The sun., 1881-06-26
spectIve dIalocts OF the InhabItants. As carly as

divided into districts or homes, there being
Mt ono epoch twenty-five OF these in upper and
twenty In lower Egypt. Each district had its
own capital which was the seat of the Governor
for the time being, whose Office and dignity
passed by inheritance from the father to the
eldest grandson on tho mothers side. The dis
trict capital formed likewise tho central point of
the particular divine worship OF tho nome which
belonged to it. Egyptian monuments onabo us
to form toernbly exact picture OF the nomes in
al their details, and furnish abundant ground
for believing that each district constituted
n little nntion with its specific religion. laws.
and customs and enjoying n large measure OF
self-govornment. The empire OF tho Pharaohs
was therefore an imperial confederation held
together firmly enough in tho hands OF strong
ruler, but in which the process OF amalgama-
tion was never completed. 1t happened not In
frequently that the hostile feelings OF different
nomes broke out into violent struggle. which
1t required the whole power Of the King TO ex-
tinguish. Such feuds indeed sometimes Affect
ed tho whole dynasty. the rcigninE family hav-
ing to give UP tho crown to the victorious prince
OF nm insurGent nome. There were. however.
three districts which. through the course of
Egyptian history. maintained the reputation OF
being oftenest the seats OF government for the
whole country. viz. in lower Egypt the nomes
Of Memphis and Heliopolis. and in upper
Egypt that OF Thebes.
To what extent do the monuments throw
light on the distinctive mental endowments and
moral qualities of the ancient Egyptians DR..
Brugsch does not at oil concur with those his
torcal inaurers who are disposed to regard
the Egyptians as n reflective serious. and re-
served people. occupied only with the other
world. and caring nothing. or very little. about
this earthly life. He thinks that those who
la.. A..
who read the words cut in stone. or written
with blacl; ink on the fragile pnpyrus. and scru-
tinize tho pictures carved or painted on the
walls Of the sepulchral chapcs. will be con-
strained to form widely different judgment.
No people could be gayer." he declares" more
lively. OF more childlike simplicity than were
those old Egyptians who loved life with all
their heart. and found the deepest JOY in their
very existence" 1t is true that they beievedi. L..
the immortality OF the soul. but far from long
ing for death. they addressed to tho host of the
holy gods the prayer to preserve and lengthen
life. il possible to the most perfect old age Of
ITO years." No doubt toll was the condition OF
existence for the masses in Egypt as in every
community. but in their intervals Of leisure
they gave themselves up to tho pleasures of
merry lile-to the song and dance and flowing
cup. cheerful excursions to the meadows and
the papyrus marshes. to hunt with bow and ar
row or sling. or to fish with spear and hook" A
blithesome disposition was attested by the ma
tional proclivty 10 humorous jests and salies Of
wit. often passing the bounds Of decorum. That
'ne nneieh' IS' 'ptians "cio eAcepuonaliS iona
Vi ein''i, inhuenaoes anu Di''nE !'ocs ID uemoh-
s't"'ou o' '4o ia'' Una. 'ne 'rees' soc'ai 'aiS
iouhu i.e "aS e'eh in'o 'no saereo cn"npers OF
the tomb.
The lowest classes OF the people-the mob. as
the inscriptions call them-wcro occupied with
husbandry. the breeding OF cattle. fishing. and
the different branches OF industry. From u
very early period stone was wrought according
to the rules OF IN advanced skill; and metals.
gold. silver. copper. iron were melted and
wrought into tools and implements or works OF
nrt. Glass was made. wood and leather were
formed into great variety OF valuable objects:
haN was spun. and woven into linen stuffs:
ropes were twisted. baskets and mats OF rushes
were plated. and on tho potter's wheel great
and small vessels were formed by clever artists
from the rich clay OF the Nile. and baked in the
furnace. sculptors ana painters found proltn-
Die work among the wealthy patrons OF art
at the court OF tho Pharaohs. But all these
followers OF industry and the earliest human
art were held in bad odor. and the lowest scribe
III the service OF great man looked down with
contempt on the toiling multitude. Though
'uehseNes cnllureh OF tue people, the class OF
servants found protection from their masters.
and had share in the luxury OF the court. The
class OF mobiles in Egypt had little in COM
mon with the vulgar mob. 1t wns form
ed' on the one hand. OF descendants from the
royal dynnsties. and on the other of persons en-
nooled Tor distinguished services in civil and in
military empIoyments. 1t should bo noted that
the restraints OF caste did not operate as an
lhsupetauIo par 10 individual aspirations: that
ooscure descent ala not block the rising career
OF the ihteillSent' II was owing to this act that
ahlol'loh formed such striking feature in the
spirit oil 'he Ola d"eI!ers on the Nile. Husband
man competed with husoardmnn. artisan with
"r'.S"n oincla win olhcl"l. TO outvio his fellow
ana appropriate the praises and iavor OF the
Iords' In the schools where tho poor