LETTERS O N EGYPT, with a Parallel between the Manners of its ancient and modern Inhabitants, the prefent State, the Commerce, the Agricul-* ture, and Government of that Country AND AN Account of the Defcent of St. Lewis at Damietta : EXTRACTED FR 0 M J 0 I N VI L L E, AND ARABIAN AUTHORS. illustrated with maps. By Mr. S A V A R Y, Author of the Life of Mahomet, and Tranfatcr of the Goran. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. i . ————aea—■■ K LONDON: print ej) for g. c. j. and j. r pate r-n o s t e r-r o w. MDCCLXXXri, o e 1 n 3 THE CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. LETTER XXXII. N ROUTE FROM ACHMIN TO DENDERA. Defcription of Souadi, on the wefi of which are two old monajleries furrounded with ruins, which fix the Jituation of the ancient Cro-codilopolis. Obfervations on Menchic and the ancient Ptolema'is, the rains of which are at a fmall diftance. Defcription of the fields in its environs. Obfervations on Girge, the capital of Upper Egypt, and on Abydus towards the wefi. Here are vefiiges of the celebrated temple of OJiris, where fingers and muficians were firielly prohibited from ac* dfs. Account of Farchout and its delightful orchards. Defcription of the antiquities ~&t Tmtyra, fititatcd near Dendera. TIatn'd of the ancient inhabitants ofTentyra towards Crocodiles. Page i LETTER XXXIIL DESCRIPTION OF GIENE, COPHTOS, COUS, AND OF THE ROUTE FROM THESE TO COSSEIR ON THE RED SEA. Cophtos and Cons fuccefjively enjoyed the trade of the Red Sea. Giene now in the pojfefi fion of it. 'The efforts of the Ptolemies t» protect it. True Jlate of this commerce. Defcription of the route from Giene to Coffeir. This place only a large village with a good port and a coiivenient road for fiips. Precautions necejjary in travelling through the Defart. Means of improving this road. The advantages which would refult from fuch improvement. 18 LETTER XXXIV. JOURNEY FROM COUS TO THEBES. DESCRIPTION OF THE EASTERN PART OF'THIS CITY. Defcription of Thebes, extracted from Dio-dorus Siculus and Strabo. State of this city city under the Pharaohs, the Romans, and the dominion of the Turks. Porticoes, avenues of the Sphinx, with the ftruHure and ruins of the great temple, near Car-nack, in the eafiertt quarter of Thebes. Its foundations and ruins occupy a circumference of half a league. The plain extending from Carnack to Luxor, and an* ciently covered with buildings, now under agriculture. Defcription of the remains of the temple of Luxor, and the fuperb obelifis fituated near it. The moft beau* tiful firuciures in Egypt, and in the whole world. 34 LETTER XXXV. DESCRIPTION OF THE WESTERN PART OF THEBES. Vifit to the tombs of the Theban kings, excavated in the mountain. Defcription of thefe fubterraneous places, the fepulchres* their galleries and hieroglyphics. Account of a great temple, the roof of which was fup-ported by fquare pHlars, ornamented on the top with fatues. Fragments of a prodi-a 3 gioits gious Cohjfus among its ruins. Ruins of Memnonium, marked out by heaps of marble fragments, and rows of fiatues, either mutilated, or with a third part of their height buried in the earth; and above all, by the colojfal flatue of Memnon, famous in ancient times for the founds which it emitted at fun-rife. 51 LETTER XXXVI. ROUTE FROM THEBES TO ESNE. Defcription of Armant, formerly Hermunthis, ■ adorned with two ancient temples, built in honour of fupiter and Apollo; the latter in good prefervation. Account of Okror, and its manufactures of earthen ware. An ancient temple fit uaicd in the town of Erne, and now ufed by the Turks as a place of' fecurity for their cattle. Another temple in the wefiern part of the town, where the Egyptians worshipped Neith, denominated by the Greeks, Minerva. Account of the convent founded by St. Helena, and of the bu- • rial-place of the martyrs. Obfervations on the fione of Baram, employed for the making of kitchen utenfils. tt L E T- CONTENTS. vii. LETTER XXXVII. ROUTE FROM ESNE TO THE LAST CATARACT. Defcription of Edfou, famous for a temple erected in honour of Apollo. Dangerous pajjdge of Hafar Salfale. Situation of Coum Ombo, anciently Ombos. Obfervations on the Crocodiles, which are exceedingly numerous in that quarter. Arrival at Siine, now AJfouan. Defcription of this city, its antiquities, the Solf ice-well, the bottom of which refected the image of the fun when he reached the tropic of Cancer. Account of the ifands of Phile and Elephantine, with their temples and antiquities. Obfervations on the quarries of granite, fituated on the weft of Cataract. Succinct defcription of the country lying between Grand Cairo and Siene, 76 LETTER XXXVIII. DESCRIPTION OF OASIS AND THE TEMPLE OF JUPITER AMMON, WITH THE ROUTES LEADING THITHER. Situation of Oafis fxed by Ptolemy and the a 4 Arabiari yiii. C O N T E £N T S. Arabian geographers. Description of the places inhabited in the middle of the Defart. Journey of Alexander to the te?nple oj "Jupiter Amnion, traced in the map which is prefixed to this volume. Account of the temple and the people who inhabit its environs. Defeat of the army of Cambyfes, which had been fint to plunder it. Unfortunate expedition of this barbarous invader againfi the Ethiopians, followed by the lofs of a part of the troops which he commanded. Oafs a place of exile under the monarchs of the lower empire ; and thither St. Athana-fius and the other perfons were banijhed. 91 LETTER XXXIX. OBSERVATIONS ON THE INCREASE OF THE NILE. Remarks on the Nile, its fourccs, and the phenomena of its annual inundation. Time when they cut the dyke, at the head of the canal which conducts the waters to Grand Cairo. Defcription of the public ffiivals and rejoicings at'that fa/in. Nocturnal recreations on the water in the great fquares 'of the capital, The pleafures thence arif- ing. ing. Means offecuring to Egypt a regular ■ inundation, and an inexhaujiible abundance. 105 LETTER XL. GOVERNMENT OF EGYPT. Egyptian Government from the conquefl of the Arabs to the prefent time. Changes which it has undergone by the different revolutions of the fupreme power. Articles of the agreement made in favour of the CircaJJian Mamalukes by the Emperor Selim. Limited power of the Pachas. The great authority of the Beys, and of that which is annexed te the dignities of Scheiek Elbalad and of Emir Haji. The manner in which the reprefentatives of the Grand Signior are received in Egypt. Scandalous manner of fending them back. Obfervations on the fmall degree of authority which the Ottoman Porte really maintains in Egypt. 1 21 LETTER XIX II ISTORY OF ALI BEY. Birth-day of All Bey, Tran [port ation from his own country, and his change of religion after after he had been fold to a Bey of Grand Cairo. His promotion to different offices in the fate. Conduct of the Caravan. Defeat of the Arabs, followed by the dignity of Bey, which gave him a feat among the members of the Divan. Death of his pa-tron, who was murdered by the oppofite party. Ali obtains the rank of Cheik Elbalad, and avenges the blood of his protector. Con/piracy formed to make him frifoner. He takes refuge in ferufalem, and afterwards at St. Jean dAcre, where Cheik Daher receives him with open arms. On being recalled into the capital, he found it impoffible to triumph over the hatred of bis enemies, and, to favc his life, was a fe-cond time obliged to take to flight. He vijits Arabia, and retires to Jean dAcre, where Cheik Daher treated him with every de-monf ration of the fincerefi friendfiip. He returns to Cairo, facrifces his rivals to his refentment, and governs Egypt with wif-dom. Treachery of fome Beys, and of the Divan at Conflantinople. He puni/hes with death the officers who bad been fent to demand his head, anfl enters into an alliance with "with the 'Ruffians, to revenge the injufiice of the Ottomans. He repreffes the wandering tribes of Arabs, protects commerce, and reduces to fubjettion both Arabia and Syria by means of his Generals. He is betrayed by Mahomet Abou Dahab, bis fon-in-law, and obliged to five himfelf a third time in Syria. Ali Bey makes himfelf mafer of a number of towns, enters Egypt with the principal part of his forces, intimidates an army much fuperior to his own, and is conquered by the treachery of his infantry, which went over to Abou Dahab. The death of Ali, of Mahamed, and of Scheik Daher, bafely ajfafinated by order of the Ottoman Port, 143 LETTER XLIL bEQUEL OF THE HISTORY OF ALI. Hi/hry of If ma el Bey become Scheik Elbalad. Pajfage of Mourad and Ibrahim, Beys in upper Egypt. Their connections with the Arabs. Ifmael difpatches a body of troops againft them, and they retreat into the Defart. They fortify themfelves, take foffeffm fofeffion of fome of the principal towns in the difiriSl of Said, penetrate as far as Gaza, and enter into a treaty of alliance with Ifmael. Re-entering Grand Cairo, and on the point of being ma[jacred, they betake thefelves to flight, retire precipitately to Girge, call to their afjijlance the Arabians, and defeat the army which was fent by Ifmael to eppofe them. He arrives in per-fon at the head of a body of troops. The aflh dated Beys contrive means to corrupt their fidelity; and the Scheik Elbalad retires into Syria with his treafures. On their return to the capital, they promote their creatures to the rank of Bey, and ajfume the government of Egypt. Engagement with Ha fan Bey abandoned in theftreets of Grand Cairo, and its confluences. Mourad conduces the car avail ofMecca-, and the ufual tribute being demanded of him by the Arabs\ he orders them to be beheaded* Attacked and wounded on his return, he obliges the enemy to retreat. His quarrels with Ibra- kim: 202 LETTER XLIII. OBSERVATIONS ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTRY. Agriculture anciently fourifiing in Egypt. The immenfe labour which has been befowed on confining the river, and on watering the land. The decay of thofe ufeful monuments. Productions of the foil. The feafons of fowing and reapi?ig different according to the Jit u at ion of the lands. Their prodigious fertility in ancient times. The means necef-firy to be employedfor procuring much fertility. The method of raifng the bees which the Egyptians carry in a boat from one extremity of the kingdom to the ether, 227 LETTER XLIV. ACCOUNT OF THE TEMPERATURE OF THE CLIMATE.. The heats excejfive in Upper Egypt, and moderate in the Lower. The fmall number of dijejjcs which prevail among the Egyptians. The means they ufe for curing a fever, and 5 preferving preferring their health. During a part of the winter and fpring, the wind blows from the South, and proves prejudicial. Through the remaining pa?-t of the year, the North wind produces falutary effects. The le-profy unknown in the country. The plague not a native difeafe of the climate. The Europeans avoid this terrible fcourge by JJjutting themfelvcs up. 241 LETTER XLV. OBSERVATIONS ON THE DIFFERENT INHABITANTS OF EGYPT. The Coptis, defendants of the Egyptians, have lof the genius and knowledge of their an-ceflors. Next to them the Arabians, the moft ancient inhabitants of the country. Their dominion twice extended over it, Thofe who, under the government of the Beys, cultivate the lands, have entirely loft the good faith natural to the nation, while thofe who live under their Scheiks have pre-ferved their hotiefty and virtues. The Bedouins inhabit the defarts, and declare war againft all the caravans; but they are generous, generous, hofpitable, and pay a facred regard to their oaths. The Chrijlians of Syria, the Greeks, and the Jews, praclife the mechanical arts. Real Turks not numerous in Egypt. 263 LETTER XLVI. OBSERVATIONS ON MARRIAGE AMONG THE EGYPTIANS. Dignified with the title of facrament, marriage among the Chrijlians indiffoluble. The Le-gifiator of Arabia, copying the authority of the patriarchs, and influenced by the force of cufiom, has permitted repudiation, but at the fame time endeavoured to refrain the caprice of the men. The nuptial ceremonies praftifed by the Mahometans and Coptis. 295 LETTER XLVII. 'THE REVOLUTIONS IN THE COMMERCE OF EGYPT, FROM THE MOST REMOTE ANTIQUITY TO THE PRESENT TIME. State of the Egyptian commerce under the Pharaohs, the Perfians, and the Ptolemies, wbi who created a powerful marine; and under the Romans, who, guided by the Egyptians, penetrated as far as Bengal. Declenfion if this extenjive commerce under the Princes of the lower empire. Almoft annihilated during the government of the Arabs. Reef ablifed by the Venetians, who opened to themfelves the ports of Egypt, The Por-tuguefe deprive them of this trade • in confluence of which the Venetians lofe both their marine and their difant provinces* Actualfate of the prefent commerce of this country. 307 LETTER XLVIIL OF THE ANCIENT RELIGION OF THE EGYPTIANS, AND PARTICULARLY OF ATHOR, ONE OF THEIR DEITIES. Athor, or the night, in the opinion of the Egyptian -pricfls, reprefented the darknef which enveloped the chaos before the creation, which the creative fpirit animated with its breath, and of which it formed the univerfe. The moon regarded as a fymbol of this original dgrknef, and recommended to to the veneration of the people. Thi, idea extended to that period of time when the fun, during his progrefs through the fgns of the fout hern hemifphere, renders the days Jhorter and the nights more long. 351 LETTER XLIX. (DF PHTHA, NEITH, AND CNEPH, NAMES UNDER WHICH THE SUPREME BEING WAS ADORED IN EGYPT. The Supreme Being adored by the Egyptians, under the Names of Ptha, Neith, and Cneph. By thefe Appellations were denote I the power, the wifihm, and the goodnefs of that infinite fpirit which created the world* The T<:mph of Ptha was at Memphis, that of Neith at Sals, and that of Cneph in the ifiand of Elephantine. Purity of reii^im only among the Priefis, and thofe who we '6 initiated in the facred myfteries. The people neglect the Creator, while they adored bis works i 367 LETTER L. OF THE VISIBLE GODS OF THE EGYPTIANS, AND CHIEFLY OF OSIRIS, A SYMBOLICAL DIVINITY, WHICH REPRESENTED THE SUN. At firjt the Egyptians worshipped the Sun, under the dcfgnation of Phre, and afterwards under that of OJiris. This Deity very famous. His temples and Priefs in every corner of the kingdom. His origin derived from afronomy, which having ob-ferved his courfe more regular than that of the moon, made life oj it forthe meafuring of time. The name of Of iris, derived from Ofch Iri, the Author of Time, fiews the dejign of the-Priifs in introducing this alle-' gorical divinity. 301 ©F AMMON AND HERCULES, EMBLEMS OK Amoun, called by the Creeks Ammon, and LETTER LI. THE SUN. fcriptureftyles the city of Amnion, and the Greeks Diofpolis the city of Jupiter. His fatue decked with the fin and head of a ram. This fymbolical divinity, which re-prefenied the vernal fun, delivtred oracles in a temple, ftnaied in the midft of the defart s of Lybia. The fatue of Hercules, which partook of the worfoip of its deity, at the Vernal Equinox, denoted the force of the. fun when he had reaeked tbe Equator. 391 LETTER LIE OF HORTJS, A SYMBOLICAL DEITY WHICH REPRESENTED THE SUN. Horns, as well as Ojiris, had a hawk for his fymbol. The fame attributes frequently afcribed to both. His thrme fupported by lions, becaufe he reprefented the fun at the fummer Solftice. His education at Butis, on the border of the great lake, denoted his great power in raijing vapours into the atmofphert, whence they fell down in dew upon the earth. The victory of Horns over Typhon, depicted the happy ejects produced b 2 by by the fun in his progrrfs through the fum-mcr figns, fuch as the inundation, the ex-tinftion of the 'north winds > and the excitement of thofe named the Etejian. 39 8 LETTER LIIL OF THE CELESTIAL SERAPIS, A SYMBOL OF THE SUN. The worfiip of Serapis fnirifing under the Ptolemies, who bulb a fuperb temple in honour of him. Adored in Egypt before their reign. His origin on the banks of the Nile. This emblematical divinity denoted the Sun hi his progrefs through the autumnal figns.' Said to be 'invifible, becaufe fen only for a fori time by the inhabitants of the north. The fame with the Pluto of the Creeks, but diveji,ed of the fables with which their poets involved him. 405 LETTER LIV. OF HARPOCRATES, AN EMBLEM OF THE SUN. Harpocrates rep refuted, in Egypt, the Sun at the winter* So f ice, and, in Greece, the God God of Silence. Delineated by the Egyptian Priefls with his feet joined together, in fuch a manner that he could Jcarcely walk. This emblem of the flow, and al-moji hfienjlble motion of the fun, when verging to the Tropic of Capricorn. Re-prefented jit ting on the Lotus fl-iver, be-caufe it never opens till towards the end of autumn, 411 LETTER LV. OF MENDES, THE SYMBOL OF THE SUN. Mendes the firft emblem of the fun. Denoted the fecundating influence of this planet. The he-goat [acred to him, hecaufe the moft prolific of animals. The Prieds initiated in the mvjleries oj' Mendes. 'The Phallus, an emblem of generation, adorned their habits, and decorated the Jtataes of other deities. Named by the Gretks% Pan, but improperly, for be bore little refemblance to that demi-god. 415 %4 LETTER LVL OF ISIS, OR THE MOON, AN EGYPTIAN DEITY. The moon -anciently worfljipped by the Egyptians under its proper name Joh ; the adoration of which, when introduced into Greece, gave birth to the fable of Joh's being changed into a cow. Its influence on the atmfphere being obferved, they afterwards named it Iris, which fgnifes the caufe of abundance. The inundation of the Nile afcribed to the tears of this deity; that is, to the dew, of which /he excites afermentation in the waters. To this day the Copt is pretend that the dew which falls at the Sol/lice, makes the waters ferment, and by that means produces the inundation. 421 LETTER LVII. OF SOTHIS, A STAJl SACRED TO IRIS. Some writers call So this by the name of Iris; but this far, denominated Sirius by the Greeks, and Canicula by the Latins, was only only facred to that goddefs. The Egyptians marked the rijing of Sot his by two fated periods. The veneration of the people for this far arofe from a particular circum-fiance; namely, that at its heliacal rijaig, they coidd judge of the degree of inundation. On this account, it was named the ftar which makes the waters increafe, 430 LETTER LVIIL OF BUBASTIS, A SYMBOLICAL DEITY OF THE EGYPTIANS. . Great honours paid to Bubafis in Egypt. A city sdiflinguijhcd by her name. She was reputed the patronefs of pregnant wom.n, and known to the Greeks and Romans by the name of Diana and Ilithyia. This fymbolical deity re prefent el the new moon. Her fejiival celebrated the third day of the month, becaufe then her increaje is vijlble $ver all the world. 436 b 4 LETTE R xxiV CONTENT S. LETTER LIX. OF BTJTIS, A SYMBOLICAL DEITY WHICH REPRESENTS THE SUN. This Goddefs, named by the Greeks Latona, had a famous temple in the city of Butis, where the fanSluary conffed of an enormous block of granite. Here Jhe delivered her oracles. The Egyptians placed her in a moving if and; and in this they were imitated by the Greeks. This deity was the fymbol of the full moon -y and as the dew is at that timepiofi copious, they afcribed it to her influence. It was believedJhe had edu~* cated Horus, and faved him from the am-bufljes of Typhon, which ought to be under-, food in an allegoricalfenfe. 444 LETTER LX. THE NILE ADORED AS A GOD BY THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. The Nile raifed to the rank of gods. A city built in honour of him. His piriefls, fefti-vals, and facrifices. At firfl he bore the general general name of Jaro, winch fignifies a river. When the phenomena of his inun-, dation were obferved, he received the epithet c/'Neilon, that is, one who grows in a ftated time. At the winter folfiice, they invited him to a fiafi, winch was publicly prepared for the purpofi-, and the people believed, that without this ceremony he woidd never overflow theirfields. 454 LETTER LXI. OF APIS, THE SACRED OX OF THE EGYPTIANS, ADORED BY THE PEOPLE. Apis renswned over the world, Kings and princes Jolemnly offered facrifices to his godhead. Difcription oj' his diflinguijling marks, his inauguration, the place where he was kept, and the temple to which they removed him at his death. Fefiivals celebrated at the birth of a new Apis. This allegorical deity was created by the prie/ts to be the guardian of the folar year 0/365 days, the ty^e of the cycle of 25 years, and the fypibol of the inundation. 461 LETTER LXII. CF MNEVIS AND ONtJPHIS, SACRED BULLS OF ANCIENT EGYPT. Mnevis and Onupbis confi'crated to the fun. The worjhip of the former rubrijled in remote antiquity, and the epoch oj its commencement is unknown. The latter, brought up in the temple of Apollo, at Hermunthis, bad no degree of celebrity, if we may judge by the flence of bijlorians. Apis, deified with the view of prefrving the remem* brance of ancient obfrvations, became famous, and eclipfed the other two* 476 LETTER LXIII. OF THE TERRESTRIAL SERAPIS, A SYMBOLICAL DEITY WHICH BORE A RELATION TO THE NILE. T'he terrefrial Serapis regarded by the Egyptians as a deity that prefdes over the in-creafe of the waters. His emblem a Kilometer of wood, divided into cubits. A fifl-tival celebrated in honour of him at the commence- commencement of the inundation. The Nilo-tneter 7iamed by the priejls Sari Api, the pillar of menfuration. Brought forth from his fancluary at the beginning of the inundation, and led back when it was on the decline. Such was the origin of this emblematical deity, to which the Greeks gave the name of Serapis. 481 LETTER LXIV. OF ANUBIS, A SYMBOLICAL DEITY OF THE EGYPTIANS. Amibis had in Egypt temples and priefts, and a city was built in honour of him. His fatue bore the head of a dog; and this animal, from being his living image, was conf crated to him. This allegorical divinity, invented by the aftronomers, fepnfented the horizon. Hence he was regarded as the infeparable companion of Ofiris and Iris. Called in the facred language their illegitimate fon, be-caufe he is not luminous of himfelf , and f dines only by borrowed lujlrc. . 4^8 LETTER LXV. OF TYPHON, A SYMBOLICAL DEITY OF THE EGYPTIANS. Typhon regarded as an evil genius. The Crocodile and Hippopotamus confecrated to him. His fatue i?fulled, when the calamities; of U hich they believed him to be the caufe, did not ccafi. This allegorical deity re prefented, in the imagination of the priejls, winter, and the fatal effects produced in Egypt by the blowing of the jbiith and fouih-eaji winds* The facred fable on the fubjeel of Typhon is propagated into Phoenicia, Greece, and Italy. It is decorated with new allegories by the natural phihfphers and poets of thofe countries, and accommodated to their religion. Notwithstanding the veils with which they have covered it, its origin is fill perceptible. 