The largest pyramid is four hundred and sixty-one feet high, seven hundred and forty-six feet long at the base, and covers more than twelve acres of ground.  In all, sixty-seven of these pyramids have been discovered and explored.

They are the tombs in which the ancient kings and their families were buried.  In the interior of these pyramids, many chambers were constructed to contain their stone coffins.

It has been calculated that one of the principal pyramids could contain three thousand seven hundred rooms of large size.

The bodies of those who were buried in the pyramids were preserved from decay by a secret process, known only to the priests.

[Illustration]

After the bodies were prepared, they were wrapped in bands of fine linen, and on the inside of these was spread a peculiar kind of gum.  There were sometimes a thousand yards of these bands on a single body.

After they were thus prepared, a soft substance was placed around the bandaged body.  This covering, when it hardened, kept the body in a complete state of preservation.

[Illustration]

These coverings are now called mummy-cases, and the bodies they inclose, mummies.

These bodies were finally placed, in huge stone coffins, many of which were covered with curious carvings.

Some of these mummies have been found, that are said to be over three thousand years old.  However, when the wrappings are removed from them, many of the bodies have been so well preserved, as to exhibit the appearance of the features as in life.

Large numbers of these mummies have been carried to other countries and placed on exhibition in museums.

Among the mummies brought to this country, are some of the best specimens which have yet been discovered.

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Directions for Reading.—­Let pupils mark the inflection and point out emphatic words in the first two paragraphs of the lesson.

Show positions of the rhetorical pauses in the first paragraph on page 363.[20]

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Language Lesson.—­Let pupils review, as a written exercise, the spelling of the following words.

receding principal rubbish punctual precipice council orphan microscope justice civilized threshold muscles precious merchandise especially traveler physician recognize anecdote marvelous sufficient apologize character benefited vicious poisonous tremendous intelligent

Let pupils select a subject and make out an analysis for its treatment.

Each point in the analysis will require a separate paragraph for its treatment.

Be careful to use capital letters and marks of punctuation correctly.

[20] Paragraph beginning, “Remains of these are to be seen to-day....”