X iio6 ) 
the Autkor confidering that the Egyptians have been allow- 
ed to be the firft Inventors of Arts and Sciencies, and that 
they were the only People who ufed this particular manner 
of Emhalming^tx^dit^A of in this Letter, he thought it requi- 
fite to confider every particular circumftance ot time and 
place, the feveral Drugs, Plants, Minerals and many other 
things which are advantageous to the Egyptians above o- 
ther Nations, as alfo to enquire into the reafons which in- 
duced them to ftudy this Art, and after what manner they 
came to find it out. To this end, he gives a fhort Geo- 
graphical Defcription of Egypt^ and takes notice of the 
Salubrity of its Air and Water, with the Rife and Courfe 
of the Nile^ Fertihty of the Soil and Sagacity of the Peo- 
ple, with feveral neceffary Remarks on their Rehgion, Cu- 
ftoms. Arts, Difeafes, Phyfick and whatever elfe might tend 
to the Difcovery and Knowledge of this loft Art. Where- 
fore in the firft place he ftiews how Egypt is fituated and 
bounded, together with its Extent, Divifion, its feveral " 
Denominations, Number of Cities and Inhabitants, as alfo 
how it came to be fo populous, and to be accounted the 
Miftrefs of the World, and Mother of Arts and Sciences. 
He gives the Charafters of both the Ancient and Modern 
Egyptians^ with their Make, Complexion, Temper, Con- 
ftitution. Habit of Body and Difeafes 5 how fruitful they 
were in Children, very long liv'd and of great Antiquity: 
That they were the firft Inventors of Fhyfic^ Anatomy ^ 
Chymtjlryy Surgery and Embalming 3 of Geometry^ Aftrono' 
my. Mathematics and the like 5 from whence it came to 
pafs, they performed greater and more wonderful Works 
than the World befides. He (hews you their opinio of 
the Metempjychofs, and their Belief in the Refurrcdion 5 
how they came at firft to find out Embalming, and how 
they performed it. That there were feveral Kinds of Em^ 
halming^viz. with AJpkalt or Piffafphalt, with Oyl or Gum 
of Cedar, with Aromatics and Spices. That there were 
feverai Officers belonging to this Work, fuch as ^ Clerk, a 
I ' Prieji, 