496 LETTER LXVI. OF NEPHTHYS, A SYMBOLICAL DEITY OF THE EGYPTIANS. Nephthys was, in the facred language, the barren reft fpoh'fi of Typhon* Not prolific till OJiris had commerce with her. This word, in its natural jignification, denoted the fandy plains which fiaud between the Nile and the Red Sea, and are greatly expofed to the futh-eafi wind. When in years of an extraordinary inundation the river firetohed to thofe parts, the phenomenon was imputed to the adultery of OJiris with Nephthys. By Thueri or Afb, Q/een of Ethiopia, reputed the concubine of Typhon, was denoted the Jbuth wind, which, uniting with that of the eaft,jormed the fouth-eafl, a wind extremely formidable to the Egyptians, on account of its fcorching breath, and the torrents of fand which it rolls upon the country. 512 LETTER LXVIIL OF CANOBUS, A PRETENDED DEITY OF THE EGYPTIANS. Canobus, named by the writers of the Lower Empire Canopus, was the pilot of Meneiciis. He died on the coajl of Egypt, and they erected to him a tomb. This place, called in the the Egyptian language Cahi noub, the golden land. A city and temples were built here. The Greeks, tn'fied by this appellation, fpread a report that they had been erected in honour of the f ranger; but ibis was a mifake. Rujfin relates a long fable, by which he affects to prove, that the deity which they worfipped in the temple of Canobus was a pitcher: but this was only an offering made to the god - of the Nile, the water of which it ferved to purify. 518 LETTER LXIX. OF THOTH, A SYMBOLICAL DEITY OF THE EGYPTIANS, AND REGARDED AS A CELEBRATED MAN BY THE GREATER PART OF WRITERS. Thoth was held to be an extraordinary man by a great number of writers. To him they afcribed the invention of all arts, fciences, and human injtitutions; and dignified him with the name of Trifmegifr.us, or thrice great. This alone might be fuffcient to prove that the perfonage was allegorical Thoth, Thoth, in the Egyptian language, fignifies ■& pill af ; and as it was ufual to engrave approved-works upon pillars, they all received the general appellation of Thoth. Tlx three Thoths or mercuries might denote the infancy, the progrefs, and the perfection of human knowledge. 530 LETTER LXX. OF THE VOCAL STATUE OF MEMNON- The fatue of Memnon greatly celebrated in ancient times for the fund which it emitted at fun-rife. Called by the priefs tbt Son of the Day. The fon of Aurora, the conqueror of AntilocLus, celebrated by Homer. His interpreters, and the poets fnce his time, have applied thofe cxpreff.ons to the Egyptian Memnon. This is a m'fiake; the Thebaic fatue bore tbe name of Ame-nophis. The Memnon who came to the fege of Troy a little after, was fent from Sufi by Teutain, king of AJjyria. The vocal fatue of Egypt was broken by Cam-fyfes. The mutilated fgure ceajed to emit any fund for a Lng time, but rejumed^ its vocal power wider the Ptolemies. Sifter ftt difgrace, it pronounced feven notes. The priefts, who gave the harmonic courfe of the feven planets the Jiame of celdrkil mufic, and who confer at ed to them the notes, called this fatue the image of the fin, and the coufn of OJiris,- becaife it pronounced the feven notes which compjed the terrejhial mujict It received the name of ame nou-phi, to tell good news, becaufe it pronounced the notes at the vernal equinox, a Jeafon dear to the Egyptians. 549 LETTER LXXL REFLECTIONS ON THE RELIGIOUS WOR-« SHIP OF THE EGYPTIANS. The Egyptians had only two dogmas in their* religion, -namely, that of a God the Creator, and that of the immortality of the foul; att the rejl was allegorical. This religion was prejerved pure and untainted wit in the temples; but the necefity they were under of ufing reprefentative figures before the invention of letters, induced the people by degrees to adore them; which happened happened when the art of writing having become eajy, they forgot the fenfe of the hieroglyphics. The gods of La ban were nothing but hieroglyphics, of which he had lof the meaning. They were to him the objects of worfoip, becaufe they had been tranfmitted by his fathers, and 'he did not comprehend them. The fame thing happened in Egypt. 572 LETTER LXXIL OBSERVATIONS ON THE HIEROGLYPHICS. Hieroglyphics, the frf-written language of man. Their 'antiquity more remote than the" deluge. The meaning of them entirely lof under the princes of the lower empire. The recovery of it would render us acquainted with the language of the Copt is, or ancient vulgar Egyptian, by which we might attain to a knowledge of the facer-dotal dialect, ufedfor explaining the hieroglyphics, and which is found on Egyptian monuments* A journey might likewife be attempted to the temple of Jupiter Am-r.ion, inhabited by an Egyptian cohny, e which xxxhr- CO NT E N T S. which may have preferved their ancient language, their books, and the know/edga of hieroglyphics. 580 LETTER LXXfiL To Mr. Lemonn 1 br, Phyfcian to the King ofFrance, FirflPhyfcian to Monsieur. and Member of the Academy, ofBcir ences. plan" of an interesting voyage, • and wfiich has never been per-* formed. To take a furvey of the great lakejrf Menzalc in a boat. To examine the Wtins in its i/les. To vifit Pelufum, Farama, the Oafs 1 to Sie'ne for the wells of the folfice, and to afcertain the ancient obfervation of the Egyptians. To pafs through the interior parts of the Imen, with the view of procuring information and manufcripts. To go to Mecca; to fay there during the pdgrimage, and to bring thence and from Medina the works and information that are are unknown in Europe. To travel over both Arabias, Petrcea and Defrta; and after remaining fome time at Damns to return to Europe\ i 590 LETTERS LETTERS O N EGYPT. letter xxxii. ROUTE FROM ACHMlN TO DENDERA. Defcription of Souadi, on the wefl of which are two old monafleries furrounded with ruins, which fx thefituation of the ancient Cro-codilopolisi Obfervations on Menchie and the ancient Ptolemais, the ruins of which are at a fnalI difance. Defcription of thefields in its environsi Obfervations on Girge, the capital of Upper Egypt, and on Abydus towards the wefl. Here are vefiiges of the celebrated temple of OJiris, where jingers and mufcians were firiclly prohibited from ac-cej}. Account of Farchout and its delightful orchards. Defcription of the antiquities at Tenfyra,fituated near Deader a. Hatred of the ancient inhabitants ofTentyra towards Crocodiles. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. Let us take our leave of Achmin, and the ferpcnt Moridi. Palling to the other fide of the Nile, we fee the burgh of Souadi go-Vol. II. B verned verned by a Cachef, and proceeding to the wefhvard, two Coptic monasteries, fituated at the entrance of the defert. Their churches are ornamented with Corinthian pillars, with a crofs in the middle of the capital, and arc paved with red granite, covered with hieroglyphics ; their architecture favours of. the decline of tafte amongit the Greeks. They are thought to have been built by the Em-prefs Helena. In the fpace between them, the ground is rfrewed with antique marbles. Thefe remains point out the fcite of Groco-dilopolis (yJ, which was far from the river, and which Ptolemy places after Aphrodito-polisy or the city of Venus. Afcending towards the fouth-eaft, we crofs a plain fhaded by various trees, covered with harvefts, and interfered by rivulets. It leads to the burgh of Menchie, decorated with a large mofque. A conliderable market is held here. The hazards are ffored with all forts of articles. They fell a con-ferveof wheat here, in high estimation in (y) Ptolemy, I. 4. This is the facred city of that name. But the former fituated in the Fa'ioum, was better known by the Name of Arfinoe. the the country. It is cornpofed of corn fteeped in water for two days, then dried in the fun, and boiled to the thicknefs of a jelly. This pafte thus prepared is called elnede dew. It is melting, fugary, and very nou-riihing. If this fort of confection dried in the oven would keep at fea, it might be a very great refource in long voyages. On an eminence to the fouth of Menchie, are to be remarked the remains of the entablatures of cornices, and trunks of columns. The river is lined by a quay in this place. A projecting mole ferves to protect the boats from the winds and currents. Thefe ruins, and oriental works recal to mind the great Ptolemahi which Strabo fzj compares to Memphis for its extent and population (a). Ptolemy calls it Plolemais of Hermes, becaufe the fymbolical deity, Mercury, was worshipped there. Whilft the wind is driving us towards tjie fouth, cart your eyes on the rocks which project on the eaftern fide, you will there perceive the little convent of der Hadid (z) Str«bo; 1. 17.-^Ptolemy, 1. 4. B 2 placed placed in the middle of a defert befet with' barren points, and grottoes which the fervour of the primitive ages of Christianity peopled with pious Anchorites. Can there be a more frightful folitude fo near an enchanting country ? On one fide we difcover nothing but barren finds, hills burnt up by the fun, from which the reverberation is fuffocating. On the other we admire all the treafures of abundance. Already the dourra with all its reedy leaves moots up its vigorous ftalk, and is crowned with large ears. The corn, whofe furface is kept waving by the wind, is near the period of its growth. Valt fields are covered with fugar canes. The flax nourilb.es clofe by. Thedate reddens on the fummit of the date tree. The palm of the Thebais difplays its leaves in the form of a fan, and the golden melon hangs over the edges of the river. Such is the afpedt of thefe plains at the beginning of December. We land at the port of Girge, the capital of Upper Egypt. This town, which is a league in circumference, has feveral mofques, hazards, and public fquares, but no remarkable buddings: it is furrounded by well 4 culti- cultivated gardens. It is governed by a Bey. His foldiers commit innumerable outrages. The Copts are not permitted to have churches here. To afiift at divine fervice, they are obliged to go to a convent fituated on the other fide of the Nile. Girge affords no vef-tige of ancient edifices. It appears to be a modern town, for Abulfeda does not fpeak of it. Proceeding for about an hour towards the weft, we fall in with the ruins of Abjdus, where Ifinandes built a magnificent temple in honour of Ofiris: It was the only one in Egypt which the fingers and dancers were forbid to enter. This city, reduced to a village under the empire pf Au-guftus, prefects in our time nothing but a heap of ruins without inhabitants; but to .the weft of thefe ruins we ftill find the cele--brated monument of Ifmandes (b)~ We firft enter under a portico railed about iixty teet, and Supported by two rows of •many columns. The immoveable fel idity of the edifice, the huge maflcs which compofc -it, the hieroglyphics it is loaded with, (lamp (b) Strabo, 1. 17, calls it fniandes and Memnon. He fays that this is the fame Pharoah who liuilt the Labyrinth. B 3 it it as a work of the ancient Egyptians. Beyond, is a temple which is three hundred feet long by one hundred and forty-five feet wide. On entering we remark an imraenie hall, the roof of which is Supported by twenty-eight columns Sixty feet high, and nineteen in circumference at the bafe. They are twelve feet distant from each other. The enormous Stones that form the cieling perfectly joined, and incrufted as it were one in the other, offer to the eye nothing but one whole platform of marble one hundred and twenty-fix feet long, and fixty-fix feet wide. The walls are covered with innumerable hieroglyphics. One Sees there a multitude of animals, of birds, and human figures with pointed caps on their heads, and a niece of Stuff hanjinor down behind fxJ9 and dreffed in open robes descending only to the waiit. The clumfinefs of the fcuipture, announces its antiquity. It is art in its infancy. The forms of the body, the attitudes, the proportions of the members are badly obferved. A- (e) Tefe caps frill form the head-drefs of the Egyptian Priefts on their da;*s of ceremony. mongft Amongft thefe various reprefentations, women are to be diflinguimed fuckling their children, and men pjrefenting offerings to them. In the midft of thefe defigns, engraved on the marble, the traveller difcovers the divinities of India. Monfieur Chevalier, formerly governor1 of Chandemagor, who palled twenty years in that country, where he' rendered great fervice to his own, carefully vifited this ancient monument on his return from Bengal. He remarked there the gods faggrenaty Gonez, and. Vichnon, or Vijinoiiy fuch as they are reprefented in the temples of Indofhan. Have the Egyptians received thefe divinities from the Indians or the Indians from the Egyptians ? Were this quefrion refolved, it would decide the antiquity of the two people. At the bottom of the firft hall opens a great gate which leads to an apartment forty-fix feet long, by twenty two wide. Six fquare. pillars fupport the roof of it. At the angles are the doors of four other chambers, but lb choaked up by rub-biih, that one cannot enter them. The lail hall, fixty-four feet long, by twenty- B 4 four four wide, has flairs by which one defccnds into the fubterraneous apartments of this grand edifice. The Arabs in fearching after treafure have piled up heaps of earth and rubbifh. One difcovers in the part one is able to penetrate, fculpture and hieroglyphics as in the upper ftory. The natives of the country fay, that they correspond exactly with thofe above, and that the columns are as • deep in the earth as they are lofty above ground. It would be dangerous to go far into thefe vaults, becaufe the air of them is much infected, and fo loaded with mephytic vapour that one can fcarcely keep a candle lighted. Six lions heads placed on the two fides of the temple ferve as fpouts to carry off the water. You mount to the top by a ftair-cafe of a very fingular forrn. It is built with ftones incrufted in the wall, and projecting fix feet out, fo that being fupported only at one end they appear fufpended in the air. The walls, the roof, the columns of this edifice have Suffered nothing from o the injuries of time. Did not the hieroglyphics, corroded in feveral places, mark yts .antiquity, it would appear to have been newly built. The folidity is fuch, that it will laft a great number of ages, unlefs men make a point of deftroying it. Except the coloffal figures, whofe heads ferve as the ornament to the capital of the columns, and which are fculptured in relieve, the reft of the hieroglyphics which cover the inlide of the temple are carved in ftone. To the left of this great building, we fee another much fmaller at the bottom of which appears a fort of altar. This was probably the fandfuary of the temple of Ofiris. I have already obferved, that the fingers and muficians were not allowed to enter it. The Egyptian priefts invented feven vowels, and gave to each of them a found approaching our notes of mufic/'d)* To preferve this beautiful difcovery, they repeated at certain periods thefe vowels in the form of hymns, and their various tones fucceffively modulated, formed an agreeable melody. This doubtlefs is the reafon why they banifhed from this temple all muncal (4) Plutarch. Treatife on Iris nnd Ofiris. inflruments.. instruments. The Greeks drew from this fource, in cornpofmg their muiical language, fo admirably accented, that a difcourfe well delivered had all the effect of a pleating air. If the Piccim, the Glucks, the Sacchini, make us like even the harm founds of the French language, by the fcientinc combinations of their harmony, what would they not have made of thefe ancient tongues ? Ceafe your aitoniihment therefore at the marvellous effects the ancient mufic of the Greeks is laid to have produced; they had in their hands ali the treafures of melody, all the riches of an imitative language, and fpoke at once to the heart, to the understanding, and the ear. Let us take our leave, Sir, of the antique monument of Ifmandes, around which Strabo defcribes a forelt of Acacia, confe-crated to Apollo, the remains of which are ftill vifible on the lide of Farchout. The dominion of the Turks, from Girge to Sienna, is in a very precarious State. A part of the lands is poffeffed by Arabs, in general independent. Such as inhabit the mountains to the eaSt of Gh'ge pay no tribute, and afford an afylum to all 3 the the malecontents of the government. They even frequently efpoufe their quarrel, and furnifli them with arms to re-enter Grand Cairo. • The Iile of Doum (e) is not far from Girge. Above is the port of Bardis, a fmall town dependent on the Great Scheik. This prince, whofe government is very extenfive, has his ufual refidence at Farchout, where a branch of the Nile runs. He poifeffes there a vail: enclofure, where he cultivates the palm, and the date, the acacia, the nabe, the vine, and the orange tree; the Arabian jeffamine, tufts of fweet bafil, and clumps of rofes are difperfed here and there amongft the trees. Though thefe plantations are made without tafle and without a plan, they afford notwithstanding moll delightful thickets. Did art but give the fmallefl aid to nature here, delicious gardens might be formed at fmall expencej for this happy climate unites a fruitful foil, abundant waters, the moil odoriferous fhrubs, and the purefl fky. (e) Doum is the name given by the Arabs to the Palm-tree with leaves fpreadine like a fan. The 12 .LETTERS The village of Belicne depends alio on the Grand Scheik; its Situation between two canal-s renders it a very agreeable abode. Oppofite to it are fome hamlets, inhabited by Arabs, who infeft the river with their piracies, efpecially during the night. Paff-ing the arm of the Nile, which goes to Farchout, we arrive at Badjoura, from whence one difcovers a handfome ifland, and at a Pittance the -village of Attariff. The Burgh of Hau, placed on an eminence, commands the countiy to the weft; it Stands on the ruins of Diq/pc/is ParvaffJ, the fmall city of Jupiter. The works of the Egyptians had placed it out of the reach of the inundation. Han Still ponefTes this advantage, WhilSt the adjacent plains are under water, it rifes up amidSt them like an ifland. For this reafon the inhabitants of Badjoura, and the neighbouring villages, bury their dead here. In this place the rocks Stretch off from (f) Strabo,!. 17, and Ptolemy, I. 4, lay down Diof-pholis between Abydus and Tcntyra, on an eminence, h fituation which perfectly agrees with the Burgh of Hu>>, the the eaftern bank. We remark there the villages of Cafr and of Fau: the former was heretofore a town, of which Abulfeda gives us the following defcription : Cafr ** is a day's journey to the-ibuthward of " Cons. This town, fituated on the eaftern *' bank of the river, is furrounded with " fields abounding in grain, and palm-" trees. A great quantity of earthen jars (< are fabricated here, which are conveyed " into the weft of Egypt." Since the time of Abulfeda, the town of Cafr has loft the greateft part of its commerce, and of its inhabitants (g). At this day it is no more than a village of little importance. The weftern border of the Nile, more pleafant, and better peopled,, offers to the fight, woods of date-trees, and of Doum difperfed around the dwellings, rich plains of wheat, and paftures covered with flocks. The Burgh of Dendera has nothing remarkable ; but about a league to the weftward we find the ruins of ancient Tcntyra. Heaps oi rubbifh, and ruins of a great extent, mark (g) Abulfeda. Defcription of Egyptv the the grandeur of this city, where, according to Strobof/jJ, Ifis and Venus were adored. After crofiing thefe remains, one admires on a little eminence two ancient temples, the largelt of which is only two hundred feet long, by one hundred and forty wide. A-round it is a double frize; the interior is divided into feveral very lofty apartments, fupported by large columns, with a fquare ftone by way of capital, on which is carved the head of Ilis. The walls are covered with hieroglyphics, feparated into different compartments. The angles of the temple are ornamented without, by coloffal figures. Ten flights of flairs lead to the top. The fecond, fituated on the right-hand, is fmaller; the cornice which goes round it, and the gate at the entrance, are decorated with falcons, with their wings fpread. A double fquare Hone forms the capital of the columns which fupport the roof. On the walls are fculptured feveral figures of men, of birds, and animals. Thefe hieroglyphics comprifed the hillory of the time. (b) Strabo, 1. 17. By By reading them we mould learn probably, whether thefe monuments are the temples of Ins and of Vends. We remark the fame folidity in them as in thofe of Abydus, but they have lefs grandeur and magnificence. I mall not finilh this letter, Sir, without laying before you what Strabo (i) fays of the averfion the Tentyrites preferved for the Crocodile, worshipped in fo many other cities. " The inhabitants of Tentyra ab-" hor the Crocodile, and wage continual " war againft him, as the moil: dangerous " of animals. Other men looking upon 41 him as pernicious, avoid him; but the " Tentyrites induftrioufly feek after him, " and kill him wherever they meet with " him. It is known that the Pfylli of " Cyrene have a certain empire over fer-*? pents, and it is generally believed that " the Tentyrites have the fame power over " crocodiles. In fad, they dive and fwim " boldly in the middle of the Nile, with-" out any injury. In the fpectacles given « (i) Strabo, 1. 17. (( at 16 letters €t at Rome, feveral crocodiles were put th-*€ to a bafom There was an opening on " one of the fides to allow them to efcape. *• One faw the inhabitants of Tentyra " throw themfelves into the water amongft M thefe monlfers, take them in a net, and " draw them out. After expofmg them to " the Roman people, they took hold of *' them intrepidly* and carried them back M into thebafon." This fact, attefted by a judicious hif-torian, an occular witnefs of it, cannot be called in queftion. In our days, do not the Caribs, armed only with a knife, fight advantageoufly with the mark, one of the moft dreadful monflers of the fea ? Determined men are frill to be found in Egypt, who dare to attack the crocodile. They fwim towards that formidable animal -t and when he opens his mouth to fwallow them, thrufl into it a plank of fir, to which a cord is faftened. The crocodile, by violently {hutting his jaws, buries his fharp teeth in it fo far that he cannot difengage them. The Egyptian, holding the cord with 0 N E G Y P T. 17 with one hand, then regain the banks of the river, and feveral men draw the monfter on more, and kill him; This attack is not without danger; for if the fwimmer is not fkilful, he is immediately devoured* i never was myfelf a witnefs to this transaction, but many perfons at Grand Cairo have affured me it was true. 1 have the honour to be, &c. \r0L. II. q LETTER LETTER XXXIII. description of giene, c0pht0s, cous,, and of the route from these to cosseir on the red sea. Cophtos and Cous fucceffively enjoyed the trade of the Red Sea. Giene now in the poffefi Jion of it. The efforts of the Ptolemies to protest it. True fate of this commerce* Defcription of the route from Giene to Coffeir.. This place only a large village with a good port and a convenient road for Jhips. Precautions neceffary in travelling through the Defart. Means of improving this road. The advantages which would rejult from fuch improvement. