to or taken from the number of names for fiscal or other considerations, and we shall probably be correct in assuming that at the time the Negative Confession was drawn up in the tabular form in which we meet it in the XVIIIth dynasty the names were forty-two in number.  Support is also lent to this view by the fact that the earliest form of the Confession, which forms the Introduction to Chapter CXXV., mentions less than forty sins.  Incidentally we may notice that the forty-two gods are subservient to Osiris, and that they only occupy a subordinate position in the Hall of Judgment, for it is the result of the weighing of the heart of the deceased in the balance that decides his future.  Before passing to the description of the Hall of Judgment where the balance is set, it is necessary to give a rendering of the Negative Confession which, presumably, the deceased recites before his heart is weighed in the balance; it is made from the Papyrus of Nu. [Footnote:  British Museum, No. 10,477.]

  1.  “Hail Usekh-nemtet (i.e., Long of strides), who comest forth from
  Anuu (Heliopolis), I have not done iniquity.

  2.  “Hail Hept-seshet (i.e., Embraced by flame), who comest forth
  from Kher-[=a]ba, [Footnote:  A city near Memphis.] I have not robbed
  with violence.

  3.  “Hail Fenti (i.e., Nose), who comest forth from Khemennu
  (Hermopolis), I have not done violence to any man.

  4.  “Hail [=A]m-khaibitu (i.e., Eater of shades), who comest forth
  from the Qereret (i.e., the cavern where the Nile rises), I have not
  committed theft.

  5.  “Hail Neha-bra (i.e., Stinking face), who comest forth from
  Restau, I have slain neither man nor woman.

  6.  “Hail Rereti (i.e., Double Lion-god), who comest forth from
  heaven, I have not made light the bushel.

  7.  “Hail Maata-f-em-seshet (i.e., Fiery eyes), who comest forth from
  Sekhem (Letopolis), I have not acted deceitfully.

  8.  “Hail Neba (i.e., Flame), who comest forth and retreatest, I have
  not purloined the things which belong unto God.

  9.  “Hail Set-qesu (i.e., Crusher of bones), who comest forth from
  Suten-henen (Heracleopolis), I have not uttered falsehood.

  10.  “Hail Khemi (i.e., Overthrower), who comest forth from Shetait
  (i.e., the hidden place), I have not carried off goods by force.

  11.  “Hail Uatch-nesert (i.e., Vigorous of Flame), who comest forth
  from Het-ka-Ptah (Memphis), I have not uttered vile (or evil) words.

  12.  “Hail Hra-f-ha-f (i.e., He whose face is behind him), who comest
  forth from the cavern and the deep, I have not carried off food by
  force.

  13.  “Hail Qerti (i.e., the double Nile source), who comest forth
  from the Underworld, I have not acted deceitfully.