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statues at Memphis； at Thebes； at Luxor； reproduce and try to make
eternal。 。 。 。
＇*＇ This movement is explained by the action of the sun； which；
falling on the unclothed arm； is supposed to have expanded the
bone of the elbow。
In the next coffin lies his father； Seti I。； who reigned for a much
shorter period； and died much younger than he。 This youthfulness is
apparent still in the features of the mummy； which are impressed
besides with a persistent beauty。 Indeed this good King Seti looks the
picture of calm and serene reverie。 There is nothing shocking in his
dead face； with its long closed eyes； its delicate lips； its noble
chin and unblemished profile。 It is soothing and pleasant even to see
him sleeping there with his hands crossed upon his breast。 And it
seems strange； that he； who looks so young； should have for son the
old man； almost a centenarian； who lies beside him。
In our passage we have gazed on many other royal mummies； some
tranquil and some grimacing。 But； to finish； there is one of them （the
third coffin there； in the row in front of us）； a certain Queen
Nsitanebashru； whom I approach with fear； albeit it is mainly on her
account that I have ventured to make this fantastical round。 Even in
the daytime she attains to the maximum of horror that a spectral
figure can evoke。 What will she be like to…night in the uncertain
light of our little lantern？
There she is indeed； the dishevelled vampire in her place right
enough； stretched at full length； but looking always as if she were
about to leap up； and straightway I meet the sidelong glance of her
enamelled pupils； shining out of half…closed eyelids； with lashes that
are still almost perfect。 Oh！ the terrifying person！ Not that she is
ugly； on the contrary we can see that she was rather pretty and was
mummied young。 What distinguishes her from the others is her air of
thwarted anger； of fury； as it were； at being dead。 The embalmers have
coloured her very religiously； but the pink； under the action of the
salts of the skin； has become decomposed here and there and given
place to a number of green spots。 Her naked shoulders； the height of
the arms above the rags which were once her splendid shroud； have
still a certain sleek roundness； but they； too； are stained with
greenish and black splotches； such as may be seen on the skins of
snakes。 Assuredly no corpse； either here or elsewhere； has ever
preserved such an expression of intense life； of ironical； implacable
ferocity。 Her mouth is twisted in a little smile of defiance； her
nostrils pinched like those of a ghoul on the scent of blood； and her
eyes seem to say to each one who approaches： 〃Yes； I am laid in my
coffin； but you will very soon see I can get out of it。〃 There is
something confusing in the thought that the menace of this terrible
expression； and this appearance of ill…restrained ferocity had endured
for some hundreds of years before the commencement of our era； and
endured to no purpose in the secret darkness of a closed coffin at the
bottom of some doorless vault。
Now that we are about to retire； what will happen here； with the
complicity of silence； in the darkest hours of the night？ Will they
remain inert and rigid； all these embalmed bodies； once left to
themselves； who pretended to be so quiet because we were there？ What
exchanges of old human fluid will recommence； as who can doubt they do
each night between one coffin and another。 Formerly these kings and
queens； in their anxiety as to the future of their mummy； had foreseen
violation； pillage and scattering amongst the sands of the desert； but
never this： that they would be reunited one day； almost all unveiled；
so near to one another under panes of glass。 Those who governed Egypt
in the lost centuries and were never known except by history； by the
papyri inscribed with hieroglyphics； brought thus together； how many
things will they have to say to one another； how many ardent questions
to ask about their loves； about their crimes！ As soon as we shall have
departed； nay； as soon as our lantern； at the end of the long
galleries； shall seem no more than a foolish； vanishing spot of fire；
will not the 〃forms〃 of whom the attendants are so afraid； will they
not start their nightly rumblings and in their hollow mummy voices；
whisper； with difficulty； words？ 。 。 。
Heavens！ How dark it is！ Yet our lantern has not gone out。 But it
seems to grow darker and darker。 And at night； when all is shut up；
how one smells the odour of the oils in which the shrouds are
saturated； and； more intolerable still； the sickly stealthy stench；
almost； of all these dead bodies！ 。 。 。
As I traverse the obscurity of these endless halls； a vague instinct
of self…preservation induces me to turn back again； and look behind。
And it seems to me that already the woman with the baby is slowly
raising herself； with a thousand precautions and stratagems； her head
still completely covered。 While farther down； that dishevelled
hair。 。 。 。 Oh！ I can see her well； sitting up with a sudden jerk； the
ghoul with the enamel eyes； the lady Nsitanebashru！
CHAPTER V
A CENTRE OF ISLAM
〃To learn is the duty of every Moslem。〃
Verse from the Hadith or Words of the Prophet。
In a narrow street； hidden in the midst of the most ancient Arab
quarters of Cairo； in the very heat of a close labyrinth mysteriously
shady； an exquisite doorway opens into a wide space bathed in
sunshine； a doorway formed of two elaborate arches； and surmounted by
a high frontal on which intertwined arabesques form wonderful
rosework； and holy writings are enscrolled with the most ingenious
complications。
It is the entrance to El…Azhar； a venerable place in Islam； whence
have issued for nearly a thousand years the generations of priests and
doctors charged with the propagation of the word of the Prophet
amongst the nations； from the Mohreb to the Arabian Sea； passing
through the great deserts。 About the end of our tenth century the
glorious Fatimee Caliphs built this immense assemblage of arches and
columns； which became the seat of the most renowned Moslem university
in the world。 And since then successive sovereigns of Egypt have vied
with one another in perfecting and enlarging it； adding new halls； new
galleries； new minarets； till they have made of El…Azhar almost a town
within a town。
*****
〃He who seeks instruction is more loved of God than he who fights
in a holy war。〃
A verse from the Hadith。
Eleven o'clock on a day of burning sunshine and dazzling light。 El…
Azhar still vibrates with the murmur of many voices； although the
lessons of the morning are nearly finished。
Once past the threshold of the double ornamented door we enter the
courtyard； at this moment empty as the desert and dazzling with
sunshine。 Beyond； quite open； the mosque spreads out its endless
arcades； which are continued and repeated till they are lost in the
gloom of the far interior； and in this dim place； with its perplexing
depths； innumerable people in turbans； sitting in a close crowd； are
singing； or rather chanting； in a low voice； and marking time as it
were to their declamation by a slight rhythmic swaying from the hips。
They are the ten thousand students come from all parts of the world to
absorb the changeless doctrine of El…Azhar。
At the first view it is difficult to distinguish them； for they are
far down in the shadow； and out here we are almost blinded by the sun。
In little attentive groups of from ten to twenty； seated on mats
around a grave professor； they docilely repeat their lessons； which in
the course of centuries have grown old without changing like Islam
itself。 And we wonder how those in the circles down there； in the
aisles at the bottom where the daylight scarcely penetrates； can see
to read the old difficult writings in the pages of their books。
In a