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. OPPOSITE to Deudera, Sir, we dif-cover Gienis, built on an eminence. The ancients who called it Ceence, (k) mention (k) Ptolemy,!. 4. calls itCgenx, or the New City. no O N EGYPT. 19 no remarkable monument there. It is not now more flourishing, though it be the rendezvous of the caravans which fet out for Coffeir. A canal runs near it which was formerly navigable. The negligence of the Turks has fuffered it to be choaked up, and it has no water but in the time of the inundation. If Giene contains no edifice worthy to attract: the attention, its environs merit well to be remarked by travellers. They are occupied by gardens which produce excellent oranges, dates, lemons, and exquifite melons. The trees collected here form (hades which are invaluable, under a burning fky. Above Giiki are the ruins of Cophtos.(l) This town fituated on an eminence fur» rounded by the waters of the Nile, was advantageoufly placed for the commerce of the Red Sea. Strabo thus defcribes it(m)i " A canal cut from the Nile pafies by " Cophtos inhabited by Egyptians and Arabs. " Ptolemy Philadelphus was the firft who (I) The Arabs having no letter p in their language, Tub-ftitute the b, and- call this town Qtjtk (m) Strabo, 1. 17. C 2 "opened LETTERS " opened a high. road from this town to " Berenice,, acrofs a defart without water. " He made them conltruct public build-*'■ insrs where travellers on foot, and *'horfemen found neceffary refrefhment. " The dangers of the navigation towards '* the narrow extremity of the Red Sea, " determined him to execute this project, t the great advantages of which, evinced y its utility.. The produce of Arabia, of " India, and Ethiopia, were fpeedily «on-" veyed to Cophtos by the Arabic gulph. This town is ftill the emporium of the " merchandize of the eafh. It is no longer '* landed at Berenice, which affords nothing " but a road infecure for vefTcls, but at the c< port of Rat/'nJ, which, is not far from it, " and (h) Trie Greeks and Romans called It fa, becaufe it is fmall. The Arabs in calling it Cojfeir, little, have preferved its ancient denomination. This paflagc ftands in need of explanation.- Strabo places Berenice at a fmall diftance from the port of Rat, now called CijJ'eir. Ptolemy and Pliny lay it down almoit under the tropic, that is to fay, more than twenty leagues further to.the fouthward. It was eleven or twelve days journey, therefore, at leaifc from Cophtos to Berenice, and Strabo cdls it only feven. It O TSF EGYPT. zi ** and where a navy is maintained. At nrft ■*« men travelled by night on camels, and " fleered their courfe, like mariners, by " the ftars. It was neceflary, too, to " have a provifion of water fufficient for *e fix or feven days journey. At prefent *( they make ufe of what they find col-Xi lected in deep wells and ciflerns, formed 46 for the purpofe. In the iflhmus one i( crofles over, are found mines of emeralds *' and precious metals, which the Arabs «' fearch after." The riches Cophtos derived frcm 'he trade wTith India, rendered it very flourilhing. It became a celebrated town; its profperity lafted till the reign of Dioclefian. Its inhabitants having embraced Chriftianity, were expofed to the perfecutions of that Empe- It is evident that this hiftorian, who never made the journey, and who contented himfelf with tal.ing informations on the fpot, was deceived at a time that tins ancient road was no longer frequented. By confulting the beft geographers, there is no doubt that Berenice was fituated on the coaft of the Red Sea, and in the parallel of ■Sienna. Father Sicard and feveral otter travellers are of opinion that Cffiir is the ancient Berenice; but this is a miflake. C3 ror, ror, and revolted. He marched his troops againfh them, and their town was rafed to the ground. In the time of Abulfeda it had Ion: all its fplendor, arid was no more than a hamlet, elevated amongft ruins. At this day no inhabitants are to be feen; they have retired to a village a mile above, which they call Cobt. The marbles, and fine remains of monuments dif-perfed amongft the fands which cover the ancient city, attefl the barbarifm of Dio-clefian. The great bafon which ferved it as a port, is frill fubuffing, with two bridges thrown over the canals that encompafs. it, Cous, formerly the city of Apollo, rofe from the difafler of Cophtos. The merchants eflablifhed themfelves there, and commerce flourifhed a long time, as we learn from A-^ buifeda. " Cous foJ, fays he, fituated to the 11 eafl of the Nile, is the greatefl town in " Egypt after Fojiat. It is the emporium ft) Abulfeda, defcription cf Egypt. Aden was the moil flourifhing town of the Yemen, in the thirteenth century j it carried on the commerce of India and Eo;ypt, Go. i a d other writers have placed the ruins of Thebes at Cou.. This Jikewife is an error. " of " of the commerce of Aden. The mer-*' chandife is landed at Coffeir, from whence " it arrives at Cous, in three days journey. *' acrofs the defart." This town, which, like Cophtos, was indebted for its confequence to the commerce with India, enjoyed great opulence during the dominion of the Arabs. Since the Turks have got pofierTion of Egypt, and this beautiful country has been laid wafte by a Pacha and four and twenty Beys, Cous has undergone the fate of her rival. The vexations of the Government have ruined her commerce; her glory is eclipfed. In our days we behold nothing but a collection of cottages, inhabited by a few Coptis and Arabs. Giene, which has fucceeded thefe two cities, has none of their magnificence, becaufe the advantages of ks filuation, and the fertility of its territory, cannot counterbalance the obftacles which the defpo-tifin of the Egyptian government, and the pillage of the Bedouins, oppofe to the pro-grefs of its commerce. After making you acquainted with thefe ancient cities, it is proper to give you fome C 4 details details of this part of Egypt, fo interefting, and fo little known to Europe. Examine the map of this country, you will fee that the Nile, on precipitating itfelf from its laft cataract, bends its courfe towards Libia, following the direction of the mountains. Repulfed foon after by thefe infurmountable barriers, it returns towards the eaft, and approaches the Red Sea. The interval which feparates them being only three and thirty leagues, Strabo has given it the name of an Ifthmus. Giene and CoJJcir are at the two extremities. A deep valley, where at every ftep we difcover traces of the fea, leads from one to the other. It is barren, deftitute of verdure, but far from impaffa-ble. We find water there, and fome acacias called Ndboul, which produce gum arabic. The A.abs eat it, doiibtlefs, to quench their thirft. - The mines of emeralds and precious metals that ancient writers fpeak offpj^ and which conltituted heretofore the principal fources of the riches of Egypt, ftill fubfift in the mountains on the fide of the - (p) Pliny, Strabo, Diodorus Siculus. rpad. ON E G Y P T. road. The fear pf being expofed to the vexations of the Beys, and the ignorance of" the modern Egyptians, prevent them from being worked. The port of Cqffeir is very inconfiderable. Large boats enter it, but vefTels are obliged to remain in the road, where they find good anchorage. This advantage made the Greeks and Romans chcofe it as a harbour for their navy. The preient town, or rather hamlet, contains only about two hundred earthen huts. It is commanded by a eaftle, flanked by four towers, the fire of which would fuffice for its defence, as well as the fliips in the harbour ; but it is fuffered to go to ruin, and has at prefent for its whole garrifon, a porter, whofe bufinefs it is to open and fhut an antique gate of iron. The inhabitants are a medley of Turks and Arabs, governed by a Cachef, who depends on the Governor of Giene. The enormous* 3uty of ten per cent, laid in kind on the merchandize that arrives at Coffeir, offers no great encouragement for the merchants. The tyranny of the Beys, the vexations of the Commandant, the fear of the Bedouins, are ftiil mere more terrible fhackles. The fituation of this port, however, for the barter of the productions of Egypt, for thofe of Arabia and India, is fo favourable, that its commerce, though greatly diminifhed, ftill fubfilts. It is certain, that a nation, powerful at fea, might make all thefe obflacles vanifh for a very fmall expence, and fecure prodigious benefits from this important trade. Every thing depends on the means to be employed. Mr. Chevalier, Commandant General of the French eftablifhments in Bengal, is jiiir. arrived at Grand Cairo by the way cf Coffeir. I hope, Sir, you will not be forry to learn by what means a Frenchman has been able to efcape from the hands of the Turks and Arabs, who had a great defire tc pillage him. The journal he has communicated to me, will teach you how to travel in thefe defarts. The veffel he was on board of, being ftruck with lightning on the coaff of Malabar, and afterwards difmaffed off Gedda, he was obliged to take fhelter in that port. Thefe accidents had made him lofe the proper fea-fon for reaching Suez. He muff either wait for for the next monfoon, or rifle himfelf in a fmall veficl on this ltormy fea. His zeal for the intereft of his country made him adopt this dangerous alternative. After ftruggling for three months againft contrary winds, and being twenty times on the point of pe-riihing, he reached CofTeir. From thence he fet out a few days after, with fix Euro-ropeans mounted on camels. He followed the long valley which traverfes the ifthmus, and whofe bottom is even, and covered with fand and petrified Ihells. Sometimes it is fpacious, and fome times very narrow. Here its fides rife into mountains, from whence the winter torrents detach hufe mailes of rocks, and where the granite, the jafper, the alabafter, and the porphyry appear. There it changes into fandy hillocks, destitute of a fingle fhrub. Thefe fands and naked rocks, continually fmitten by the rays of a burning fun, reflect a light which proves injurious to the eyes, and fo great a heat, that neither men nor animals can withrtand it. It was in the month of July that Mr. C levalier and his companions croffed this difmal folituuc The night brought them no contort, becaufe the winds Winds ceafing to blow, the fucceeding calm left them expofed to the fuffocating exhalations of the burning fands, that fervcd them for a bed ; am id it thefe fufferings, a little palfe, half-baked on the allies, was their only food. They had nothing to quench their thirft but water, which, after remaining fome hours in fkins, rubbed with ilinking oil, was corrupted, and contracted a tafte and fmell which were infupportable. Add to thefe evils the continual apprehen-fion of being plundered by the Arabs, the neceffi-ty of keeping watch during the night, and you will have an idea of what the man of courage is capable of fairing. Mr. Chevalier had provided for every event.' His camels were fattened to each other that they might not feparaie in cafe of an attack. One of them carried two fmall canon, and the troop, armed with double-barreled guns, fabies, and piffols, never quitted their arms. •They encamped every evening at a diflance from the camel-drivers, who had orders not to approach under pain of death. Each of the Europeans mounted guard in his turn, whilft the others took a few moments ON EC Y P T. 29 *epofe. They owed their fafety to thefe wife precautions; for the third day, about fixty Arabs came to attack them. Their guides, who maintained a private correfpondence with the robbers, flew, on the firff fire, to hide themfeives in the caverns of the rocks. The French led on by their Chief, advanced in good order, and played off their fmall artillery with fuccefs. After a few well-pointed fires, the Bedouins fled behind their mountains. They returned feveral times to the charge during the route; but the vigilance, the firm countenance, and the muf-quetry of the Europeans, kept at a diffcance the enemy, whofe bufinefs it was to plunder, not to fight. At length, after a march of four days and a half, they arrived at Giene, fcorched by the fun, dying with thirl!, and exhaufled with hunger and fa-tieue. After bathing in the waters of the. Nile, filiating themielves with the excellent fruits winch grow on its banks, and enjoying .the various productions of the teeming foil it fertilize;,, they experienced a comfort^ a contentment^ a joy* the inexpreflibie d< -4 light* lights of which the traveller alone can taftc who has croffed the defarts. A recent difatter, proves the prudence of Mr. Chevalier. Nearly at the fame time that he left Coffeir, a rich caravan worth feveral millions of livres, loaded for the account of the Englifh, had been attacked between Suez and Grand Cairo. Several Europeans were with it 5 but t6 avoid the fatiguing weight of their arms, they had fattened them on the camels. Befides they marched at a great dittance one from the other, and without caution; this fecurity, produced by their confidence in the pro-mife of the Bey, caufed their ruin. The Bedouins pouring upon them unexpectedly, did not allow them time to put them-felves on their defence. They pillaged all their wealth, and feveral of the travellers perifhed. It is in this fatal affair that Mr. de St. Germain has had the misfortune to lofe a brother whom he loved, and two thirds of his fortune. After wandering, himfelf, for two days and nights in this burning folitude,. naked, without food, vritjiout water, and almott without hope, he arrived O N E G Y P T\ 31 arrived nearly dead at the tent of an Arab, who warned him with frelh water, fed him with milk, cloathed, and conducted hirn to Grand Cairo. I had thefe particulars from the mouth of this unfortunate gentleman, who is preparing to return to France, where his misfortunes probably will intereft the beneficence of the government. The route of Coffeir, Sir, has not the fame difadvantages in winter; the heat then is moderate; the fear of robbers alone can flop the traveller; but by collecting in a troop, they may put themfelves out of danger of their purfuit. Even during the fummer, when they take care to provide themfelves with neceffaries, and to carry the water in earthen jars or fkins which are not hardened with rancid oil; men ac-cuffomed to the temperature of warm climates, take this journey without inconvenience. If the twenty-four tyrants who devour the riches of Egypt, could devote their ■ thoughts for an inltant to the happinef* of mankind, they would conflrucV three . public buildings, where the caravans might . find refrefhment and repofe; but all their ambition ambition coniilts in reigning a few days, iri giving themfelves up immoderately to their paiiions, intoxicating themfelves with every fpecies of pleasure, and mutually deftroying each other. I have feen eleven of them in the ipace of three years pais in this manner from the bofom of voluptuoufnefs to death. They perifh by the fteel of their colleagues, referved for the fame fate. A greater number lave themfelves by flight. What has agriculture and commerce to expect from fuch* a government ? ,If Egypt fell into the . hands of an enlightened people, the route from Coffeir would be rendered fafe and commodious. I am of opinion, that it would be pomble even to turn a branch of the Nile through this deep valley where the fea formerly has flowed. This canal does not appear to be attended with more difficulties than that which Amru executed from Fcllat to Coizuum. It would procure far greater advantages, fince it would five vcfrom India about one hundred leagues dangerous navigation acfefs the narrow ex-tremity of the Red Sea. We ihould foon fee landed at Ccifeir, the fluffs of Bengal, the the perfumes of Iemen, and the Abyflinian gold dun:. The grain, the linens, the various productions of Egypt would be given in exchange. This beautiful country in the hands of a nation friendly to the arts, would once more become the centre of the commerce of the world. It would be the point of union between Europe and Alia. Whilfl one part of its mips failed from the Arabic gulph towards India, the reft would cover the Mediterranean, Alexandria would revive from her allies. An obfervatory placed under this ferene Iky would add flill farther to the progrefs of aflronomy. This happy country would be a fecond time the native country of the fciences, and the moffc delicious habitation on the G;lobe. A more advantageous fitua-tion than Egypt cannot be imagined. It communicates with the eaftern and weilern feas. Nature has done every thing for it, and to reftore it to that high degree of glory and of power, which once rendered it fo famous, nothing is wanting but a people worthy of becoming its inhabitants. I have the honour to be, &c. Vol.U. D LETTER LETTER XXXIV. JOURNEY FROM COUS TO THEBES. DESCRIPTION OF THE EASTERN PART OF THIS CITY. Defcription of Thebes, extracted from Dio-dorus Si cuius and Strabo. State of this city under the Pharaohs, the Romans, and the dominion of the Turks. Porticoes, avenues of the Sphinx, with the fruclitre and ruins of the great temple, near Car-nack, in the eafern quarter of Thebes. Its foundations and ruins occupy a circumference of half a league. The plain extending from Carnack to Luxor, and an^ ciently covered with buildings, ?iow under agriculture. Defcription of the remains of the Temple of Luxor, and the fuperb obelijks filiated near it. The mcfi beautiful ftruclures in Egypt, and in the whole world. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. O N leaving Cous, to afcend toward Af-iouan, we leave on the right the town of Nequade, O N EGYPT. 35 Nequade, the refidence of a Coptic Bi-iliop, and where the Mahometans have feveral mofques. The Ifle of Matore is very-near,, and two leagues beyond it, we discover the ruins of Thebes, whofe magnificence has been celebrated with emulation by Poets and Hiflorians. Paffages from thofe ancients who faw it, will make you acquainted with its former fplendour. An accurate defcription of the monuments fubfifting in our days, will enable you to Judge of the degree of confidence due to their narratives, and the punctuated line on the map, which palfes by Camah-Luxor, Medinet-Abou, and Goumou, will point out to you the extent of this famous city. " The Great Diofpolis, by the Greeks " called Thebes, fays Diodorus Siculus (q), " was fix leagues in circumference. Bu-" nris its founder erected there fuperb edi*t ** fices, which he enriched with mag-u nificent prefents. The fame of her " power, and of her riches, celebrated by " Homer, filled the univerfe. Her gates, " and the numerous vcftibules of her tern- (b) Diodorus Siculus, 1, i. D 2 " pies, ** pies, induced this poet to beftow on her " the name of Ecatcmpylc, or the city with " a hundred gates. Never did city receive " fo many offerings in gold, in fdver, in " ivory, in coloifal ilatues, and in obelifks " of a fingle Hone. Above all were to " be admired, her four principal temples. " The moft ancient was furprifingly grand " and fumptuous. It was half a league " round, (r) and was encompalfed by " walls four and twenty feet thick, and " feventy high. The richncfs and finifh-** ing of the ornaments correfponded with its " grandeur. Several Kings contributed to " erribellifh it. It frill fubfifts, but the " gold, the filver, the ivory, and precious " ftones, were carried off, when Cam-" byfes fet fire to all the Egyptian tern-" pies." 1 have only given you the principal traits of the picture this Hiilorian delineates (r) Diodorus S'cuius comprehends in this circumference, the avenues of Sphinxes, the porticoes, the I'uilJ.ii 5, ?.nd courts which enconpafed the temple, properly fo called. We (hall ice that .his author is not faj from the truth. of Thebef, in its nourifhing ft ate, becaufe they are fufficient to give you an idea of its beauty. Strabo will difplay it in its fall, that is to fay, fuch as it was eighteen centuries before us. " Thebes or Diofpolis now prefents only the wreck of its former grandeur, difperfed " over a fpaceof twenty-five Stadia in length. " We ftill remark a great number of tern-. and that the dwellings of the inhabitants were either tents or huts, &c. But the tef-timony of Diodorus refutes this opinion. we ! we behold the avenues and remains of another temple, (fill more disfigured than the former. It occupied an extent!ve fpace. Large courts, farroundcd by porticoes, fupportcd by columns forty feet high, without including the bafes, buried in the find; pyramidal gates, covered with hieroglyphic fculpture, and of an awful majefly; the remains of walls, built with maffes of granite, and which the barbarifm alone of men has been able to overthrow, whole files of lofty marble coloffufes, forty feet high, two thirds of their body buried up; all thefe monuments proclaim what the magnificence of the principal edifice muff have been, whofe fire is marked out by a hill of piled ruins. But nothing gives a greater idea of it than two obelifks which ferved it as an ornament, and which feem to have been placed there by giants, or the Genii of Fable. Each of them, formed of a lingle block of granite, is feventy-two feet high above ground, and thirty-two in circumference j but as they are greatly funk into the fand and mud, we may fairly imagine them to to have been ninety feet from the bafe to the fummit. One of them is fplit towards the middle ; the other is in perfect prefervation. The hieroglyphics that cover them, divided into columns, and cut in relievo, projecting an inch and a half, do honour to the artifl who was their fculptor. The hardnefs of the ftone has preferved them from the injury of the air 5 nothing can be more majeflic than thefe obelilks. Egypt is the only country where fuch works have been executed ; nor is there a city in the world in which they would not form its nobleft ornament. Such, Sir, are the moil remarkable monuments we find in our days in the eaft-errn part of Thebes. The very fight of them alone would be fufiicient to inflame the genius of a polifhed nation; but the Turks and the Coptis, bending under the iron yoke which lies heavy on their heads, look on them without admiration, and build around them earthen huts which hardly flicker them from the fun. Thefe barbarians, when they want a mill-flone, do not Vol. II. E blufh blufh to beat down the column that fupported a temple, or a portico, and to law it into pieces. To this abject flate does defpotifm degrade men ! i have the honour to be, ccc. LETTER LETTER XXXV. DESCRIPTION OF THE WESTERN PART OF THEBES. Vifit to the tombs of the Theban kings, excavated in the mountain. Defcription of thefe fubterraneous places, the fepulchres, their galleries and heieroglyphics. Account of a great temple, the roof of which was fup-ported by fquare pillars, ornamented on the top with fiatues. Fragments of a prodigious Coloffus among its ruins. Ruins of jyiemnonium, marked out by heaps of marble fragments, and rows of fiatues, either mutilated, or with a third part of their height buried in the earth ; and above all, by the colofial fiatue of Memnon, famous in ancient times for the founds which it emitted at fun-rife. To Mr, L. M. Grand Cairo. THE village of Gournou, Sir, and that of Medinet Abou, fituated. on the fpot occupied by the weftern part of Thebes, are furrounded by grand ruins a league to the E z weftward weitvvard of the former are grottoes, called Biban El melouk, the gates of the Kings. It is there we fee the tomhs of the ancient fovereigns of the Thebais. The road that leads to it is ltrewed with marbles and with ruins. We arrive there by following the windings of a narrow pafs, the fides of which in many places have been cut with the chifel. Spacious apartments are cut out of the rock, which muff have been antecedent to the conitruction of the houfes and the palaces. At the bottom of this valley, which widens to about two hundred toifes, we difcover in the foot of the mountains, openings which lead to thefe tombs. Strabo (b) reckons forty, Diodorus Siculus fcj, forty-feven of them; but he adds, that in the reign of Augu-ftus there remained but feventeen, fome of which were then greatly damaged. At prefent the greateif part of them are clofed up, and there is no getting into above nine of them. The fubterrane-ous galleries which are before them are in general ten feet high, by as many wide 3 the (b) Strabo, 1. 