The Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Volume 5


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divinities, with numerous identical human figures, intended, very  
probably, as portraits of the persons embalmed. Extending from head  
to foot was a columnar, or perpendicular, inscription, in phonetic  
hieroglyphics, giving again his name and titles, and the names and  
titles of his relations.  
Around the neck thus ensheathed, was a collar of cylindrical glass  
beads, diverse in color, and so arranged as to form images of deities,  
of the scarabaeus, etc, with the winged globe. Around the small of the  
waist was a similar collar or belt.  
Stripping off the papyrus, we found the flesh in excellent preservation,  
with no perceptible odor. The color was reddish. The skin was hard,  
smooth, and glossy. The teeth and hair were in good condition. The eyes  
(it seemed) had been removed, and glass ones substituted, which were  
very beautiful and wonderfully life-like, with the exception of somewhat  
too determined a stare. The fingers and the nails were brilliantly  
gilded.  
Mr. Gliddon was of opinion, from the redness of the epidermis, that the  
embalmment had been effected altogether by asphaltum; but, on scraping  
the surface with a steel instrument, and throwing into the fire some of  
the powder thus obtained, the flavor of camphor and other sweet-scented  
gums became apparent.  
We searched the corpse very carefully for the usual openings through  
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129 130 131 132 133

Quick Jump
1 101 202 302 403