340 



THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XV. 



winch respect it differs from amber. It is insoluble 

 in oil of turpentine or caustic eye." 



The incense burnt in the temples before the altar 

 was made into small balls, or pastil es, which were 

 thrown by the hand into the censer. The latter gen- 

 erally consisted of an open cup of bronze (sometimes 

 two), holding the fire, supported by a long handle, 

 whose opposite extremity was ornamented with the 

 head of a hawk ; and in the centre of this was an- 



a . * *« 



No. 472. 

 Fig. 1. Throwing thie balls of incense into the fire. 



2, 3. Censers. A cup for holding tlie incense balls. 



b, c. The cup in which was the fire. In i are three flames of fire ; in c only one. 

 4. A censer without a liandle. 



b, G. Other censers with incense balls or pastiles within. These two last are from 

 the tombs near tlic pyramids. 



other cup, from which the pastiles were taken 

 with the finger and thumb to be thrown upon the 

 fire. Sometimes the incense was burnt in a cup 

 without the handle, and some censers appear to 

 have been made with a cover, probably })ierced 

 with holes to allow the smoke to escape, like those 

 now employed in the churches of Italy. 



SACRIFICES. VICTIMS. 



When a victim was sought for tlie altar, it was 

 carefully examined by one of the SpJiraifis/cp *, 

 an order of priests to whom this pccuUar office 



* TIcrodot. ii. 38, Plut. dc Is. s. 31. 



