x. THE LOOKING-GLASS AND THE LATER. I7I 



by inscriptions in the native character, they have 

 been well called by Bunsen "a figurative dictionary," 

 eminently useful to the archaeologist for the light they 

 throw upon the creed and history of this ancient and 

 most mysterious race. In Japan certain metal mirrors 

 have acquired a magic fame, and are brought to this 

 country as curiosities, on account of the figures which 

 shine through them when seen in a certain light, while 

 directly viewed they reflect only on their polished sur- 

 face the face that looks into them. 



The specula of the Hebrew women were brought 

 with them from Egypt, and doubtless formed part of 

 the spoil which the Israelites took from the Egyptians 

 at the time of the Exodus. In that country they were 

 used not only in domestic economy, but also in the 

 idolatrous worship of the temples ; and probably the 

 Hebrew women who assembled at the door of the 

 tabernacle of the congregation had adopted this cus- 

 tom, and worshipped the God of Israel as the Egyptian 

 women worshipped Isis or Anubis, dressed in linen 

 garments, holding a sistrum in their right hand and a 

 mirror in their left. With these bronze looking-glasses 

 Bezaleel and Aholiab, the artists of the tabernacle, 

 constructed the laver which stood at the door of the 

 sacred tent, in which the priests were required to wash 

 their hands and their feet when they went into the 

 Shrine to minister before the Lord. 



It is not without deep significance that this holy 

 vessel, typical of spiritual cleansing, should have been 

 formed of such materials. And if the looking-glasses 



