, a gold
breastplate, an apron with orange and blue stripes, a steel sword at
his side and on his head a golden helmet. The pharaoh sat in a chariot
drawn by horses adorned with ostrich plumes, and was conducted by
nomarchs as he moved slowly toward the house of Osiris, surrounded by
his officers.

Whithersoever he looked: toward the field, the river, the roofs of
houses, or even the limbs of tamarind and fig-trees there was a throng
of people, and an unceasing shout which was like the roar of a tempest.

When he arrived at the temple the pharaoh stopped his horses and
descended before the public gate. This act pleased the common people
and delighted the priesthood. He passed on foot along the avenue of
sphinxes and, greeted by the holy men, burned incense before the
statues of Seti which occupied both sides of the main entrance.

In the peristyle the high priest turned the attention of his holiness
to the splendid portraits of the pharaohs, and pointed out the place
selected for that of Ramses. In the hypostyle he indicated to him the
meaning of the geographical maps and statistical tables.

In the chamber of "divine apparition" Ramses offered incense to the
gigantic statue of Osiris, and the high priest showed him the columns
dedicated to the separate planets: Mercury, Venus, the moon, Mars,
Jupiter, and Saturn. The planets stood around statues of the sun god to
the number of seven.

"Thou hast told me," said Ramses, "that there are six planets;
meanwhile I see seven columns."

"The seventh represents the earth, which is also a planet."

The astonished pharaoh asked for explanation, but the sage was silent,
indicating by signs that his lips were sealed on that subject.

In the chamber of the "tables of offering" was heard low but beautiful
music, during which a solemn dance was given by a chorus of
priestesses.

The pharaoh removed his golden helmet; next, his breastplate of great
value, and gave both to Osiris, desiring that these gifts should remain
in the treasury of the god, and not be transferred to the labyrinth.

In return for his bounty the high priest bestowed on the sovereign a
most beautiful dancer fifteen years of age, who seemed greatly
delighted with her fortune.

When the pharaoh found himself in the hall of "repose" he sat on the
throne, and his substitute in religion, Sem, to the sound of music and
amid the smoke of censers, entered the sanctuary to bring forth the
divinity.

Half an h