PROFESSOR CAMERON S PAPER. XXxiii 



by the earlier Egyptologists, because they were supposed to 

 resemble the god Canopus who was worshipped in Egypt in 

 the form of a jar with a human head. The gods of the four 

 cardinal points — north, south, east, and west — were delegated 

 to safeguard the preservations of the internal organs, which 

 were therefore placed in four jars — one for the lungs and 

 heart, a second for the stomach and large intestines, a third 

 for the small intestines, and a fourth for the liver and gall 

 bladder. These jars were then placed in compartments in a 

 beautifully decorated box called the Canopic Chest, on each 

 side of which was a false door for the passage of the Ka. 

 The contents of the chest were, as in the case of the coffin, 

 rendered secure from all evil influence by painting the Sacred 

 Eyes on each of the four sides of the box. 



To many minds the idea of disturbing the dead may 

 create a feeling of disapproval or even of repulsion, but I 

 would like to say in justification of the act that the unravelling 

 of the mysteries of long past ages can in most cases only 

 be effected by studying the way in which primitive peoples 

 disposed of their dead, as these are usually the only memorials 

 of ancient civilization left to us to study in the absence of 

 any written records. In this way one is provided with 

 information not only regarding the mode of living, the 

 manners and customs of these peoples, but also their mental 

 outlook both on this life and on the life to come. No one, 

 I think, will deny the fact that the information thus acquired 

 is not only of the highest educative value, but also possesses 

 the inestimable advantage of broadening our own mental 

 horizon, and ought to stimulate us, fully armed as we are with 

 all the advantages of a modern civilization, to higher and 

 nobler achievements. 



This paper was discussed by Dr. A. S. Mackenzie, 

 H Piers, W. H. Prest, G. W. T. Irving, Dr. F. Woodbury, 

 and Dr. E. Mackay. 



