After them followed four men, each bearing aloft a vase of gold, upon
a sort of canopy, with other offerings; then came a large bronze
chest, borne by priests, containing the money left to their temple by
the deceased. Then, in succession, one who bore his arms; another, a
pruning-hook of silver; another, his fans; a fourth, his signets,
jewelled collars, and necklaces, displayed upon a cushion of blue
silk, adorned with needle-work; and a fifth, the other insignia
peculiar to a noble who had been intrusted with the supervision of all
the royal gardens in the Memphite kingdom.
Now came four trumpeters and a cymbal-player, performing a martial
air, in which voices of men mingled, called "The Hymn of Heroes."
Next appeared a decorated barge or _baris_,--a small, sacred boat,
carried by six men, whom I saw elevate to view the mysterious "Eye of
Osiris;" while others carried a tray of blue images, representing the
deceased under the form of that god, also of the sacred bird
emblematic of the soul. Following these were twelve men, bearing, upon
yokes balanced across the shoulders, baskets and cases filled with
flowers and crystal bottles for libation. Next were a large company of
hired females, with fillets upon their brows, beating their bared
breasts, and throwing dust upon their heads,--now lamenting the dead,
now praising his virtues.
Then came the officiating priest, his sacred leopard-skin cast over
his shoulders, bearing in his hand the censer and vase of libation,
and accompanied by his attendants holding the various implements
required for the occasion. Behind this priest came a car, without
wheels, drawn by four white oxen and seven men, yoked to it, while
beside them walked a chief officer, who regulated the movements of the
procession. Upon this car was the consecrated boat, containing the ark
or hearse. The pontiff of the Temple of Horus walked by the
sarcophagus, which was decked with flowers, and richly painted with
various emblems. A panel, left open on one side, exposed to view the
head of the mummy.
Finally came the male relatives of the dead, and his friends. In his
honor the queen's grand-chamberlain and the master of horse marched
together in silence, and with solemn steps, leaning on their long
sticks. Other men followed, whose rich dresses, and long
walking-canes, which are the peculiar mark of an Egyptian gentleman,
showed them to be persons of distinction. A little in the rear of
these walked a young man, who dropped a lotus-flower from a basket at
every few steps, and closed the long procession.
In no country but this, where rain seldom falls, and it is always
pleasant in the open air, could such a procession safely appear
bearing wares so delicate and frail. The only danger to be apprehended
is from storms of sand from the desert beyond the pyramids, of the
approach of which, however, the atmosphere gives a sufficient warning.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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