17. (c) Diodorus Siculus, 1. 1. walls walls and the roof hewn out of a white rock, preferve the brilliancy and the poliifi of ftucco. Four principal alleys, longer and more lofty than the former, terminate at the gate of a large hall, in the middle of which we fee a marble tomb, with the figure of the prince, fculptured in relievo on the lid. Another figure holding a fceptre in his hand, adorns one of the fides of the wall. A third, reprefented on the roof, bears a fceptre alfo, and wings which defcend to his heels.. The fecond grotto, which is fpacious and well decorated, prefents to the fight a cieling covered with golden ftars, birds painted in colours, the frefhnefs and vivacity of which have loll: nothing of their fplendor, and hieroglyphicks divided into columns and cut on the walls. Two men are feated by the gate, to which we are conducted by a long flight of fteps of very gentle defcent. A block of red granite fixteen feet high, ten long, and fix wide, forms the farcophagus of the king, whofe figure cut in rehevo, adorns the lid. Around it is a hieroglyphic infcription. The niches formed in the E 3 roc^> rock, ferved doubtlefs as the repolitories of the mummies of the royal family. The tombs depoiited in other apartments have been carried off by violence, as their ruins teflify. We obferve here a very handfome grotto, where nothing remains but a lid of marble, ten feet long and fix wide. At thd end of the mofl remote cave, one diflin-guifhes a human figure fculptured in relievo, the arms crolied on the breafl, and two others at its fide upon their knees. Thefe galleries, thefe fubterraneous apartments, which extend very far under the mountains, a fmall part of which only I have defcribed, are ornamented with innumerable figures of men, and birds, and different animals, fome in relievo, fome en-giaved, and others painted in ineffaceable colours. Thefe unintelligible characters, which compofe the hiflory of the time, conceal moil: interefling fubjects under their impenetrable veil, as well as the mofl remarkable events of the lives of the Theban monarchs, whofe power extended even to India. One cannot flir in thefe labyrinths but by the light of flambeaux, for that of day day never penetrates them. Such are the caverns where the bodies of thefe kings re-pofe, furrounded by darknefs and by filence. In furveying them, one is {truck with a religious dread, as if the prefence of the living could diilurb the dead in thefe afylums of repofe and peace. Returning from thefe gloomy manfions, and proceeding towards the fouth-eafl, the traveller foon difcovers the remains of a temple, the fquare pillars of which are crowned by fiatues, whofe heads are all broken. In one hand they hold a fceptre, in the other a whip. The building is hardly better than a heap of ruins ; on the fouth is a pyramidal gate which ferved as an entrance to a portico. The circumference of the courts which encompaffed the temple is indicated by remains of columns and Hones of an immeafureable fize. One of thefe courts contains the trunks of two fiatues of black marble, which were thirty feet high. In the other, one Hands in a flate of flupefaction at the fight of a colof-fus lying on the earth and broken in the middle 5 it is one and twenty feet wide from e 4 one one moulder to the other; its head is eleven feet long and eighteen in circumference, This gigantick flattie is inferior only to that of Memnon. The remains of the buildings which belonged to this temple cover a mile of ground, and leave the mind deeply im-preffed with its magnificence. Continuing this route half a league further on, we find the ruins of the Memnoninm fituated near to Medinet Abou. There we fee the largefl coloffus of Egypt, which points out the tomb of Ofimondue'; for Diodorus Siculus marks it as being within that in -clofure. Previous to laying before you the remains of this famous monument, permit me to reprefent you with the account Diodorus gives of it. " Ten fladia from the tombs "of the kings of Thebes fd), fays this " hiflorian, one admires that of Ofimondue. " The entrance to it is formed by a veflibule (d) Diodorus Siculus,]. i. The grottoes, where one fees the tombs of the kings of Thebes, are only at three quarters of a league from Medinet Abou. Thus Diodorus is pretty exadr, fince he only is deceived at rrioft in a quarter of a league. Pocock has committed a more con-fiderahle error, by placing down the tomb of Ofimondue at Luxor, on the other fide of the Nile. " built ON 1 G Y P T. 5/ e< built with various coloured Hones, It is " two hundred feet long and (ixty-cight in " elevation. On coming thence one en^. *< ters under a fquare peryftile, each fide " of which is four hundred feet long. *' Animals formed of blocks of granite, " twenty-four feet high, ferve as columns to " it, and fupport the cieling which.is com-" pofed of fquares of marble, of twenty-" feven feet every way. Stars of gold upon an azure ground, fhine there the whole " length of it. Beyond this peryftile, opens " another entry, followed by a yeftibulc built like the former, but more loaded with all forts of fculpture. Before it, are three " flatties formed of fmgle ftones and hewn (i by Memnon Syenite. The principal one " which represents the king, is feated. It fc is the larger! in Egypt,; one of his feet " accurately meafured, exceeds feven cubits. The two others borne on his knees, one on fi the right, the other on the left, are thofe of his mother- and his daughter. The li whole work is lefs remarkable for its u enormous fize, than for the beauty of the " execution and the choice of the gramt':, "which *' which in fo extenfive a furface has neither " fpot or blemifli. The coloifus has this ** infcription: / am Ofimondue the King of " Kings -y if any one wijhes to know how great " I am and where I repofi, let him defiroy "fome of thefe works(e). Befides this, we *« fee another ftatue of his mother, cut out " of a fingle block of granite and thirty feet ** high. Three queens are fculptured on " the head, to Ihew that fhe was daughter, " wife, and mother of a king. At the end *c of this portico, one enters into a peryftile " more beautiful than the former. On a " ftone is engraved the hiftory of the war *' of Ofimondue, againft the revolted inha-" bitants of Bactria. The facade of the " front wall fhews this prince attack-" ing ramparts, at the foot of which rims a river. He combats advanced troops, having by his fide a terrible lion, " which defends him with ardour. The ft wall on the right prefents captives in *' chains, their hands and private parts cut (e) I imagine that this infcription was fatal to this coloffus, and induced Cambyfes to break it in the middle. " off oft in order to ftigmatize their cowardice. On the wall to the left, different fym-bolical figures, very well fculptured, recal the triumphs and the facrifices of Ofimondue on his return from this war. In the middle of the peryftile, at the place where it is expofed, an altar was prepared, compofed of a fingle ftone of a marvellous fize and of exquifite workmanfhip. In fhcrt, againft the bottom wall, two colof-fufcs, each of them of one block of marble and forty feet high, are feated on their ' pedeftals. One comes out of this ad-i mirable periftyle by three gates ; one of * them between two ftatues, the two others ' are on the fides. They lead to an edi-' fice two hundred feet long, the roof of ' which is fupported by eight columns. It ' refembles a magnificent theatre; feveral ' figures in wood reprefent a fen ate employ-" ed in diftributing juftice. On one of the> " walls one obferves thirty fenators, and in " the midft of them the prefident of juftice, " having at his feet a collection of books, " and the figure of Truth with her eyes " fhut, fufpended at his neck, «' One " One parled thence into a fquare fur-*« rounded by palaces of different forms, K where were feen carved on the table, all " forts of dimes which could flatter the tafte. " In one of them, Ofimondue, clad in a *' a magnificent drefs, was offering to the " gods the gold and filver he drew yearly " from the mines of Egypt. Below was " written the value of this revenue, which *' amounted to thirty-two millions of filver " minas. Another palace contained the " facred library, at the entrance of which f5 one read thefe words : Remedies for the " Soul. A third contained all the divinities *' of Egypt, with the king who offered to *? each of them the fuitable prefects, calling " Ofiris and the princes his predcceffors, to I* witnefs that he had exerelied piety to-" wards the gods and jufiice towards men. " By the fide of the library, in one of the molt beautiful buildings of the place, *' were to be feen twenty tables furrounded " by their beds, on which repofed the«'fta-" tues of Jupiter, Juno, and Ofimondue. " Kis body is thought to be depofited in ** this place. Several adjoining buildings. " remarkable for its public baths and its " commerce, is built on the wefl:ward of *f the Nile, between Affouan and Coils, but d Vanfleb have confounded this town with Sienna, fituated under the tropic, thirty leagues farther to the fouth ward. J have the honour to be, &c. L E T T E R 3 v LETTER XXXVII. ROUTE- FROM ESNE TO THE J LAST CATARACT. Defcription of Edfou, famous for a temple erected in honour of Apollo. Dangerous pajfage of Hafar Salfale. Situation of Coura Ombo, anciently Ombos. Obfervations on the Crocodiles, which are exceedingly numerous in that quarter. Arrival at Siene, now Affouan. Defcription of this city, its antiquities, the Soljlice-well, the bottom of which reflected the image of the Sun when he reached the tropic of Cancer. Account of the ifands of Pbile and Ele-pbantine, with their temples and antiquities.' Obfervations on the quarries of granite fituated on the wefl of CataracJ. Succinct defcription of the country lying between Grand Cairo and Siene. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. o UR journey, Sir, is almoff. fmifhed. The heat we begin to feel informs us of the approach of the tropic. The foutherly wind wind with its burning breath blows in gulls, and raifes up whirlwinds of fands deflructive to man and beafl. The one and the other feek for fhelter in their huts and in the caverns of the rocks. Happily, this dangerous wind feldom continues for two days together; but this fpace of time is fometimes fumcient to make the caravans be fwallowed up in the middle of the deferts. The country now affumes another afpecl; on fetting out we left them fowing their lands in the environs of Cairo. Near Girge the corn was in ear. Here they reap it at the end of January. Such is Egypt. In travelling through it from one extremity to the other, we fee it fenfibly changing its decoration. The verdure, the flowers, the harvefls rapidly fucceed each other. It is to the progreifive inundation and to the heat of the climate, that we are indebted for this diverfity of fcenery, this variety of produce, which are incelfantly renewing through a long extent of country. Above Efne, is the village of Edfou9 governed by an Arab Scheik and built on the ruins of the great city of Apollo. It poffeffes poffeffes an ancient temple covered with hieroglyphics ; amongft which wediftinguifh men with falcons heads. Its inhabitants were enemies of the crocodile. At fome leagues from Edfou, the bed of the river, hemmed in by rocks which project to the right and left, is only fifty toifes wide. This place is called Hajqr Sal/alt, the flone of the chain, and it is thought that one formerly extended from one fide to the other. The rocks on the weftern fide are hewn in the fhape of grottoes. We fee columns, pilaflers, and hieroglyphics, with a chapel cut out of a folid flone. The water confined between the mountains, precipitates itfelf with great rapidity, and it is impoffible to afcend a-gainfr. the current without a favourable wind. After palling Hajar Sal/ale, we difcover to the eaft of the Nile, Count ombo. The ruins of a temple, fituated at the foot of this hill, afcertain the pofition of the ancient Ombos, whofe inhabitants honoured the crocodile. Thefe animals are very common thu-: high up the Nile. One fees them defcend in droves from the ifles of fand, and fwim fwim in long firings in the river. It feems as if thefe formidable animals had fixed their habitation near to a town where they received homage; but what renders them more numerous here than in the other parts of Egypt, is the folitude of • the fituation, the banks of the Nile in this place being al-mofl deferted. We land, Sir, at the port of Jjfouan, formerly Sienna, which will terminate our navigation. Here, as eliewhere, I fhall follow the plan I have laid down. I fhall prefent to you the local defcriptions, as traced out by the befl writers of antiquity, adding the picture of their prefent fituation, and the changes which have taken place. No author has defcribed Sienna and its environs better than Strabo Let us hear him: *' Sienna is a town of Egypt, on the con-" fines of Ethiopia. It has the ifland of " Elephantina before it. One obferves " there a fmall town with the temple of " Cneph frjy and a Nilometer. It is a ($) Strabo, U 17. (r) An Egyptian Deity, whom I flwll Ax-ah of at the e?U of thefe Letters. " W«li, «* well, formed of a fingle ftone, which, *c placed on the hanks of the Nile, ferves to f* meafure the great, the moderate, and the " fmallelt overflowings ; for the water of " this well rifes and falls with the river: V Lines marked on the walls point out the " inftant of its increafe, that of attaining " its greateft height, and the other degrees " of its elevation. Men appointed to make " this obfervation announce it to all Egypt; " fo that every body may know what will " be the increafe of the year; in fact, they " know at a certain period, from infallible *' fymptoms, the height to which the Nile of the Ellouaby fituated to the well: of " Affouan, was formerly much peopled. u At prefent it has no inhabitants. We " meet with abundant fprings there, and " fruit trees, with cities buried under ruins." It was in pairing from this valley into Ethiopia that another divifion of the troops of Cambyfes was deflroyed. fij " Cambyfes being arrived at Thebes, " felected fifty thoufand men whom he " ordered to fack and burn the temple of " Jupiter Ammon. He marched himfelf 1 " againft the Ethiopians with the remain-*' der of his army. But the provifions they " carried, failed them before they had pro-'* ceeded the fifth part of the way. They " ate their horfes, but this refource was but " of a fliort duration. Had this prince (/) Herodotus, J. 3. " been ** been guided by prudence, he would have " returned by the fame road; but animated " by a blind fury, he went on. As long as *' the foldiers found herbs and plants they M fed on them. This feeble fuccour failing " them in the midft of the fands, they were " decimated, and thofe on whom the lot fell " were devoured by their companions. At " this dreadful news the king of Perfia aban-*' doned his Ethiopian expedition, and re-" treated to Thebes with the lofs of halt " his army (k)!* What actually happens in this journey, renders that event very credible. Travellers who fet out from the fertile valley fituated under the tropic, march feven days journey before they reach the firft town in Ethiopia. They proceed in the day by eft ablifhing iignals, and at night by obferv- t ing the (bars. The hills of fand, which have been remarked in the preceding journey hurried along by the winds, frequently deceive the guides. If thefe errors lead (It is highly probable that in this as well as the former expedition, the guides purr»of< ly miflod Cambyfes, who had been letting lire to all the temples of Egypt. H 4 there them ever fo little affray from their route, the camels after living for five or fix days without water, fink under their burden and die. The men foon follow the fame fate, and fometimes out of a numerous caravan not a fingle traveller efcapes. At other times the fcorching foutherly winds lift up whirlv/inds of duff, which flifle man and beaft. The next caravan that paffes, beholds the earth covered with dead bodies perfectly dried up. This frightful fpectacle, thefe terrible dangers, do not deter the Abyf-finians, who from the mofl remote antiquity have been the carriers of gold duff, of mufk, and elephants teeth into Egypt. Such an empire has habit over men. I have the honour to be, &c. LETTER XXXIX. OBSERVATIONS ON THE INCREASE OP THE NILE. Remarks on the Nile, its four ces, and the phenomena of its annual inundation. Time when they cut the dyke, at the head of the canal which conducts the waters to Grand Cairo. Defcription of the public feftvals and rejoicings at that feafon. Noclurnal recreations on the water in the great jqiiarcs of the capital. The pleafures thence arif-ing. Means of fecuring to Egypt a regular inundation, and an inexhauftible abundance. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. THE Nile, Sir, is the mofl celebrated river on the earth. Travellers in all ages have fpoken with enthuhafm of the fecundity of its waters. The poets have fung its feven mouths, and all hiflory is filled with the wonders of its inundation. It owed its celebrity to the ancient people who cultivated on its banks the arts and fciences, and and brought them to perfection. Loaded with its bounties, they eftablimed a feftival in honour of this river, and raifed altars to it as to a God, or rather as to the mofl exalted gift of the Creator. Had this river nourifhed only Turks and Arabs, its name, like that of many others, would only have been known on maps and charts of geography j but its glory was connected with that of a celebrated nation, and from the ends of the univerfe men came to admire the noble works conflructed to contain it, and the immortal monuments erected on its borders. All theancients, excepting the Egyptians, were ignorant of its origin. A Portuguese Jefuit in the laft century pretended to have difcovered it. The following is his narrative : " In the province of Sahala, fituated to the wefl of the kingdom of Goiam, " the inhabitants of which are called Jigous, -" we difcover the ibiirces of the Nile. They " are two deep fountains in an elevated fitu-" a tion. The earth around them is marfhy, " and trembles under the feet. The water " fpouts up from the foot of the moun-" tain, with a noife like that of a cannon. " After ON E G Y P T. 107 Ah.tr running fome time ir the valley, it receives a fecond rivulet which comes from the call:. Joining together, they direct * their courfc towards the north. Two * other torrents difcharge themfelves into * them, and form a river which joins the 1 river Jemam 5 and, after long circuits to * the eaft and weft, throws itfelf into a ' great lake. On coming out of that lake :c it forms the river of the Nile, which pre-. [l cipitates its courfe towards the Mediter-" ranean." . Whether this account be true or falfe, this quantity of water would not fupply the general inundation, which covers a fpace of near four hundred leagues; for it is alfo felt fenfibly in Ethiopia. But in the months of March, April, May, and June, the northerly winds drive the clouds towards the lofty mountains on the other fide of the Equator. Stopped by this barrier, they collect in heaps upon their lofty fammits, diifolve into rain, which falls in torrents, and fills the vallies. The junction of fuch an innumerable multitude of ftreams forms the Nile, and produces the inundation. Erom the unan:mous . _.~ ' teftimony teftimony of the AbyfTinians, who brino-the gold-daft to Grand Cairo, we learn that this river on reaching Ethiopia feparates it-felf into two branches, one of which, known by the name of Ajkrac, or the Blue River, ftrikes off to join the Niger, and, traverfing Africa from eaft to weft, throws itfelf into the Atlantic Ocean. The other branch flows towards the north, between two chains of mountains, and, meeting with rocks of granite which obftruct its bed, forms fix cataracts, far more frightful than thofe of Sienna. Thefe tremendous falls abfolutely prevent the navigation of the river. Arrived at the firft town in Egypt, it falls eleven feet into a gulph it has formed, and the dangers of which are furmounted by the bold-nefs of navigators. Defcended into this beautiful kingdom, it fills the canals and the lakes, overflows the lands, leaving behind it a fruitful mud, and throws itfelf, as formerly, by feven mouths, into the Mediterranean. At the beginning of June the Nile begins to fwell, but its increafe is not very fenfible till the folftice. At this period its waters become OK EGYPT. 