have before shown the dead assumed; and their beard indicates the return of the human soul, which once animated that body, to the Deity from whom it emanated. I do not enter into a minute description of all the modes of arranging the objects in the tombs, the endless variety of Egyptian mummies, or the subjects of their painted cases. The subject, even if it were sufficiently interesting to the reader, would lead to an inquiry beyond the scope of the present work; and now, having accompanied the Egyptians to the tomb, I take my leave of them with this wish, "Sedibus ut saltem placidis in morte quiescant." |