Natron is naturally occurring substance similar to salt. Its chemical makeup is a combination of sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride, which was in plentiful supply in ancient times near the banks of the Nile. Being the Ka has to have a body to return to in the afterlife, natron was used to preserve the body for eternity. Once the vital organs were removed and based into separate canopic jars, the body was then placed on an embalming table and completely covered with natron. After about forty days, the body was then dried out and decay was effectively hastened and stopped. After this was done, the natron was removed, inside and out, to reveal a shrunken body imperious to decay. Then the body was stuffed with leaves and other objects to preserve the original body's shape and then actual wrapping took place.