109 become troubled, affuming a reddiih tinge, and are then efteemed unwholefome. They muft be purified before they are drinkable. This is done by throwing the powder of bitter almonds, bruifed, into ajar full of water, and ftirrino- them for fome minutes with your arm plunged in the middle of the veffel. After this operation they are left to fettle, and at the end of five or fix hours all the heterogeneous particles are precipitated to the bottom of the veffel, and the water is clear, limpid, and excellent to drink (I). The in-habitans of Egypt atribute this fermentation of the Nile to the dew which then falls in abundaace. Even feveral hiftorians have gravely told us that it contributes to the inundation. But it is much more natural to imagine that the river, overflowing its banks in Abyfiinia and Ethiopia, carries with it a great quantity of fand, and millions of eggs of infects, which, hatching towards the fol-ftice, produce the fermentation of the wa- (!) I have tried this procefs, which I have obferved throughout all Egypt, with the waters of the Seine, when they were muddy, and I found the fame rcfult. For the operation to fuccced, the veilcls muft be large. ters, ters, and that rcddiili tinge that renders •them unwholefome. The Nile continues to fwell till towards the middle of Auguft, and often even in September. Formerly the nilomcter of Eie-phantinos ferved to indicate the future inundation. Particular figns, founded on the experience of feveral ages, announced it to thofe who were entruiled with this obier-vaticn. They loft no time in giving notice to the Prefects of the provinces. According to the nature of this intelligence the hufbandman regulated his labours. When the Arabs conquered Egypt, the nilometer was placed at the Burg of Ilalouan, opposite to Memphis. Amrou having overturned that fuperb capital, and built the city of Foftat, the Governors or the Caliphs fixed their refidence there. Some centuries after the Mckias was built on the point of the ifland of Raouda, and the column for mea-ihring was placed there, in the middle of a low hall, whofe walls arc very folid, and its bottom is on a level with that of the Nile. From that period the Mekias has not changed its place. At this day officers appointed appointed to examine the progrefs of the inundation, communicate it to the public criers, who proclaim it daily in the ftreets of Grand Cairo. The people who are intereft-ed in this evem, mak < hem a fmall acknowledgment. It becomes the public topic. Egypt owing no tribute to the Grand Signior, when the waters do not rife to fix-teen cubits, they often conceal the truth, and do not publiih their attainment of a certain point, even when they have patted it. The moment of this proclamation is a day of rejoicing, and a folemn feftival for the Egyptians. The Pacha defcends from the caftle, accompanied by his whole court, and repairs in pomp to Foftat, where the canal begins that traverfes Grand Cairo. He places himfelf under a magnificent pa-villion, prepared at the head of the dyke. The Beys, preceded by their muhc, and followed by their Mamalukes, compofe his retinue. The Chiefs of their religion appear mounted on horfes richly caparifoned. All the inhabitants on horfcback, on foot, and in boats, are anxious to aflift at this ccrc-4 mom/. mony. The land and the water are covered by upwards of three hundred thoufand men. The boats in general are agreeably painted, well carved, and ornamented with canopies, and flags of different colours. Thofe of the women are to be diflinguifhed by their elegance, their richnefs, the gilded columns that fupport the canopy, and above all, by the blinds let down over the windows. Every body remains filent until the moment when, the Pacha gives the fignal. In an in-ilant the air is filed with fhouts of joy, the trumpets found a nourifh, and the timbrels and other inftruments refound from every fide. Workmen, collected for the purpofe, throw down a ftatue of earth placed upon the dyke, which is called the Neiv Bridge. This is the remains of the ancient worfhip of the Egyptians, who confecrated a virgin to the Nile, and who, in times of calamity, fometimes precipitated her into the river. The dam is foon deftroyed, and the waters having. *o longer any obflacle, flow towards Grand Cairo. The Viceroy throws into the canal fome pieces of gold and filler, which are immediately picked up by 3 fkilful fkilful divers.. This tranfa&ion may be regarded as an homage rendered to the Nile, the fource of the riches of Egypt. During this day's amufement the inhabitants feem in a ftate of intoxication. Mutual compliments and congratulations pafs, and one hears on every fide fongs of thankfgiving. A crowd of dancing girls run along the banks of the Calich, and enliven the fpec-tators by their lafcivious dances. Every body reiigns himfelf to good cheer and joy, and the poor themfelves have their entertainments. This univerfal gladnefs is not furprizing. The fate of the country depends on the inundation. When it arrives, each individual fees the hope of a good crop, the image of abundance, and anticipates the enjoyment of all its attendant advantages. The fucceeding nights afford a fpeclaclc Hill more agreeable. The canal fills with water the great fquares of the capital. In the evening each family is collected in boats, ornamented with carpets and rich cufhions, and where voluptuoufnefs has every poffible accommodation. The flreets, the mofques^ Vol.IL' I the the minorets, are illuminated.. The company go from place to place, carrying with them fruits and refreihments. The molt numerous aflembly is ufually at Lejhekii. This fquare, which is the largeff. in the city, is near half a league in circumference. It forms an immenfe bafon, furrounded by the palaces of the Beys, lighted with lamps of various colours. Several thoufand boats with marts, from which lamps are fufpended, produce a moving illumination, the afpects of which are continually varying. The ferenity of the fky feldom or ever interrupted by fogs, the golden colour of the ftars upon a perfect azure, the fire of fo many lights refiectsd in the water, make one enjoy in thefe charming parties at once the lightnefs of the day, and the delicious coolnefs of the night. Imagine, Sir, how voluptuous it muft be for a people, burnt for twelve hours by an ardent fun, to come and refpire on thefe lakes the refreih-ing breath of the zephyrs. What adds to the pleafure of this nocturnal fcene is, that the calm ferenity of the air is feldom interrupted by the impetuous breath of winds. They They fall at the fetting of the fun, and the at-mofphere is gently agitated by a flight breeze. The Angularity of the Oriental manners puts an European who aflifts at thefe exhibitions a little out of his way. The men accompany the men, and the women the women. It is difficult to procure the charm of their fociety. The difguife that muft be affumed, the dangers that attend it, alarm the reafon, and compel to prudence. They are obliged alfo to keep lamps continually burning. The public fafety requires this precaution, and the Ouali, who patrole during the night, enforce a rigid obedience. If the head of the police meets with a boat without light, he has the right to cut off the heads of the perfons who are in it, and without fuch a prefent as can ftay the hand of the executioner, who attends him, he executes this rigorous juftice in a moment. When the Ramazan falls at the time of the inundation, that month fo dreaded by the poor, is a continual feilival for the rich man. He partes his night upon the water, and in a conftant round of entertainments. In the day time he fieeps in a vaif, faloon, in I 2 the the circulation of a pure air, near a marble bafon, from whence plays a jet d'ecm, quite limpid, the edges of which are furrounded by Arabian ieifamine and odoriferous flowers ; a window, always open, placed near the top of the dome, and facing the north, preferves the falubrity with the luxury of the apartment. Whilff the burnt hufbandman in the country is bedewing the earth with the fweat of his brow, he enjoys a delicious lleep, amidft coolnefs and the exhalations of balfamic plants. To live agreeably, without heeding the affairs of this world, is all the ambition of a Turk out of place; the Beys, on the contrary, a prey to anxieties and fears, make a figure for a moment at the head of the Republic they lay wafte, to perifh at length by the fabre of their col-. leagues, or by the poifon of their Haves. In the courfe of the vafl number of ap-es o that the Nile has overflowed Egypt, it has ■prodigioufly elevated the foil. Obelifks, buried from fifteen to twenty feet, and half-buried porticoes, teffify this fact. The ancient cities built on artificial mounds, the dykes oppefed to the impetuofity of the river. ver, announce that the Egyptians formerly were much more afraid of the great than of the moderate over-no wings. At this day, that the foil is confiderably raifed, the inundation rifes fo high as to be fometimes injurious to the cultivation of the country. When it remains below fixteen cubits, the people are threatened with famine; from eighteen to twenty-two, they may count upon plentiful years. Exceeding this, the waters remaining too long upon the lands, prevent them from fowing them in time. This event feldom or never occurs; too frequently the overflowings are moderate, and all the elevated ground is unproductive. If canals were dug, the dykes repaired, and the great refervoirs filled, a much greater extent of country might be watered, and afkonilhing crops be produced from them. It is very poflibie to fecure a regular inundation and a conftant fertility to Egypt; but Ethiopia muff be conquered, or a treaty formed with its inhabitants, by which they would permit dykes to be formed in the places where the waters of the Nile are lofl in the I ^ fands, lands, and waitc themfelves to the vvdl-ward. " (m) In the year 1106, during the reign " of Elmcs Ten/or, Sultan of Egypt, the " inundation totally failed. This Prince " fent Michael, Patriarch of the Jacohines, " to the Emperor of Ethiopia with magni-" ficent prefents. The King came to meet " him, gave him a favourable reception, " and demanded the fuhjecf of his million : " the Patriarch anfwered him, that he had " come thither on account of the deficiency " of the Nile, and that this event, which " made the Egyptians dread a famine, had " thrown them into the greater! conflerna-" tion. On thefe remonftrances, the Em-peror made a dyke be cut which diverted (t the channel of the river, and the waters " taking their ufual courfe, rofe three cu-" bits in one day. Michael returned from " his embafly, and was received with great M honours." (m) Elamacin, Hiftory of the Arabs. This event happened imdcr the Emperor Ab'suicaJ\m, the twenty-feventh Abajjid Caliph, and the eight and fortieth from Mahomet. This This anecdote demonftrates the poffibi-lity of diverting the .waters of the Nile, but it proves at the fame time, that by flopping up by a dyke the great arm of it that communicates with the Niger, the volume of its waters would be prodigioufly augmented. If an enlightened and powerful people pof-fefied Egypt, it would be no difficult matter to operate miraculous changes, which would render it the richefr. country in the world. In this country there is a certain token of the inundation., and of the height to which it is to rife. When the north wind, during the month I have mentioned, repulfed by the impetuous winds from the fouth, is driven back on the northern countries, the clouds retire in a fmall quantity into the upper AbyfTmia, and the fwell is then very inconfiderable. The dykes would in that cafe he of the greateft utility. When, on the contrary, the north wind prevails in that feafon, and drives the hurricanes of the fouth towards the Equator, it conveys there numerous clouds, and one is line of a favourable inundation : under thefe eircumlfances, the fluices of Ethiopia mould be opened to I 4 give give the fuperfluous waters liberty to efcape by their ancient drain. One might avail ones-felf of this augmentation too, to form a canal from Cophtos to Coffeir, a work which would be ranked amongfl the mofl famous and mofl ufeful ever executed in Egypt. Thefe, Sir, are a few ideas thrown into the void of poffibility. The ambition of feveral powers is looking with eager eyes on this delightful kingdom, governed by barbarians incapable of defending it. It will inevitably fall into the hands of the first nation that attacks it, and will undoubtedly aff'u??ie a new appearance. i have the honour to be,. &c. » ON £ G Y P T. LETTER XL. GOVERNMENT OF EGYPT. Egyptian Government from the conqueji of the Arabs to the prefent time. Changes which it has undergone by the different revolutions of the fupreme power. Articles of the agree?nent made in favour of the Circafian Mamalukes by the Emperor Selim. Limited power of the Each as. The great authority of the Beys, and of that which is annexed to the dignities of Scheick Elbalad and of Emir Haji. The manner in which . the reprefentatives of the Grand Signior are received in Egypt. Scandalous manner of fending them back. Obfervations on the fmall degree of authority which the Ottoman Porte really maintains in Egypt. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. IpROMISED you, Sir, fome details on the Government of Egypt, which is almoft unknown in France; and I natter myfelf that the obfervations of feveral years will enable 122 L E T T E R S enable me to fulfil my engagements > but it will firft be proper to give you fome ideas which may throw a light on the objects I am about to fubmit to your difcernment. The Arabs were in polleiiion of Egypt from the middle of the iixth century to the year 1250. During this time it formed a part of the valt empire of the Caliphs. They fent thither Viiirs to govern in their name. Inverted with unlimited powers, thefe Viceroys exercifed the fupreme authority. Poffefling the right of life and death, being accountable for their conduct only to the Caliphs, they ruled over this country according to the dictates of their caprice. Whatever might be their tyranny, the voice of the opprerTed people never could reach the throne, becaufe they took care by rich pre-fents to gain the perfons who furrounded it. This government there/ore was defpotic, and the happinefs or mifery of a" nation depended on the virtues or the criminal character of a fmgle man. Several of thefe Viiirs cruihed this unhappy country with an iron fceptre, others promoted commerce, agriculture, and the arts. Some, amonrrtt whom ON E. 6 Y P T. i23 whom was the famous Ebn Toulon, revolted againft their Sovereigns, and aiilimed the title of Kings ; but the crown feldom descended to their children. After the death of the rebels, this province returned to its mailers. In the year 982, Moaz, King of the weflern fide of Africa, and a defcendant of the Fatimite Caliphs, who had founded a kingdom there for two centuries pail, conquered Egypt by his Generals, and came and fixed in it the feat of his empire. His pofterity reigned over it until 1189, that Sa-lah Eddin eftablilhed there the dynafly of the Aioubitcs. This warlike Prince, the terror of the cruladers, whom he aimolt totally drove out of Palefline, was overthrown by Richard Ca:ur da Lion, near the walls of St. John of Acre, and the name of the Englifh Monarch became the fignal of condensation throughout the eaftern world. The Government of Salah Eddin, and his iacceifors, was monarchical, and Egypt riourifhed under their dominion. In our days we A ill fee the remains of the academies they founded at Crand Cairo, -and wnere where they attracted, by large Salaries, the learned men of the eait. In 1250, immediately after the defeat of St. Louis, the Bakaritc (n) Mamalukes, of Turkifh origin, mtirdered Taiwan Cbah, the lafl Prince of the family of the Aioubites, and the fon of Ntji/u Eddhiy their benefactor. In his per-fon terminated the government of the Arabian Princes in Egypt. From that moment it has been always governed by foreigners. The Baharite Mamalukes changed the form of government for that of the Republican. The principal amongit them elected a Chief, whom they entrufted with great authority. He had the right of making war or peace, with the advice of his council, of which they were the members. He could appoint Miniiters, Ambaifadors, Governors, and Generals, provided he chofe them from the Mamalukes. The neceflity of gaining the Suffrages of the Chiefs marked the limits of his power. His policy confuted (n) Mamlouk fignifies acquired, pofTefled. They were called Bakariies, or maritime, becaufe Nejim Eddin, who created them, gave them the government of the calHes on the fea fliore, and in the ifland of Rawnda. in in conciliating their favour, fecuring the mod powerful party, and in {lining in their origin the plots that might be formed againft his perfon: for in this ariftocracy, each of the Mamalukes, on attaining the firfl employments, ilrove to overthrow the polTeifor of the throne, to feat himfelf in his place. Though the people were confidered as nothing, the Prince naturally dreaded their clifcontent, left an ambitious Chief might avail himfelf of it to deprive him of the crown. Thus was the Chief of this Republic furrounded by precipices, the duration of his empire folely depending on his perfonal qualities, nor could he tranfmit his power to his children, unlefs they •polTeffed diHinguiihed talents; accordingly, in the fpace of one hundred and thirty-fix years, that the Bahorite Mamalukes governed Egypt, they had twenty-feven of thefe Kings, a proof that their reigns were very I mort, and very turbulent. Towards the middle of the fourteenth century, the Circajjian Mamalukes dethroned the Baharitesy retaining the fame form of ' p-overrrment. government. They kept pofleflion of Egypt until the conqueft of Selim, Emperor of the Turks, who took it from them in 1517. Before I ipeak of the changes lie made in the conlf itution, it is proper to give you a clear and precife idea of the Mamalukes. This name, the meaning of which you know, is bcfl-owed on the children carried off by merchants, or by robbers from Georgia, Cir-caina,Natolia,and the different provinces of the Ottoman empire, and fold at Conftanti-ncjple, and'Grand Cairo. The Grandees of Egypt, who are of a fimilar origin, bring them up in their families, and defline them to fucceed to their d-gnities. The antiquity of this cufcom is far more remote perhaps than in the time of Jofeph, who being fold in this manner to Potiphar fc^, High-Prieff of Heliopolis, became " Ruler " over all the land of Egypt." At prefent none but thefe Grangers can have the title of Bey, and fill the pofts of government. This law is fb expreis, that the ion of a Bey can never attain that eminent iiation. He /0) This Egyptian name comes from Potiphre, Pritft of die Sun. ufually iifually embraces the military life. The Divan alfigns him a decent revenue, and calls him Ebn Elbalad, child of the country J. The Mamalukes are almoft all of Chrif-tian families. When fold, they are forced to embrace the Mahometan religion, and be circumcifed. Language-mafters teach them the Turkilh and the Arabic. As foon as they can read and write well, they are taught the Coran, which is the code of their religion and their laws. The knowledge of thefe clear, fimple, and precife laws, enables them to judge equitably every affair that happens on the*fpot. The Mahometan, who is perfect matter of this book, knows all his duties towards God, and to- (p) From what T have faid4 you fee, Sir, that the word Mamaluke is very different hum that of Abd, which Signifies flave. The former are de(lined to fill the mod dif-tmguifhed olfRces; the others are employed in theloweir, and never arrive at dignities. It is improperly, there-tore, thathiJlorians [rive the name of flave to the Mamalukes, and ih.'t the hiilorians of the lower empire call them Ma/niiuius. Writers ought to be fcrupulous about disfiguring the names of tilings and notions, and fbould give fliem their real hgniheation J then would hiflory afford diitinct ideas and faithful pictures. wards wards man. He may then occupy every civil, military, and ecclefiaftical employment. From the tenderell age, the Mamalukes learn to ride, to throw the javelin, to make ufe of the fabre and fire-arms. They are continually exercifed in military evolutions, and are taught to fupport with constancy the heat of the climate, and the diflrefiing thirff. of the defarts, Thefe exercifes give them a ftrong conflitution, and an unconquerable courage. They want no requifite to form excellent foldiers, but matters verfed in the European tactics. If this corps were difciplined by our officers, it would be fe-cond in bravery to no nation on the earth; but they fight without order, and are totally ignorant of the art of artillery, brought to fuch perfection in our days. At fifteen or eighteen years of age, thefe young men manage with addrefs horfes not broken in, fpeak and write feveral languages, poflefs a profound knowledge of the worship and the laws of the country, and are capable of filling any employments to which they may be deltined. They pafs mcceflively 3 through through the diffcre \t degrees in the houfe-hold of the B.ys, and their elevation is generally the refult of merit. Having attained the pott'of Cadnf (q), they govern the towns dependent on their patrons. They are allowed to purchafe Mamalukes, who follow their fate, and become the companions and inttruments of their fortunes. There is now,only o,ne ftep to arrive at the dignity of Bey, which gives a feat among£ the twenty-four members of the Pivan, or ..Council of the Republic ; but on their attaining it, they do not ceafe to look upon themfelves as the fervants of their former matter, and to preferve for him the mod profound fubmifiion. Such, Sir, is the origin of the Mamalukes; fuch is the routine of their career. Let us refume the thread of our narrative. The Emperor Selim, having conquered Egypt, and overturned the Circaman Mamalukes, unable to refill: the innumerable hofts with which he bore them down, after (q) The Cachefs are the Lieutenants of the Beys ; they command in the towns of which their patrons have \ the government. *» " Vol. II. K many many bloody battles, hung up Thomam Bey at one of the gates of Cairo. This barbarous aclion alienated their minds, and they waited only for the departure of the Turks to refume their arms. The fumes of glory with which the Ottoman Emperor was intoxicated being dimpatcd, he felt his error, and, to fecure this important conqueft, he