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
which the entrails are extracted, but, to our surprise, we could
discover none. No member of the party was at that period aware that
entire or unopened mummies are not infrequently met. The brain it
was customary to withdraw through the nose; the intestines through
an incision in the side; the body was then shaved, washed, and salted;
then laid aside for several weeks, when the operation of embalming,
properly so called, began.
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