CHAP. XVI. PROCESSION ON THE LAKE. 415 



ancient Egypt and the most refined of modern 

 European nations. 



The funerals of other persons differed in the 

 order of the procession, as well as in the pomp 

 displayed on the occasion ; and the mode of cele- 

 brating them appears to have depended on the 

 arrangements made by the family, except in those 

 particulars which were prescribed by law. The fu- 

 neral ofNqfri- Otliph, a priest of Amun at Thebes, 

 is thus described on the walls of his tomb ; the 

 scene of which lies partly on the lake, and partly 

 on the way thence to the sepulchre itself : — 



First came a large boat, conveying the bearers of 

 flowers, cakes, and numerous things appertaining 

 to the offerings, — tables, fauteuils, and other pieces 

 of furniture; as well as the friends of the deceased, 

 whose consequence is shown by their dresses and 

 long walking-sticks, — the peculiar mark of Egyp- 

 tian gentlemen. This was followed by a small skiff 

 holding baskets of cakes and fruit, with a quantity 

 of green palm-branches, which it was customary to 

 strew in the way as the body proceeded to the 

 tomb ; the smooth nature of their leaves and stalks 

 being particularly well adapted to enable the sledge 

 to glide over them. 



In this part of the picture the love of cari- 

 cature common to the Egyptians is shown to have 

 been indulged in, even in the serious subject of 

 a funeral ; and the retrograde movement of the 

 large boat, which has grounded and is pushed 

 off the bank, striking the smaller one with its 

 rudder, has overturned a large table loaded with 



