176 HAWKS. 



thread, was brought to the priests of Thebes, by a 

 Hawk, on which was written all the secret rites and 

 customs of the divine worship of the Egyptians. 

 This extraordinary respect was not only shown to 

 the living birds, but was even more marked, by the 

 funeral attention paid to them when dead. Their 

 bodies were wrapped up in linen folds, steeped in 

 perfumed and precious oils, in order to preserve 

 them; and in this state, they are still frequently 

 found in what are called the mummy-pits of Egypt. 

 A celebrated traveller, Mr. Salt, in his account of 

 Abyssinia, a country bordering on Egypt., speaks of 

 a certain species of Hawk, respecting which, the 

 people entertain a singular superstition. When 

 they set out on a journey, if they happen to meet 

 with one of them, they watch it very attentively, 

 and draw good or evil omens, or signs, from its 

 motions; if it sits still, with its breast towards them, 

 till they have passed, they consider it as a fortunate 

 sign, and every thing is expected to go on well 

 during the remainder of their journey; whereas, if 

 its back is turned towards them, it is considered an 

 unfavourable sign, but not sufficiently so as to create 

 serious alarm; but should it happen to fiy away 

 hastily on their approach, some of the most super- 

 stitious among them will immediately turn back, 

 and go home again, and wait for a more favourable 

 opportunity for undertaking their journey. Mr. Salt 

 was so much struck with the resemblance of this 

 species to the sacred Hawk, so often seen inscribed 

 on the ancient picture-writings, or hieroglyphics, as 

 they are called, of Egypt, that he considered it to 

 be the same which was formerly held sacred and 

 worshipped. 



