416 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XVI. 



cakes and other things upon the rowers seated 

 below, in spite of all the efforts of the prowman, 

 and the earnest vociferations of the alarmed steers- 

 man. 



In another boat men carried bouquets, and 

 boxes supported on the usual yoke over their 

 shoulders ; and this was followed by two others, 

 one containing the male, the other the female 

 mourners, standing on the roof of the cabin, beating 

 themselves, uttering cries, and making other de- 

 monstrations of excessive grief. Last came the 

 consecrated boat, bearing the hearse, which was 

 surrounded by the chief mourners, and the female 

 relations of the deceased. A high priest burnt in- 

 cense over the altar, which was placed before it ; 

 and behind it stood the images of Isis and Nep- 

 thys. They were the emblems of tlie Beginning 

 and the End, and were thought to be always pre- 

 sent at the head and feet of the dead who had 

 led a virtuous life, and who were deemed worthy 

 of admission into the regions of the blessed. 



Arrived at the opposite shore of the lake, the pro- 

 cession advanced to the catacombs, crossing the 

 sandy plahi which intervened between them and the 

 lake ; and on the way several women of the vicinity, 

 carrying their children in shawls suspended at their 

 side or at their back*, joined in the lamentation. 

 The mummy being taken out of the sarcophagus, 



* Tliis is the common custom of the Arab women on the west bank 

 of the Nile at this day. It may perhaps be analogous to "Tiiy daughters 

 shall be nursed at thy side." Is. Ix. i:. 



