dead man, his
shade, the Ka, has a great appetite, and needs as much food as a man
during earthly existence, and if food is withheld it will rush at
living people and suck the blood out of them. But if the viscera are
removed from the body, as we remove them, the shade lives on without
food almost: its own body, embalmed and filled with plants which are
strongly fragrant, suffices it for millions of years.

"It has been verified, also, that if the tomb of a dead man is empty
the shade yearns for the world and wanders about in it needlessly. But
if we place in a mortuary chapel the clothing, furniture, arms,
vessels, utensils, things pleasant during life to the dead man, if the
walls are covered with paintings depicting feasts, hunts, divine
services, wars, and, in general, events in which the departed took
share, if besides we add statues of members of his family, servants,
horses, dogs and cattle, the shade will not go out to the world without
need, for it will find what it wants in the house of the dead with its
mummy.

"Finally they have convinced themselves that many shades, even after
penance is finished, could not enter regions of endless bliss since
they know not the needful prayers, incantations, and conversations with
gods. We provide for that by winding the mummies in papyruses, on which
are written sentences, and by putting the 'Book of the Dead' in their
coffins.

"In one word, our funeral ritual assures strength to the shade,
preserves it from misfortunes and yearnings after earth, facilitates
its entrance to the company of gods, and secures living people from
every harm which shades might inflict on them. Our great care of the
dead has this in view specially; hence we erect for them almost palaces
and in them dwellings with the greatest ornaments."

The prince thought awhile, but said finally,

"I understand that ye show great kindness to weak and defenseless
shades by caring for them in this manner. But who will assure me that
there are shades?"

"That there is a waterless desert," said the priest, "I know, for I see
it, I have sunk in its sands and felt heat in it. That there are
countries in which water turns to stone, and steam into white down, I
know also, for credible witnesses have informed me."

"But how do ye know of shades which no man has seen, and how do ye know
of their life after death since no one of them has ever returned to
us?"

"Thou art mistaken, worthiness," replied the prie