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are past； they wash the corpse and roll its whole body up in fine linen cut
into bands； smearing these beneath with gum； which the Egyptians use
generally instead of glue。 Then the kinsfolk receive it from them and have
a wooden figure made in the shape of a man； and when they have had this
made they enclose the corpse； and having shut it up within； they store it
then in a sepulchral chamber； setting it to stand upright against the wall。
Thus they deal with the corpses which are prepared in the most costly way；
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but for those who desire the middle way and wish to avoid great cost they
prepare the corpse as follows： having filled their syringes with the oil
which is got from cedar… wood； with this they forthwith fill the belly of the
corpse； and this they do without having either cut it open or taken out the
bowels； but they inject the oil by the breech； and having stopped the
drench from returning back they keep it then the appointed number of days
for embalming； and on the last of the days they let the cedar oil come out
from the belly； which they before put in； and it has such power that it
brings out with it the bowels and interior organs of the body dissolved；
and the natron dissolves the flesh； so that there is left of the corpse only
the skin and the bones。 When they have done this they give back the
corpse at once in that condition without working upon it any more。 The
third kind of embalming； by which are prepared the bodies of those who
have less means； is as follows：they cleanse out the belly with a purge and
then keep the body for embalming during the seventy days； and at once
after that they give it back to the bringers to carry away。 The wives of men
of rank when they die are not given at once to be embalmed； nor such
women as are very beautiful or of greater regard than others； but on the
third or fourth day after their death （and not before） they are delivered to
the embalmers。 They do so about this matter in order that the embalmers
may not abuse their women； for they say that one of them was taken once
doing so to the corpse of a woman lately dead； and his fellow…craftsman
gave information。 Whenever any one； either of the Egyptians themselves
or of strangers； is found to have been carried off by a crocodile or brought
to his death by the river itself； the people of any city by which he may
have been cast up on land must embalm him and lay him out in the fairest
way they can and bury him in a sacred burial…place； nor may any of his
relations or friends besides touch him； but the priests of the Nile
themselves handle the corpse and bury it as that of one who was
something more than man。
Hellenic usages they will by no means follow； and to speak generally
they follow those of no other men whatever。 This rule is observed by most
of the Egyptians； but there is a large city named Chemmis in the Theban
district near Neapolis； and in this city there is a temple of Perseus the son
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of Danae which is of a square shape； and round it grow date…palms： the
gateway of the temple is built of stone and of very great size； and at the
entrance of it stand two great statues of stone。 Within this enclosure is a
temple…house and in it stands an image of Perseus。 These people of
Chemmis say that Perseus is wont often to appear in their land and often
within the temple； and that a sandal which has been worn by him is found
sometimes； being in length two cubits； and whenever this appears all
Egypt prospers。 This they say； and they do in honour of Perseus after
Hellenic fashion thus； they hold an athletic contest； which includes the
whole list of games； and they offer in prizes cattle and cloaks and skins：
and when I inquired why to them alone Perseus was wont to appear； and
wherefore they were separated from all the other Egyptians in that they
held an athletic contest； they said that Perseus had been born of their city；
for Danaos and Lynkeus were men of Chemmis and had sailed to Hellas；
and from them they traced a descent and came down to Perseus： and they
told me that he had come to Egypt for the reason which the Hellenes also
say； namely to bring from Libya the Gorgon's head； and had then visited
them also and recognised all his kinsfolk； and they said that he had well
learnt the name of Chemmis before he came to Egypt； since he had heard
it from his mother； and that they celebrated an athletic contest for him by
his own command。
All these are customs practised by the Egyptians who dwell above the
fens： and those who are settled in the fenland have the same customs for
the most part as the other Egyptians； both in other matters and also in that
they live each with one wife only； as do the Hellenes； but for economy in
respect of food they have invented these things besides：when the river
has become full and the plains have been flooded； there grow in the water
great numbers of lilies； which the Egyptians call /lotos/； these they cut
with a sickle and dry in the sun； and then they pound that which grows in
the middle of the lotos and which is like the head of a poppy； and they
make of it loaves baked with fire。 The root also of this lotos is edible and
has a rather sweet taste： it is round in shape and about the size of an apple。
There are other lilies too； in flower resembling roses； which also grow in
the river； and from them the fruit is produced in a separate vessel
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springing from the root by the side of the plant itself； and very nearly
resembles a wasp's comb： in this there grow edible seeds in great numbers
of the size of an olive…stone； and they are eaten either fresh or dried。
Besides this they pull up from the fens the papyrus which grows every
year； and the upper parts of it they cut off and turn to other uses； but that
which is left below for about a cubit in length they eat or sell： and those
who desire to have the papyrus at its very best bake it in an oven heated
red…hot； and then eat it。 Some too of these people live on fish alone； which
they dry in the sun after having caught them and taken out the entrails； and
then when they are dry； they use them for food。
Fish which swim in shoals are not much produced in the rivers； but are
bred in the lakes； and they do as follows：When there comes upon them
the desire to breed； they swim out in shoals towards the sea； and the males
lead the way shedding forth their milt as they go； while the females；
coming after and swallowing it up； from it become impregnated： and when
they have become full of young in the sea they swim up back again； each
shoal to its own haunts。 The same however no longer lead the way as
before； but the lead comes now to the females； and they leading the way in
shoals do just as the males did； that is to say they shed forth their eggs by a
few grains at a time； and the males coming after swallow them up。 Now
these grains are fish； and from the grains which survive and are not
swallowed； the fish grow which afterwards are bred up。 Now those of the
fish which are caught as they swim out towards the sea are found to be
rubbed on the left side of the head； but those which are caught as they
swim up again are rubbed on the right side。 This happens to them because
as they swim down to the sea they keep close to the land on the left side of
the river； and again as they swim up they keep to the same side；
approaching and touching the bank as much as they can； for fear doubtless
of straying from their course by reason of the stream。 When the Nile
begins to swell； the hollow places of the land and the depressions by the
side of the river first begin to fill； as the water soaks through from the river；
and so soon as they become full of water； at once they are all filled with
little fishes； and whence these are in all likelihood produced； I think that I
perceive。 In the preced