Myths and Legends of China
Myths & Legends of China By E.T.C. Werner H.B.M. Consul Foochow (Retired) Barrister-at-law Middle Temple Late Member of The Chinese Government Historiographical Bureau Peking Author of "Descriptive Sociology: Chinese" "China of the Chinese" Etc. George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd. London Bombay Sydney In Memoriam _Gladys Nina Chalmers Werner_
In Cary's translation of Herodotus (1853, p. 180) the following passage
occurs which purports to describe the manner in which the Macrobrian
Ethiopians preserved their dead. It is added, simply as a matter of
curious interest, nothing more, for no remains so preserved have ever
been discovered.
After this, they visited last of all their sepulchres, which
are said to be prepared from crystal in the following
manner. When they have dried the body, either as the
Egyptians do, or in some other way, they plaster it all over
with gypsum, and paint it, making it as much as possible
resemble real life; they then put round it a hollow column
made of crystal, which they dig up in abundance, and is
easily wrought. The body being in the middle of the column
is plainly seen, nor does it emit an unpleasant smell, nor
is it in any way offensive, and it is all visible as the
body itself. The nearest relations keep the column in their
houses for a year, offering to it the first-fruits of all,
and performing sacrifices; after that time they carry it out
and place it somewhere near the city.
NOTE.--The Egyptian mummies could only be seen in front, the
back being covered by a box or coffin; the Ethiopian bodies
could be seen all round, as the column of glass was
transparent.
Myths & Legends of China By E.T.C. Werner H.B.M. Consul Foochow (Retired) Barrister-at-law Middle Temple Late Member of The Chinese Government Historiographical Bureau Peking Author of "Descriptive Sociology: Chinese" "China of the Chinese" Etc. George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd. London Bombay Sydney In Memoriam _Gladys Nina Chalmers Werner_