

 were the art worth preserving. But mankind have long since grown 

 wiser in this respect, and think it unnecessary to keep by them a de- 

 formed carcass, which, instead of aiding their magnificence, must only 

 serve to mortify their pride. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



OP ANIMALS. 



LEAVING man, we now descend to the lower ranks of animated na 

 ture, and prepare to examine the life, manners, and characters of 

 these our humble partners in the creation. Rut, in such a wonderfu,' 



