172 
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, hut 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 ; hut should it happen to fly away 
hastily on their approach, some of the most super- 
stitious among them will immediately turn hack, 
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. 