rfrove to regain the good opinion of the Mamalukes. To fucceed in this, he made verv little alteration in the conftitution of their government, and granted them fpeci-hc privileges in a treaty, of which the following are the principal articles : *1 Notwithstanding our invincible armies '* have conquered, with the aid of the Al-*' mighty, the kingdom of Egypt, never-" thelefs, from an effect of our benevolence, " we grant to the twenty-four Sangiaks^r^ " of that country a republican government on the following conditions :" I. The Republic of Egypt fhall acknowledge our fovereignty, and that of our fuc-cefibrs; and as a token of her obedience, (r) They are called Sangiaks, or Beys. fhc me fhall regard as our reprefentative fuch Lieutenant as we fhall think proper to depute, and who fhall have his refidsnce in the caftle of Cairo. During his administration he fhall undertake nothing againft our will, nor-againft the interefts of the Republic 5 but he fhall concert with the Beys every thing concerning the welfare of the ftate. Should our Lieutenant make himfelf difagreeable to the Beys, fhould he attack their privileges, we authorize them to fufpend him from his functions, and to convey their complaints to our Sublime Porte, in order that they may be relieved from his oppreffion. II. In time of war, the Republic fhall be obliged to furnifh us and our fucceffors with twelve thoufand troops, commanded by Sangiaks, and to maintain them at her expence until the peace. III. The Republic fhall levy annually five hundred and fixty thoufand ajlanifsj, and (i) This fum has been fmce carried to 800,000 aflani j but as the Beys make a plea of exceflive expences for the maintenance of the canals and fortrelTes, they do notfeni IC2 and mall fend them under efcort of a Bey to our Sublime Porte, and there mall be delivered to him by our Defter dar (Treafurer) a receipt in due form, to which fhall be affixed our feal, and that of our Vifir. . IV. The Republic mall levy a fimilar Kbafe (treafure) of five hundred and fixty thoufand aflani, deftined to the fupport of Medina, and of the Caaba, or temple of Mecca. This trcafare (hall be conveyed; annually, under the efcort of the Scbeik Elbalad ft J, or of the Emir Haji, who will deliver it to the Scherif, fuceeiibr of our Prophet, to be employed in the fervice of the houfe of God, and diftributed to the perfons reiiding. there, in order to obtain their prayers for us and the faithful believers of the Coran fuj. the half of it to CoriiTantinople. The aflani is a piece of filver coin, worth about j:Kree livres French (or half a crown'EngUih money). ' '•■ - 'e:. I (t) Sckcik Elbalad Signifies, properly, the old cf tbt country. This is the title ot* the firft Bey, or Chief of the Republic. Emir Haji Signifies Prince of the Caravan. This is the fecond dignity of the Rcpublic.w (w) This treafhre is not conveyed in money, but in corn, grain, ant) other produce of the'Soil of Egypt. V. The Q N E GYP T. ,33 V'. The Republic'fhall not-keep up, in time of peace, more than fourteen thoufand foldiers or Janizaries ; but we -allow her to augment this army in time of ^ar, that fhe may be able to oppofe cur enemies and hers. VI. The Republic mall deduct annually from the produce of the country one million of couffes (x) of grain, fix hundred thoufand of wheat, and four hundred thoufand of barley, to be delivered into our magazines. VII. In virtue of the execution of thefe articles, the Republic fhall enjoy an abfolute empire over all the inhabitants of Egypt; but in all affairs concerning religion, fhe fhall confult the Mollah, or High-Prieft, who fliall be under our authority,- and under that of our fucceffors. VIII. The Republic mail enjoy as heretofore, the right of coining money, and of ftriking on it the name of Mafr (y), but (x) A fort, of oval basket made of the leaves of the date-tree, which contains 170 pound weight. (y) Mafr is the name given by the Arabs" to Egypt in general, and to Grand Cairo in particular, becaufe they pretend that this country was peopled by Mifrairn, the gfandfon of Noah. K 3 fhe {he fhall add thereto our name and that of our fucceffors. The Lieutenant we fhall fend fhall have the infpection of the fabrjr-cation of the coin, that the title of it may not be altered, IX. The Beys fhall elect from amongft, them a Scheik Elbalad, who, confirmed by our Lieutenant, fhall be their reprefentative, and our officers fhall acknowledge him for Chief of the Republic. In the cafe where our Lieutenant fhall render himfelf guilty of tyranny, and exceed the limits of his power, the Scheik Elbalad fhall have the right of reprefenting the grievances of the Republic to our Sublime Porte. If it happens that foreign enemies diffurb her peace, we promife for us and our fucceffors to protect her with all our might, without claiming any indemnity for the expences incurred on her account. Done and figned by our clemency in favour of the Republic of Egypt, in the year 887 of the Hegira (1517 of our asra). This treaty, Sir, makes you acquainted with the laft revolution the Egyptian government, become now a mixture of monarchy narchy and ariflocracy, has undergone. The former is reprefented by the Pacha, the fecond by the Beys, who compcfe effentially the Republic. The Viceroy, properly fpeaking, is nothing but a phantom, overturned by the {lighten: breath. The San-giaks, at the head of the provinces and the armies, really ponefs all the power. The people are abandoned to their mercy. Tills treaty does not fay a word in their favour. Is it not the language of a merchant, who for five hundred and fixty thoufand aflani, fells three or four millions of flaves, to four and twenty flrangers ? An abfolute power, in fact, is veiled in their hands; they are permitted to levy arbitrary tributes, and, without any controul whatever, to exerc.de-every fpecies of tyranny. Is it thus then that defpots make a traffic of whole nations ? and they fubmit to this difgrace without vindicating the facrecl rights bellowed on them by nature ! ! ! It appears as if Selim, through the extent of his vafl empire, faw no men, but only a vile herd o£ jlaves^ whom he could dHpp& of at his pieafure. The Beys are perfectly fenhbie of their ii tuft 4 ation, ation, and abufe it to the utmofl excefs. A Pacha retains his place no longer than he is fubfervient to their defigns. If he dares to lift his voice in defence of the intentions of his mailer, or of the Egyptians, he becomes a flate criminal: the Divan af]enables, and he is fent off. The following' is the manner in winch they receive and dif-mifs thefe lieutenants of the Ottoman Emperor. As foon as the new Pacha has landed at the port of; Alexandria, he informs the council of the Republic of his arrival. The Scheik Elbalad difpatches the mofl artful of the Beys to compliment him. They carry prcfents to him, and give tokens of the mofl profound fuhmiffion. Whilfl they furround his perfon, they dextcroufly found his difpofition, ftudy his character, and endeavour to learn from his' own mouth, or from his officers, what orders he brings o with him. If they find them contrary to their defires, they expedite a courier to the Scheik Elbalad, who affembles the Divan, and forbids the Pacha to advance. They write to the Porte, that the new Viceroy comes ON E G Y T T. 137 comes with homle intentions, fit to excite rebellion amongft his faithful fubjects, and they demand his recal, which never is «--fufed. When the chiefs of the republic think that there is nothing to fear from the lieutenant that is fent them, they invite him to repair to Grand Cairo. The deputies place him in a fuperb galley, and efcort him in his journey. All the boats that iurround him are agreeably dreffed out, and many of them filled with muficians. He advances flowly at the head of the little fleet, and no boat is permitted to pafs his. Unlucky, the travellers who are mounting ttfe Nile, for they are obliged to iwell his retinue! When he is arrived at the HcIbJ (z), he halts. The Scbcik Elbalad deputes feveral Sangiaks to receive him, or he .comes himfelf. At his landing, the chiefs of trie republic congratulate him anew, and me Janizary Aga prefents him with the keys of the cattle, requeuing him to make it his refidence. He is conducted with pomp into the city. I have feen the entry of a Pacha, (z) A fmall village a little below Boulak. and and can therefore give you a defcription of it. Firfl, feveral corps of infantry, preceded by their noify mufick, filed off in two ranks, with colours flying. Then followed the cavalry. The horfemen, to the number of five or fix thoufand, advanced in good order. Their cloathing was formed of the mofl fplendid fluffs. Their flowing robes, their enormous whifkers, and their long lances tipped with glittering iron, gave them a majeflic and warlike air. After them came the Beys fijperbly clad, attended by their Mamalukes, mounted on Arabian horfes full of fire, and covered with holdings embroidered with gold and filver. The bridles of the horfes of the chiefs were ornamented with fine pearls and precious llones, The faddles foarkled with gold. Thefe different retinues, for each Bey had his own, were very elegant. The beauty of the young men, die richnefs of their dreffes, the addrefs with which they managed their courfers, formed a mofl agreeable coup d'oeil. The Pacha terminated the procefEon. He advanced folemnly, preceded by two hun-4 dred O N EGYPT. 139 dred horfemen and a band of mufick. Four led horfes, conducted by flaves on foot, walked with flow fteps before him. They were covered with long houfings, loaded with embroidery in pearls and gold. The Viceroy was mounted on a Barb of great beauty, and wore on his turban an aigret of large diamonds, which reflected in fiafhes the rays of the fun. This entry gives me an idea of the oriental pomp, and of the pageantry which encompaffed the ancient Afiatic monarch s, when they fhe wed themfelves in public. The procemon commenced at eight in the morning and laited till noon. The next day the Pacha affembles the Divan, and invites the Beys to favour him wi th their company. The convention is held in a gallery, with a window with iron bars before it, like that of the Grand Signior. His Kiaia, or lieutenant reads the orders of the Porte, the Sangiaks make a profound reverence, and promife to obey them in every thing not contrary to their privileges. When the reading is finifhcd, a collation is ferved, and at the breaking up of the affem-bly, the Viceroy makes a prelent of a rich fur fur and a horfe magnificently harneifed to the Scheik Elbalad, and of a caftan to each of the other Beys. Such, Sir, is the inftal-lation of the Pacha. The poft he occupies is a fort of exile. He cannot ifir out of his palace without the permifiion of the Scheik Elbalad. He is really a Hate prifoner, who amidil the fplen-dor that furrounds him, cannot but feel the weight of his chains. His revenues arifing from the cuftom-houfe at Suez, and from the merchandize which arrives by the Arabic gulph, amount to near three millions of livres. The ambition of the Beys too, affords him a fruitful fource of wealth. When the knowledge of his fituation, and a refined policy have taught him to fow dif-fention among!! the chiefs of the republic, and to form a powerful party, each of.them ibives to avail himfelf of his credit, and he receives gold and filver by handfuls. The .Sangiaks named by the Divan, purchafe alfo from the Pacha the confirmation of their dignity. His treafures are augmented like-wife by the inheritance of perfons who die without children. It is thus that the re- prefentative ON. E G Y P T. 141 •prefentative of the Grand Signior is able to preferve his place, and to acquire immenfe riches in a very few years; but he inufl ufe the greatefl circumfpedlion in all his mea-fures. In the delicate poft he fills, the High tell fault may ruin him. ( Frequently, even unexpected events overfet all the fchemes of his politics. If amongff the Sangiaks, fome young defperado deftroys, by courage and by crimes, the party favoured by the Pacha; if he attains the dignity of Scheik Elbalad, he affembles the council, and the Viceroy is ignominioufiy difmiffed. The order.for his departure is entrufted to an officer cloathed in black, who carries it in his bofom, advances .into the hall of audience, makes a profound reverence, and taking one of the corners of the carpet that covers the fopha, fays to him, in lifting it up, Infel Pacha. Defcend Pacha: after pronouncing thefe words, he departs. The Viceroy is obliged inftantly to decamp, and withdraw in four and twenty hours to Boulak, where he waits for his orders from Constantinople. In general his perfon is in fafety, but if the ruling Beys have any complaints plaints again il him, they make him give an account of his administration, and of the prefents he has received, and divide his fpoils amongil them. During this interregnum, the council of the republic elect a Cciimacam to ml his place, until the arrival of the new Pacha. Thefe are events, Sir, to which i have been a witnefs feveral times during my flay in Egypt. i hope thefe details will ferve to make ycu acquainted with the government of this country. The hiilory of Ali Bey and of fome of his fucceffors, whofe picture i mall trace out to you, in the following letters, will fhew you the actors on the ftage, and will furnifh yoti with the means of making the application of thofe principles. i have the honour to be, &:c. _ ON EGYPT. • 143 LETTER XLI. history of ali bey. Birth-day of Ali Bey. Tranfportation from his own country, and his change of religion after he had leen fold to a Bey of Grand Cairo. His promotion to different qffces in the fate. Conduct of the Caravan. Defeat of the Arabs, followed by the dignity f Bey, which gave him a feat among the members of the Divan. Death of his patron, who was murdered by the oppo/tte party. Ali obtains the rank of Cheik Elbalad, and avenges the blood of his protector. Confpiracy formed to make him prifoner. He takes refuge in Jerufalem, and afterwards at St. Jean dAcre, where Cheik Daher receives him with open arms. On being recalled into the capital, he found it impojjible to triumph over the hatred of his enemies, and, to Jave his life, was a fe-cond time obliged to take to fi0ht. He vijits Arabia, and retires to Jean d'Acre, where Cheik Daher treated him with every de-menf ration of the Jinceref friendjhip. He . returns 144 -LETT E R>;5 , returns to Cairo, facrijices his rivals to lis refentment, and -governs Egypt jwith ivif-dom. Treachery of fome Beys, and of the Divan at Conjhmiinople. He-punijhes with death thi' officers .who had been fint to demand his head, and enters into an alliance with the Ruffians, to revenge the injufice of the Ottomans. lie repreffes. the wandering tribes of Arabs, protecls commerce; and reduces to lu/fJlion both. Arabia and Syria by means of ins Generals. . He is betrayed by Mahomet ■ Abou Dahab, his fon-in-law, . anfobliged to five himfelf a third time in . Syria. Ali Bey* .makes bimflf mafier of a member of towns,.enters Egypt with the principal parfcf his forces* intimidates an army much fperior to his (Hpn, and is conquered by the . treachery ■ of bis infantry, which .went over to Abou-.Dahab. The death of Ali, of Mahamed^^and of Scheik. Daher, bafly affiliated by . order of tie Ottomoji Port.^ , > ■ \Xo Mr. L. M. ' ' .-x-v-v ->Vfc KhVf • v V >. 9ran^ Cairo. A LI §EY was born in Natolia, in 1728, and received at his birth the name of Joufeph, . 3 Jofeph jofcph.. Daoud(a), his father, a Greek Friefl of one of the .mofl diftinguifhed families in the country, defigned him to fuc-ceed to his dignity, and neglected no part of his education, but fate had otherwife ordained. At thirteen years old, Jofeph, hurried on by the ardour of his age, was hunting with other young men in a neighbouring foreft. Robbers fell upon them, and carried them off in fpjte of their cries and their refifknce. The fon of Daoud being taken to Grand Cairo, was fold to Ibrahim Kiaia (b), or Lieutenant of the Janizaries, who had him circumcifed, cloathed him in the drefs of the Mamalukes, and called him by the name of Ali> under which he has been iince known. He gave - him maflers of the Turkiih and Arabic languages, and of horfemanfhip. Compelled to give way, he deplored in his heart the lofs of his parents, and his change of religion. Infenfrbly the kind treatment of (a) Daoud^ that is to fay, David. (b) The Kia'u- aiid Aga of the Janizaries, that is to fay, their Lieutenant and their Colonel have tue title of Beys, and are in general held in great confederation. Vol. II, L Bis 146 letters" his patron, the dignities with which his vanity nattered him, and above all, the example of his companions, gave him a relifh for his new fituation. The vivacity of his mind afforded him the means of diflinguifh-ing himfelf. In the courfe of a few years he was perfect mailer of the languages that were taught him, and even excelled in all. bodily excrcifes. None of the Mamalukes managed a horfe with more addrefs, nor threw the javelin with greater force, nor made life of the fabre- and fire-arms with-more dexterity than him-. His application to fludy, and his graceful manners, made him dear to Ibrahim Kiaia.. Charmed with his talents, he raifed him rapidly to the different employments of his houfehold. He foon attained the pofl of Seliclar Aga, Sword-bearer, and of Kafnadar, Treafurer. The intelligence he difplayed in thefe employments gained him more and more the good graces of his patron, who created him a Cachcf at the age of two and twenty. Become a Governor of towns, he mani-fcfled his natural equity in the adminiflra-tion of juftice, and his difcernment in the acquifition , acquifition of the Mamalukes, to whom he endeavoured to communicate his genius. It was here he laid fecretly the foundation of his future greatnefs. Not only had he gained the affection of Ibrahim, but judging that the favour of the Pacha might be made fubfervient to his ambitious views, he made a point of pleafing him. This Viceroy was called Rahipb; he was a man of real merit. Difcovering in the young Cachef an upright and elevated mind, he granted him his friendfhip, and declared* himfelf his protector. " He would have raifed him in a fhort time to the dignity of Bey, had not an unforefeen cataftrophe unhinged his projects, Rahipb, endowed with one of thofe happy characters, which carry with them an irrefiftible charm, had gained the confidence of the Chiefs of the Republic. Far from imitating his predecclTors, who had uniformly built their authority on the diffentions they fomented againft the San-giaks, he was indefatigable in promoting peace and union. For the nrft time, the reprcfentative of the Grand Signior and the leaders of the Government united together, L 2 to to promote the general good. The people enjoyed a peaceable administration, and wifhed for its continuance. The Beys themfelves loved the Pacha, and dreaded his re-cal. This was ample food for envy, that moniler which is continually on the watch for the misfortunes, of mankind, and breathes its poifon from one end of the world to the other. The Members of the Divan at Coriflantinople reprefented to Sultan Mahmoud the good under/landing that prevailed between his Lieutenant and the Chiefs of the Republic, as a confpiracy formed to withdraw the country from its obedience. They coloured their calumnies with thefe fpecious reafons, which in Courts too frequently appear convincing proofs. Without farther enquiry the Grand Signior was determined to put the fidelity of Rahipb to the tefl. He fent him a Firman, commanding him to put to death immediately as many of the Beys as he could. This iniquitous order mocked the Pacha; but he muft either obey or lofe his head. He he-fitated for three days. At length he adopted the firft meafure. Having fent for the mofl moil faithful of - his (laves, he mewed them the Firman, and ordered each of them to kill a Bey, at the moment of their arfembling in the hall of audience. Accordingly when they were holding the Divan, thefe Satellites, who had fwbfds concealed under their robes, ponyarded the unhappy victims of calumny. Four of them lay dead on the fpot, the reft, being only wounded, defended themfelves courageoufly, and made their efcape. Even at this day the marble of the hall where they were affamnated is red with their blood. i have frequently fhuddered on beholdinp- the marks of this barbarous execution, commanded on a bare fufpicion, by a defpotic Government. The aftonimment of the Sangiaks who efcaped from this butchery was extreme. They could not reconcile this atrocious action with the par! conduct of Rahtph. The Council was affembled ; they refolved to punifii the traitor, and to expiate by his death the outrage committed on the Republic. But when they wanted to make fure of the criminal, he produced the Firman of the Porte, and they contented themfelves L 3 with with banilhing him on the fpot. The Pa-chalick of Natolia, that of Damafcus, and at length the brilliant flation of Grand Vilir, became the recompence of his crime. This painful event retarded the elevation of Ali. He remained feveral years a Cachef, His patron, Ibrahim, being elected Emir Haji, or Prince of the Caravan, which is the fecond dignity in Egypt, he took him with him to efcort the pilgrims. In their march they were attacked by the Arabs. Ali fell upon them at the head of the Mamalukes he commanded, and behaved with fo much valour, that he repulfed the enemy, and killed a great number on the fpot. On his return, feveral tribes being collected, were determined to avenge their defeat. The young Cachef gave them battle. He precipitated himfelf like lightning amidfl their fquadrons, and, overturning every thing that oppofed his paffage, he obtained a lig-nal victory. Tiie A rubs appeared no more. Ibrahim did juitice to the fervices of his Lieutenant in full council, and propofed to create him a Sangiak, Ibrahim, the C/r- cajjian, tajjian, an enemy to the former, oppofed it with all his might, and employed all his eloquence to prevent a nomination which difpleafed him. The Emir Haji prevailed. Ali was nominated by the Divan ; Eddin Mohamed, the Pacha, confirmed this choice, cloathed him with a caftan, and gave him, agreeable to cuftom, the Firman of Bey. Become now one of the 24 members of the Republic, he never forgot his obligations to his patron, and defended his interefts with an admirable conflancy. In 1758 the Emir Haji was murdered by the party of Ibrahim, the Circajjian. From this moment Ali meditated vengeance. For three years he concealed in his heart his refentment for this murder, and employed all the refources of his mind to arrive at the port, of Scheik Elbalad, the firif, dignity of the Republic. In 1763 he attained that dangerous title, the fummit of his ambition. Soon after, he revenged the blood of his protector, by fa-crificing Ibrahim, the Circaman, with his own hand. In committing this defperate action, he followed the impuile of hatred, rather than of prudence > for it raifed up L 4 numerous numerous enemies againft him. All the Sangiaks attached to the party of the Cir-caflian, confpired againft him. Expofed to their intrigues, and on the point of being murdered, he faved himfelf by flight. After rapidly croffing the defarts of theiflhmus of Suez, he repaired to Jerufalem. Having gained the gocd graces of the Governor of that city, he thought himfelf in fafety. But friendship has no facred afylum amongft the Turks, when oppofed to the commands of the defpot. His enemies were afraid of him even in his exile. They wrote to the Porte to demand his death, and orders were immediately fent to the Governor to ftrike ©ff his head. Fortunately, Rahiph, his old friend, now one of the members of the Divan, gave him timely warning, and ad-vifed him to fly Jerufalem, Ali therefore anticipated the arrival of the Capigi Bachi ( but as it neither was confiderable, nor directed by fkilful engineers, he could not make any breach in them. The Egyptians made many aflaults, and the intrepid Mamalukes mount- (i) " Praifc to God ! who has tranfported, during the tc night, his fervant of the Temple of Mecca to the Tern-" pic of Jerufalem, the enclofure of which we have " bleffed in order to leave the marks of our power." Coran, ehap. 17. 