CHAP. XIII. THE HISTORY EXPLAINED. 335 



Etesian or annual northern ones, that carry the 

 clouds towards Ethiopia, prevent those showers 

 of rain from falling, and contributing to the in- 

 crease of the Nile. ... As to the shutting up 

 of Osiris in a chest, this signifies the withdraw- 

 ing of the Nile within its own banks, when the 

 Etesian winds have ceased, which happens in the 

 month Athyr. 



*' About this time, in consequence of the in- 

 creasing length of the nights, the power of dark- 

 ness appearing to prevail, whilst that of light is 

 diminished, the priests practise doleful rites, in 

 token of the grief of the Goddess. One of these 

 is to expose to ])ublic view a gilded ox, covered 

 with a ])all of tine black linen ; this animal being 

 regarded as tlie living image of Osiris. The cere- 

 mony lasts four days, beginning on the 17th of the 

 month, and is intended to represent four things : — 

 1st, The falling of the Nile, and its return within 

 its own channel : ^dly, The ceasing of the north 

 winds : 3dly, The length of the nights and decrease 

 of the days ; and, lastly. The destitute condition 

 in which the land then appears. Thus they com- 

 memorate what they call the loss of Osiris. But 

 upon the 19th of the month Pachon, they march 

 in procession towards the sea, whither the .stolistce 

 and priests carry the sacred chest, containing a 

 vessel of gold, into which they pour some river 

 water, and all present exclaim, ' Osiris is found.' 

 Then throwing frcsji mould into the water, and 

 mixing witii it aromatics and precious incense, they 

 make an image in the form of a crescent, which 



