144 
HAWKS. 
tellings of events which were to happen. And others, again, 
looked upon them as sacred, from an ancient tradition, stating, 
that once upon a time, a hook, hound about with a scarlet 
thread, was brought to the priests of Thehes, 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 per- 
fumed 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 everything is expected to go on well during the 
remainder of their journey ; whereas, if its back is turned to- 
wards them, it is considered an unfavourable sign, but not 
sufficiently so as to create serious alarm ; but should it happen 
to fly 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 under- 
taking 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. 