3 ed cd to the top of the ramparts, but they were repulfed with lofs. A part of the befieged, however, had perifhed. Such as remained, fearing to be put to the fword, mould the place be carried by ftorm, at length capitulated. The General, after leaving a ftrong garrifon, repaired to St. John of Acre at the beginning of September. The Arah Prince received him with joy, congratulated him on his fuccefs, and fupplied him with provifions and ammunition. Mahomed, after giving his troops a fortnight's repofe, marched to attack Setae, the ancient Sidon, near which flourifhed in former days the city of Tyre, fo celebrated for her commerce, her arts, and her navy. The peninfula on which it ftands prefents nothing but ruins. Seide furrendered on the htft fummons. Mafter of the moil important towns in Syria, Abou Dahab proceeded to the capital. Damafcus, fituated in a rich plain, is furrounded by rivulets, and gardens filled with orange, piftachio, and pomegranate, and a multitude of other fruit-trees, bearing the mofl delicious fruits. Ex-cmifite fweetmeats are made of them, which ferve 176 LET T E R S ferve in the Sorbet, or Sherbet, and which are fold throughout the eaft. Nothing can be more beautiful, gayer, or more frefh than the environs of this city. Nothing is to be feen" on every fide but groves, rivulets, and charming pavillions, where Turkifh effeminacy is lulled afleep on cufhions of velvet and of fattin. The Arabs call it Ech-chains, the City of the Sun. The water is of an admirable quality for the tempering of ileel 3 and the arms, the poniards, the fabres, fabricated here, are renowned throughout the world. The Pacha was milt up there with a numerous garrifon. For two months he defended it with courage. At the end of November, feeing the walls overthrown, the advanced works deftroyed, and the enemy ready to mount to the affault, he fled during the night, and the city furrendered. The garrifon had retired into the citadel. It was neceffary to form a fecend fiege, and it coff the Egyptians many efforts to get poffefiion of it. ■ The Turks had now no confiderable place remaining but Aleppo. - The capture of that city would have fecured to the Republic of Egypt Egypt the entire pofTeffion of Syria; but Abou Dahab feared left this conqueft might retard his defigns. He had long meditated the ruin of Ali, his patron, his brother in law, his friend. The delire of gaining the foldiery, by making them the companions of his victories, had alone induced him to take arms, and influenced all his meafures. The intereft of Egypt, which the union with Syria would have rendered independent of the Porte, had no part in his projects. No fooner was he fure of his officers and foldiers, than, after making them take an oath of fidelity, he hoified the ftandard of rebellion. Pie withdrew all his garri-fons from the conquered places, and ren^ dering abortive the fruit of fo much blood fpilt, and of a whole year of conquefts, h« re-entered Egypt. On his departure the Turks retook, without a ftruggle, the cities he had taken from them, raifed their walls, and added new fortifications. Abou Dahab, thus elated with fuccefs, did not dare at firft to attack the capital, where his rival was too powerful. He kept along ths wef-tern coaft of the Red. Sea, croffed the de-Vol. ii. n fart, . fart, and marched into upper Egypt. It ,was then he made an open difplay of his criminal intentions. He took Girge, and other important towns. By force, or by ad-drefs, he gained the Beys who commanded there, and defcended towards Cairo. Ali Bey repented, but too late, having followed the emotions of his heart, rather than the dictates of prudence, by placing in the hand of a traitor a command with which he mould never have entrusted him. He ftill had refourccs, and he haften-ed to oppofe them to his enemy. Having collected twenty thoufand men, he put at their head Ifmael Bey, on whole experience and fidelity he thought he could fafely reckon. Abou Dabab was incamped near ^Gaza ; Ali ordered his General to take poft .near to Old Cairo, and prevent the enemy from pafling the river. Nothing was more eafy; but the perfidious Ifmael, bafely betraying the interefls of his patron, formed a treaty of alliance with Abou Dahab, and jpaffed over to his camp. The junction of the two armies was a thunderftroke for the generous Ali. In the firft emotions of de- : *». II .i*pair, fpair, he determined to fhut himfelf up in the caftle of Grand Cairo with his few brave adherents, and to bury himfelf under its ruins. The fons of Scheik Daher, who loved him, reprefented to him the folly of this refolution, and conjured him once more to efcape with them to St. John of Acre. He felt the wifdom of their counfel, and followed it. He wrote inftantly to Count Or low, requefting him to fend fome warlike ftores, and fome officers to him into Syria. He entrusted thefe difpatches to the Armenian Jacob, who had already acquitted himfelf of a Similar commiffion, collected his treafures, and loaded them on twenty camels. He fent to demand from Mallem Rei/k, whom he had made Intendant of the revenues of Egypt, all the money he had collected ; but the knave had hid himfelf, and it was impoffible to find him. In the middle of the night, Ali Bey, accompanied by the fons of Scheik Daher, by Tentaoui, Roifuan, Haffan, Kalil, Mourad, Abd Errohman, Latif, Mouitafa, Ibrahim, Zoulficar, Hacheph," Ofman, Seiim, Aga, and Soliman, Kiaia of the Janizaries, all N 2 Bey;. Beys of hir creation, and about 7000 troops, left Cairo for the third time, and fled acrofs the defarts. He carried with him twenty-four millions of livres (about one million If erling) in gold and filver. After five days forced march, he arrived on the 16th of April, 1772, at the gates of Gaza, and his troops began to breathe. The treafon of two men, on whofe friend/hip he had the ftricteft claims, rent his heart with forrow. He Shuddered at the very name of Abou Dahab, and his blood boiled in his veins. This agitation, added to the fatigue of fo difficult a route, brought on a ferious malady. A prey to the mofl gloomy melancholy, he looked for death with a fort of confolation. Liberty procured to Egypt, Arabia fubmitted to his fway, juflice efla-blifhed In the cities, commerce nourishing, the good he had already done the people -r all thofe advantages, which it was the wifli of his heart flill further to procure them, die faw for ever vanished, and this bitter reflection filled the meafure of his misfortunes. Whilft he was cruelly fuffer-ing under thefe poignant cares, the Scheik 4 Daher, Daher, that refpeetable old man, his faithful friend, his protector in advcrfity, came to vifit him in his tent. After mingling his tears with thofe of Ali, he called him his fon, and tried by exhortations full of fenfe and tendernefs, to communicate fome comfort to his forrows. He reprefented to him that his fituation was not defperate, that the Ruffian fquadron was at hand, and that, with this fuccour, he might ftill regain the dignity from which he had been precipitated by treafon. How powerful are the tender cololations of fricndlhip on fenfible hearts ! It is a falutary balm that penetrates all our fenfes, and heals, as if by enchantment, the wounds both of the foul and of the body. Ali experienced its effects, and hope once more appeared to renew the lamp of life. The Arab Prince had brought with him a phylician, whom he left with his lick friend, and he recovered his health in a few weeks, A detachment of the Ruffian fquadron appearing before Acre, Alt took the advantage of this opportunity to write to Count Orlow. He made the fame requeft as N 3 before, before, denting him to fend him fome cannon and engineers, and a corps, of three thoufand Albanians. . He aifured him, that immediately after his reinftatement, all the forces of Egypt mould be at his difpofal. Belides this, he addreifed a letter to the Czarina, in which he follicited her alliance, and propofed to her a commercial treaty with Egypt. Zulficar Bey, the bearer of thefe dif-patches, was commiifioned to prefent to the Rufiian Admiral three fine horfes, richly caparifoned. // is certain that if Rufia had only fent this feeble fuccour to the Scheik: Elbalad, he would have triumphed over his enemies, and have been proclaimed King of Egypt. Nor can it be doubted from his character, and every concurrent circumftance, that he would have delivered into the hands of the Rufians the commerce of the eafern world, and have granted them ports in tba Red Sea and the Mediterranean. This alliance might have operated a total change of affairs in the eafr,. The Ruffian fhips fet fail for Paros the iSth of May, 1772, and conducted the Ambaffador of Ali. The precipitate retreat of Abou Dahab had ON EGYPT,. 183 had given the Turks" time to regain their polleflions, and to fortify them. Ali endeavoured to expel them a fecond tims. Having formed a corps of fix thoufand men, he gave the command of it to the brave Tentaoui, and ordered him to attack Seide. Scheik Lebi, and Scheik Crim, one the fon, the other the fon-in-law of the Prince of Acre, joined.the Egyptian Chief, and marched in concert with him. In their route they fell in with the celebrated Hajfan Pacha, who was expecting them, in an advantageous poit, at the head of thirteen thoufand men. Notwithstanding their inferiority, they did not hefitate to give him battle. Their cavalry was excellent. They rufhed in a body on the Turks, broke through their ranks, cut a great number of them in pieces, and put the reft to flight. The fugitives conveyed the alarm to Seide, which inftantly opened her gates to the conquerors. Tcntaoui leaving a garrifon in the town, under the orders of Haffan Bey, returned to the camp, where he received the compliments of Ali, and of the Prince of Acre. N 4 On 13^ - LETTERS On the 13th of Auguft in the fame year, Ali marched againft Jaffa, accompanied by the valiant fons of the Scheik Daher. This prince equipped two veffels to carry ammunition and provifions to the aifailants. As foon as the troops were affembled before the place, ^ the general fummoned the commandant to furrender, and on his refufal laid fiege to it. He battered the walls for forty days, but his artillery was too weak to form any confiderable breach. Neverthelefs he gave the fignal for the affauk, and his fol-diers went to it with intrepidity. The difficulty of ftorming the place, and the valour of the befieged, compelled him to retreat. Defpairing of being able to carry it by force, he formed a blockade and determined to take it by famine. During the blockade, he fent Te?itaoui with a detachment of cavalry to fuprize Gaza, This brave.captain fet off like lightning, carried .the place, on the htft onfet, and after leaving a garrifon, returned to tjie camp covered with laurels. The inhabitants of Jaffa receiving fuccours by fea, defended themfelves with refolution. They were in want of nothing but but wood. The adjacent country is delightful} it is interfered with gardens deli-cioufly fhaded by orange and lemon trees. They are fupplied by copious fprings, which gliding from the foot of the mountain ferves to water them, and preferve their perpetual verdure. Thefe beautiful trees are at one feafon of the year loaded both with flowers and fruit. Ali had fpared them. Perceiving however that the befieged came and cut them down, and carried them off under favour of the night, he made them all fuffer the fame fate, ,and deftroyed thefe charming plantations. Whilft all this was going on, Alts am-baffador, and the Armenian Jacob returned from their minion on board of an Englifh veffel commanded by Captain Brown. Count Orlow fent him two Ruffian officers with difpatches, in which he affured him of his friend (hip, and promifed him powerful fuc-cours. Thefe officers prefented him, on the -part of the admiral, with three brafs field pieces, four pounders, coo balls, and /even barrels of ppwdcr. This was all the affift- a nee ance he derived from the magnificent pro-mifes of Count Alexis ! I The fiege ilill continued. CUnginoffy a Ruffian captain, raifed a new battery of three cannon, twelve pounders, with which he did great damage to the town. He had already beat down a part of the wall, when defirous of obferving the effect of the artillery, and looking through an embrafure, he was killed by a mufket fliot. A fhort time before, this brave officer embarked with one fingle man during the night, to burn the Turkifh fhips at anchor in the harbour* Being difcovered, before he could put his defign in execution, the fire from the ramparts obliged him y to make a precipitate retreat. Captain Brown made an addition of fix cannon to thofe which were already playing (?n the town. Thefe various batteries at length formed practicable breaches. Ali. founded the charge, and his troops mounted to the affault. In fpight of their ardour, they v/ere obliged to give way to the valour of a numerous garrifon, who were continually receiving frefh reinforcements by fea. 3 Several Several Ruffiarr mips, at the requeft of Ali, approached Jaffa, bombarded the town for two days, and beat down a part of the houfes, but fearing to be thrown upon the coafl, if the wefterly winds fhould blow with violence, they quitted this dangerous road. Thefe multiplied attacks had reduced the befieged to great extremity. They faw nothing around them but heaps of ruins. The governor, terrified, efcaped during the night, and eluding the vigilance of the enemy, gained Naplous where his brother commanded. The next day, the thirty-htfl of January, 1773, Ali entered the town. This bloody fiege cofl him three Beys, and a great number of Mamalukes. lie delivered the place to the Prince of Acre who had fupplied his army with ftores and pro-vifions. Whilft he lay encamped before Jaffa, Mallem Reijk, the Intendant of the Cuftom-houfe of Egypt, came and found him in his tent, in the difguife of a Dervife. His fun-burnt vhage, his meagre appearance, his dirty and'torn garments, rendered him difficult to be known. He pleaded in his ex- " gufe, cufe, that as foon as he learnt the elevation of Abou Dahab, dreading the avarice of that traitor, he had buried his riches, and efcaped into the defarts, where for above a year he had led a miferable life. Ali feeing him wretched, took pity on his hard fortune, forgot his perfidy, and fupplied him with cloaths and money. At the fame period, the camp witneffed another example of the vicimtude of human affairs. The Emir Abdalla, who by Ali's orders had been elevated to the principality of Mecca, in the place of the Scherif, came likewife to implore his aiTiffancc. The enemy had re-flored his rival, and he was obliged to fly. Ali confoled him, loaded him with prefents, and he returned to Medina. It is thus that the misfortune of the Chief of the Egyptian Republic involves the downfal of every perfon attached to his party. After the capture of Jaffa, the Scheik Elbalad led his troops to Rama, which was carried fword in hand. Thefe fuccefies raifed the hopes of his partizans, and infpired him with the confidence of returning triumphant to Grand Cairo. Ali had constantly ftantly maintained a correfpondence with the chiefs of the Janizaries, who have great power in the capital. The promifcs with which he flattered them, and the averfion with which Abou Dabab's avarice infpired them, determined them openly to efpoufe his party, and to demand his recal. They wrote to him, that he might return, and that they would defend his intercfts. This news overwhelmed him with joy; he imparted it to his friends, and prepared for his return to Egypt. Scheik Daher was of a different opinion. He advifes him to wait r the promifed fuccours of the Ruffians, to foment divifions amongfl the chiefs of the Republic, to be previoufly well affured of the difpofition of the troops in his favour, and not rafhly rifle his fortune and his Hie. Thefe councils, dictated by prudence, were not followed. Ali. imnatient to return to Grand Cairo, and humble his enemies, fondlv imag'nei he was marching to vie-tory. He. collected the garrifons of the conquered towns, railed contributions in them, arrived at Gaza the 2ill of March, and left it on the 4th of April, 1773. His His whole cavalry coniifted of two thoufand men, and two hundred and fifty Mamalukes. Three thoufand four hundred Mograbi compofed his infantry. Tentanii, Kali/, Latif, Haffan, Abd Errohman, Mourad, Selim the Aga, and Soliman. Kiai'a of the Janizaries, were all his remaining Beys. Six hundred and fifty horfe, commande'd by the fon and fon in law of Scheik Daher, accompanied this little army, which formed in all fix thoufand three hundred and ten combatants. Abou Dahab had fent twelve thoufand men to Salakia, a town fituated on tha Ifthmus of Suez, to oppofe A/i's paffage. As foon therefore as he approached this place, thefe troops advanced to meet him, and ranged themfelves in line of battle. The Scheik Elbalad, without hefitation, accepted the challenge. He ruihed upon him with the rapidity of lightning. He fought fabre in hand at the head of his Mamalukes, who, encouraged by his prefence, carried deffruetuon through the ranks. The o enemy fuftained this terrible fhock for -four hours. At length, penetrated in all parts, ON E G Y P T. i9r parts, they fled into the defart,. leaving a great number of dead upon the field of battle. This glorious victory encouraged the little troop of Ali, who thought themfelves invincible under fo brave a leader. Profiting by the ardour of his warriors, he advanced directly to Grand Cairo. The fugitives carried the news of their defeat, and of his approach. Ahou Dakab affembled the Beys brought over to his intereft, and the principal people, and addreffed them in thefe terms : " Brave chiefs of the Repub-" lie, and you Egyptians, who cherifh the " law of our Prophet, you know AIL He '* is a christian in his heart, and has con-" traded alliances with the infidels. He " wifhes to fubject this country, that he " may abolifh the religion of Mahomet, and " force you to adopt chriftianity. Re- " member what the european's " have done in India; the Muffulmen ** of thofe rich conntries received them " with kindnefs, admitted them into their " ports, granted them factories, and made " commercial treaties with them. What " was the confequence ? The Chrijlians " have " have ravaged their provinces, dejlroyed their *' cities, conquered their kingdoms, and after " reducing them to Jlavery, have eftablifhed " idolatry (k) on the ruins of the true reli-" gion. Faithful Muffulmen, a fimilar fate a-" waits you. Ali, the ally of thefe Europeans, tf is about to overturn the conititution of M your empire, to throw open Egypt to " the infidels, and force you to become " chriftians. Aid me to repulfe the enemy " of the Republic, of your laws, of Ifla-" mifmj or prepare yourfelves for all the " miferies your brethren of Bengal ff have fuffered.—Chufe between him and us idolaters, .becaufe bcin^ unable to comprehend our ;r.