A poor man would be dispatched to the afterlife after a perfunctory mummification, either rubbed in oils or briefly covered with natron — a naturally occurring baking soda - and - salt compound — or tree resin from conifers. (discovermagazine.com)
As a final touch, 29 linen - wrapped packets of natron were tucked inside the body. (discovermagazine.com)
According to ancient texts, the body was supposed to be kept under natron for 35 days, and then kept around, exposed, for another 35 — perhaps for a period of mourning or other religious rituals. (discovermagazine.com)