9i THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIV. 



mental furniture were provided for them, and every 

 care was taken to consult their natural habits. Fe- 

 males of their own species were kept for them, 

 and fed with the utmost delicacy and expense ; 

 those only being selected, which were remarkable 

 for their beauty. When any died, the grief of the 

 people could only be equalled by that felt at the 

 loss of a child ; and in so sumptuous a manner were 

 their funeral rites performed, that they frequently 

 cost more than the curators had the means of pay- 

 ing. * The same respect was extended to those 

 which died in foreign countries; and when engaged 

 in distant wars, they did not neglect " the cats and 

 hawks, or leave them behind, but, even when it 

 was difficult to obtain the means of transport, they 

 were brought to Egypt," that they might be de- 

 posited in holy ground. 



Geese were kept for some of the sacred animals. 

 Meat was cut into pieces and thrown to the hawks, 

 who were invited by well-known cries to their 

 repast ; cats and ichneumons were fed on bread 

 soaked in milk, and with certain kinds of fish 

 caught on purpose for them ; and every ani- 

 mal was provided with food suited to its habits. t 

 Whenever any one of them died, it was wrapped 

 up in linen, and carried to the embalmers, attended 

 by a procession of persons of both sexes, beating 

 their breasts in token of grief. The body was then 

 prepared with oil of cedar, and such aromatic sub- 



* Diodor. i. 8+. and xiiprd. Vol. I. (2d Series) p. 353. 

 f Diodor. loc. cit. 