}ferics-they fay wc worfhip feveral gods. Of ON fc 6 v p t. 193 of this moment of enmufiafm, Abou Dahab published a, manifeflo in the city, by which every man who loved his religion and his country was invited to take arms, and before the clofe of day, twenty thoufand men were ranged under his banners. He fet out immediately at the head of this army, to attack the enemy. The Janizaries, faithful to their promife, refufed to follow him, and waited with tranquillity the refult of the combat. < Ali was unprepared for this event. He no fooner heard that Abou Dahab was approaching with troops, three times fuperior to his in number, than he abandoned himfelf to defpair, and fell dangeroufly ill. His friends advifed him to return to Acre, but he declared he would fooner perifh than retreat an inch. The 13th of April, 1773, the army of Grand Cairo appeared in the pretence of his camp. He immediately ranged his troops in order of battle. Scheik Lebi and Scheik Crim had the command of the left wing. The right he gave to Tentaoui, and placed his infantry in the centre. Having made Vol. II. O thefe thefe able difpofitions, and exhorted the Chiefs to fight valiantly, he made them convey him to his tent, for he was too weak to fit on horfeback. The battle began at eleven in the morning. Both parties charged with fury, and, in fpite of the inferiority of All's troops, they at nrff. had the advantage. Scheik Lebi and Scheik Crim glo-rioufly repulfed the Egyptian cavalry. Tentaoui, at the head of the brave Mamalukes, overthrew every thing before him. Victory was declaring for Ali, when the Mograbi, thofe mercenary troops, invariably led by the allurement of gain, fuffered themfelves to be corrupted by the fplcndid pro-mi fes of Abou Dahab, and pa (fed over to his fide. The fortune of the day was changed. The fugitives rallied, and having now but three thoufand men to contend with* they environed them on every fide, and flew a great number of them. The generous Tentaoui could not furvive his defeat. He precipitated himfelf into the middle of their Ljuadfons, and fell, covered with wounds, on a heap of dead, whom he had facrificed. Scheik Lebi, the valiant fon of the Prince 3 of of Acre, defended himfelf for a long time with his Arabs, and died combating. Scheik Crim, opening himfelf a paffage through the Egyptian ranks, rode full fpeed to the tent of Ali, and conjured him to take refuge with him at St. John of Acre. Mourad, Ibrahim, Soliman, and Abd Errohman, arrived there alfo, and made the fame remon-ftrances. My friends, replied he, fly, I command you; as for me, my hour is come. Scarcely had they quitted him before he was furrounded by the victorious troops. The Mamalukes, who was near his tent, defended their mafter to the lafl drop of their blood, and all perifhed with their arms in their hands. Defpair having given new force to the unhappy Scheik Elbalad, he rofe up, and flew the firfr. two foldiers who attempted to feize him. He was fired upon, and wounded with two balls. At this moment the Lieutenant of Abou Dahab appearing, fabre in hand, Ali fhot him with a piflol. Swimming in his blood, he fought like a lion, but a foldier having beat him down by the back ftroke ©fa fabre, they threw themfelves upon him, O 2 and and carried him to the tent of the conque■» rbr* The traitor carrying his perfidy to its greateft height, ihed feigned tears on feeing him in this condition, and tried to confole him for his difgrace. Ali turned away his eyes, and uttered not a word. He died of his wounds eight days after. Others have aflured me that they were not mortal, and that he was poifoned by his infamous brother-in-law. This was to complete his enormities; nor can we reflect, without lhud-dering, on the horrors to which men are hurried by ambition. Ali was of the middle fize ; he had large eyes, full of fire; his carriage was graceful and noble, and his character frank and generous. Nature had endowed him with an unfurmountable courage, and a lofty genius. Far removed from that barbarous pride which leads the Turks to defpife flrangers, he loved them for their talents, and gene-roufly repaid their fervices. He wifhed ardently for officers to difcipline his troops9 and teach them the European tactics. He died the victim of his friendfhip. His mif-fortune arofe from nourishing and bringing up up a traitor, who took advantage of his bounty to imbitter his days, and to conduct him to his grave. Had Rujjia availed her-felf of his offers, had ihe but granted him fome engineers, and three or four thoufand men, he would have made himfelf Sovereign of Syria and Egypt, and have transferred to his ally the commerce of Arabia and India. He perifhed at 45 years of age. The Egyptians long wept his lofs, and faw them-, felves again plunged into all the miferies from which he had delivered them. As foon as Scheik Daher heard of the death of Ali, and that of his fon, he abanr doned himfelf to forrow and regret. The wretched old man threw himfelf on his face upon the earth, covered himfelf with daft, and iked torrents of tears. But he muft foon think of defending his life and his principality. Abou Dahab, elated with his triumph, determined to take revenge for the protection afforded by the Arabian Prince to Ali. He marched againft Syria with the whole force of Egypt, leaving Ifmael to govern in his abfence. Jaffa was the firrt city he attacked. Scheik Crim defended \% O 3 with with courage, and the fiege was protracted for fome time. Unfortunately an European, gained by the promife of Abou Dahab, fprung a mine, which overthrew a confide-rable part of the walls. The Egyptians entered by the breach, and put all the inhabitants to death*. After this barbarous execution they marched towards St. John of Acre. Scheik Daher, who loved his people, and who was afraid of expofing them to the fame cruel fate, advifed them to open their gates to the conquerors, and retired, himfelf into the mountains with his children. Abou Dahab meeting with no refinance, fpared their blood. But imagining that the Monks of Nazareth concealed the treafures of the Prince, he fent for them, and commanded them to deliver them upon the fpot. Thefe unhappy men in vain af-furcd him that they knew nothing of them. * Baron di Tott has the following paflage in his Memoirs :—" On approaching the coaft, they fhe wed mc the horrid pyramid erected by Mahomed Bey. This monfter had formed it of fifteen hundred heads he had ordered to be cutoff, after taking of this town" (J^Pa)' H3, 4th part, 2d vol. edit, by Jarvis. He He took off the heads of three of them. Not content 'with this cruelty, he-put to death by torture IM<em Ibrahim Saba, the Intendant of'Scheik Daher, to force him .o difcover thefe imaginary treafures. Some of the fons of the Arabian Princ^ underwent the fame fate, but with no more fuccefs. Here finiihed the crimes of Abou Dahab. One morning he was found dead in his bed. It was pretended that he was poifoned by one of his Haves, but this fact is uncertain. On this news, the Egyptian troops took the route of Grand Cairo, and the traitor Ifmael was elected Scheik Elbalad. The Prince of Acre immediately defcended from the mountains, and re-entered his principality. The people celebrated his return by (houts of joy and folemn feftivals §. During thefe tranfactions, a Turkifh fquadron came to anchor on the coail of Syria. § The fame enlightened author bears his teftimony to the virtues of this good Prince. In (peaking of Acrex he fays, " It was only, therefore, under the quiet and beneficent reign of Scheik Daher that the plentiful crops multiplied our cftabli.hments in Syria ; and it is fince the tragical end of that Prince that commerce has begun to decline. P. 319, 4th part, 2d vol. edit, by Jarvis. O 4 The The Captain Pacha (that too celebrated tyrant) having obtained permimon from Scheik Daher to pay him a vifit, brought him a Firman of the Grand Signior, granting to him and his defcendants the fovereignty of Acre, and .the pardon of what was paft. The old man was overcome with joy. Ready to drop into the grave, he faid that he mould die without regret, now that he faw that power rendered legitimate which he had purchafed by fixty years war and trouble. The Captain Pacha terrified his thanks, and before he quitted him, preffed him to come and dine on board his veffel. The Arabian Prince, after the Firman he had received, had not the fmalleft fufpicion of the treachery intended him, and accepted of the invitation. On entering the fhip, he was faluted by a difchargc of artillery, and the next moment the Admiral drew from his bofom another Firman, ordering his death, and inftantly took off his head. This re-fpecfable old man, fo bafely betrayed, was 86 years of age. Pie was adored by his people, whom he had all his life defended againft the tyranny of the Pacha, It is 4 thus thus that the Divan of Constantinople treats the great men under its. dominion ! But any Government that employs fuch means to reduce Princes and Governors to their duty, betrays its weaknefs, and an empire which has no other arms to preferve its provinces with than perfidy, is on the brink of ruin. When the Greek Emperors, corrupted by effeminacy, flattery, and the fpi-rit of feet, deftroyed by poifon and the dagger every per fon who gave them umbrage in the whole extent of their dominions, they were foon dethroned, and Conftantinople palled into the hands of a more generous people. At this day, when the degraded Ottomans maka ufe of fimilar expedients, a limilar deftiny awaits them. i believe thefe reflections to be juft; for on perufing with attention the annals of all hiitory, we fee kingdoms fall with the virtue and manners of the nations. LETTER XLII. sequel of the history of ali. Hiftory of Ifmael Bey become Scheik Elbalad. Pajfage of Mourad and Ibrahim, Beys in tipper Egypt. Their connections with the Arabs. Ifmael difpatches a body of troops againft them, and they retreat into the Derart. They fortify themfelves, take pofefjicn offme of the principal towns in the difricl of Said, penetrate as far as Gaza, and enter into a treaty of alliance with Ifmael. Re-entering Grand Cairo, and on the point of being majfacred, they betake thfives to fight, retire precipitately to dirge1, call to their afifance the Arabians, and defeat the army which was fent by Ifmael to oppofe them. He arrives in per-fon at the head of a body of troops. The affbciated Beys contrive means to corrupt their fidelity and the Scheik Elbalad retires into Syria with his trcafures. On their return to the capital, they promote their creatures to the rank of Bey, and affumc the govern* government of Egypt. Engagement with Haffan Bey abandoned in thefreets of Grand Cairo, and its confequences. Mourad conducts the caravan of Mecca, and the ufual tribute being de?nanded of him by the Arabs, he orders them to be beheaded. Attacked and wounded on his return, he obliges the enemy to retreat. His quarrels with Ibra-him. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. I Hope, Sir, it will not be difagreeable to you to be informed of fuch events as may ferve as a continuation of the hiftory of Ali, of the greateft part of which I was myfelf a fpec-tator. After the death of this valiant chief, and that of Mahamed Abou Dahab, Ifmael enjoyed quietly the fruits of his treachery. Elected Scheik Elbalad, he governed Egypt as a fovereign. Having diftributed the provinces amongft his creatures, he was furrounded by pcrfons he had protected, and reigned at Grand Cairo. To fe-cure his power, he availed himfelf of the credit credit of the Pacha, an artful and enrerpri-f n- man. As foon as he had gained the Viceroy, and the officers of the Janizaries, he iffued his commands from one end of Egypt to the other, and his will became a law. Educated by Ali, he was exercifed in the profeiiion of arms, was courageous, and had a thorough knowledge of bufmefs. But all thefe qualities ■ were tarnifhed by avarice. He collected gold from every part, and in-{lead of occupying himfelf with the welfare of his people, and the glory of the (late, he thought of nothing but fwelling his trear fures. Wnilft he imagined he had nothing to apprehend, Mourad and Ibrahim were burning with the defire of avenging the defeat of their patron. The former, full of fire and ardour, was courageous and frank, but inconfiderate; the latter united to moderation of character, an acute under-Handing, well adapted to form a party. Having vowed perpetual friendship, they fet out from Syria with a fmall body of Mamalukes attached to their fortune, croffed the defarts, and proceeded into the Said. Before they had time to form partisans there, Ifmael ON fe G Y P T. 205 Ifmael fent an army againft them. Mourad wifhed to engage with their handful of men, but was prevented by the prudence of Ibrahim, and they retired into the depths of thofe folitudes where the enemy did not date to follow them. During their abode here, they brought over to their intereft an independent Arab prince, promifing to augment his dominions if, by his means* they might regain the capital. The Emir, charmed with the opportunity of affording protection to difgraced Beys, againft Ifmael who had attempted to levy contributions within his jurifdicfion, vowed that he would aid them with all his power. He gave orders for his Arabs to take arms, and fix thoufand horfemen ranged themfelves in an inftant under his banners. With this little arniy they kept along the Nile, took poffef-fion of the principal towns fituated on its banks, and defcended towards Cairo. After defeating feveral parties Ifmael had fent againft them, they encamped near Giza in 1777. The Scheik Elbalad fet out from the caftle at the head of a n imerous army, to flop them at the paffage of the Nile. Whilft the the armies were in prefence of each other, deputies reciprocally paffed between the two generals, and treated of an accommodation. Ifmael, who dreaded the impetuous valour of Mourad, and the wifdom of Ibrahim, wa* unwilling to rifk his fortune on the event of a battle, and offered to fufTer them to refume their ftation as members of the Republic. Peace was figned on this condition. They entered the capital therefore, preceded by the Arabian prince, who, mounted on a fuperb horfe, marched at the head of cavaliers, armed with fabres and with lances. After three days ilay at Grand Cairo, feeing the completion of his defigns, he returned into his principality, loaded with prefents and nattering promifes. The reconciliation was not fincere. Ifmael had feduced his enemies to deftroy them without fighting. Poifeffed of the treafures and the power, he imagined he mould find no difficulty in accomplishing his project. * The new Beys therefore were furrounded by precipices on every fide. Great addrefs was neceffary to avoid the {hares that were laid for them. In 1778, the Scheik Elbalad fearing, left if he attacked them ON E G Y P T. 407 them in their palaces, where they were always on their guard, the people might take part with the remains of the houfe of Aliy formed in concert with the Pacha and his partizans, the refolution to maffacre them the firfl time they appeared at the Divan, They were apprized of this plot, and efcaped in the night into upper Egypt. They fortified themfelves in Girge, called the jArabs to their fuccour, and waited boldly for the enemy. Ifmael fent a body of cavalry to purfue them. The fugitives gave them battle and difcomfited them. He then marched himfelf at the head of thirty thoufand men. Full of confidence in his forces, he reckoned on a certain victory. But the dexterous Ibrahim employed againft him the fame arts which had proved of fuch fervice to Abou Dahab. Acquainted with his avarice, and knowing that his foldiers were ill paid, he offered them more confiderable pay, and promifed to promote the onicedfc No more was neceffary to debauch a part of thefe mercenary troops, always ready to fell themfelves to the beit bidder. Ifmael no fooner perceived himfeif abandoned, than he fled precipitately precipitately towards Cairo, loaded fifty camels with gold and filver, and traverfing the Ifthmus, he took refuge in Syria. This villain, juftly punilhed for having betrayed his friend and mailer, from that moment led a wretched life, in the different provinces of the Ottoman empire. I have been allured that he afterwards repaired to Conftan-tinople, on the faith of the promifes of the Porte, whofe authority he had reflored in Egypt, and that the Divan, after flripping him of his wealth, had given him up to his unhappy defliny. The retreat of Ifmael rendered Mourad and Ibrahim maflers of the kingdom. They entered in triumph into Grand Cairo, where they were received with the acclamations of the people. The latter was appointed Scheik Elbalad, and the former Emir Haji. Their firfl flep was to depofe the Pacha, who had been imprudent enough to take part againft diem, by declaring them enemies of the Grand Signior. The Caracoulouck, or emiffary dreffed in black, repaired to his apartment, folded up the corner of the carpet, and the Viceroy immediately retired to Boulak, where • where he waited his orders from Conftanti-nople. As foon as a new Pacha was fent, they thought of railing their Mamalukes to the dignity of Beys. I'aflijled at this nomination, by means of my Turkifh habit. The Sangiaks were feated at the extremity of the "iiall of council, near to the grating where the Pacha was. After delivering to the Kiriia the names of thofe they wifhed. to create, he read them with a loud voice, cloathed them with a Caftan, gave them the Firman of Sangiak, and they were proclaimed Beys. . This ceremony finifhed, they conducted' the Scheik and the Emir Haji back to their palaces with pomp. The proceffion was very brilliant. Ibrahim and Mourad, mounted on horfes covered with gold and diamonds, faluted, to the right .and left, the people ranged on each fide, who repeated their names with fhouts of joy, wifhing them all fort of profperity. Thefe .two chiefs threw amonglt. them every in-ftant, handfuls of Medinas, of Piaflers, and Sequins, which were greedily picked up by the Egyptians. They were preceded by fix hundred Mamalukes magnificently clad, Vol. II, P and and mounted on courfers richly caparifoned. The Janizaries, the Arabs, and the different bodies of troops followed in good order. This pompous fpectacle kited two hours. Upwards of four hundred thoufand perfons were fpectators. I could not help being furprized at feeing fo numerous a body of men voluntarily fubmitting themfelves to feven or eight thoufand foreigners, who have no other employment than their deitruction. But the natives of Egypt, gentle and peaceable, without force, and without energy, feemed deitined to eternal bondage. Bent for ages under the yoke of defpotifm, they fuffer every fort of mifery, without lifting up their heads. Were they fubjects of a mild government, there would not be a happier people upon earth. In fpight of their wretched deitiny, they paffionately love their country, and nothing can tear them from it *. Ibrahim * Colonel Capper, in the admirable account he gives, in his Voyage, and jfourney from India, fpcaks as follows of the Egyptians : " The prefent Egyptians are an hetcro-" geneousmixjurc of all nations, and having unfortunately "retained ON E G Y P f. an Ibrahim and Mourad, having expelled Ifmael from Grand Cairo, refolved to exterminate , root and branch, every per-fon belonging to his houfehold. Above all, they dreaded Haffan Bey, who, by his ge-nerofity, his juftice, and his valour, had gained the favour of the people and the Grandees; Not fucceeding by ftratagem, they determined to make ufe of open violence. Retiring into the caftle, they directed a battery of fix cannon againft his palace, and diftributed bodies of troops in the en- ■* retained only the word features both of the minds and zt perfons of their anceftorSj in my opinion they are now " become the rhoft difagreeable nation on earth, bearing " no more refemblance to the former Egyptians than the " prefent ruins do to their once magnificent buildings.'* The tranflator takes the liberty to remark, that Mr. Savory pafTed three years in, the Colonel only pafTed through the country. The EngUJhman, conftitutionally the advocate for freedom, contents himfelf with abufing and contemning this unhappy people. The French writer acknowledges their degraded character, fpares his invective, benevolently deplores their fate, and philofo-phically afligns the caufe of it. A citizen of the world prefers the latter mode of feeing things, and of exprerfing them. Do not Englilhmen too often travel thus ?- Tranflator. p 2 virofis virons to attack it in parts. Harlan defended himfelf valiantly 'with his Mamalukes, and repulfed every aflault. The noife of the artillery fpread confternation amongft the inhabitants. War was made in the middle of the ftreets, and from the tops of the roofs. On all fides was heard the tumult of the combatants, horfes falling, and the cries of the unhappy victims of the diifen-tlon. Bands of villains, taking advantage of the confufion, ran through every quarter of the city, breaking open doors, entering into houfes, and putting all to fire and fword. The French merchants were dif-mayed. They expected at every inftant to fee the gate of their diitrict forced, their fortune deftroyed, and to perifh amidft their wives and children. I was prefent at this tragedy, determined with fome other young men to- defend the entrance of the ftreet to the laft drop of blood, and to die -at lcaft in combating. Our alarms were not ill-founded. About two hundred robbers came with axes and arms of every kind, to beat down the only gate we had to fhelter us ; but as it was very ftrong, and they expected 3 to to meet with fome refiftance,^ they went off another way, and pillaged the neighbouring houfes. Two days and two nights did'the fcene of horror laff, during which the noife of cannon and mufketry, and the fhrieks of dcfpair were continually heard. We were well able to judge of this, for not one amongft us had the leaft defire to go to fleep. At length, on the third day of the combat, we perceived, from the top of our terraces, Haffan Bey, who, accompanied by two hundred Mamalukes, fabre in hand, opened a paffage through his enemies, and made his efcape form Grand Cairo. In his attempt to reach Syria, he fell in with a body of three thoufand Arabs of the enemy's party in the defart, who cut off his retreat. He ftrove to cut his way through their fquadrons, and fought moft defperately. All his Mamalukes perifhed by his fide. Though . covered with blood, he defended himfelf for an hour. Being taken, the Arabs brought him back towards the capital. On his arrival at Boulak, he conjured them to permit him for an inftant to enter the houfe of a. Scheik. his friend, to take a laft fare- well of him. They complied with his re-quell, and difpatched a courier to acquaint Mourad that they were bringing his enemy a prifoner. On this news the Emir Haji fent two hundred Satellites to cut off his head. They furrounded the houfe, and loudly demanded him. The Scheik re-fufed, and declared that he never would violate the laws of hofpitality by delivering up his friend. They were preparing to carry him off by force. " J will not fuffer <« you, fays Haffan, to expofe yourfelf to " the violence of thefe madmen, who would " murder you, your wife, and children. f* Let me go out." Saying this, he tears himfelf from the arms of the Scheik, mounts upon the terrace, paffes over to another, and perceiving that the gate of that houfe was only guarded by one foldier, he defcends without making any noife, opens it, feizes the arm that was about to ftrike him, knocks the Cavalier from his horfe, wrefis from him his fabre, and fets off full fpeed to Cairo. At this fpecfacle the Satellites were ftruck motionlefs with furprize. Recovering themfelves, they fired upon the fugitive. gitive, and purfued him with all their might. Two horfemen had already overtaken him; but he overfet them with blows of his fabre, and continued his courfe. All the flreets of Grand Cairo have gates for the public fafety. In pafling, he made feveral of them be fhut, and carrying the keys with him, they flopped the progrefs of his enemies. Repairing to the palace of Ibrahim, he entered by the Court of the Haram, covering his vifige with his fhawl, that he might not be difcovered. The wife of the Scheik Elbalad was his relation : he prayed her to intercede for him with her hufband. She went and threw herfelf on her knees, imploring the life of her coufin. Ibrahim gave way, took Haffan under his protection, had him cured of his wounds, and, for a long time, refifled Mourad, who follicited his death. Seeing that the Emir-Haji was preparing to go to war with him, unlefs he obtained his demand, he became reconciled to him, on confenting that the prifoner mould be banifhed to Gedda, He was conducted to Suez, and delivered to the Captain of a fmall veffel, who received pr-P 4 ders ders to tranfport him to the place of his exile. Two of his Haves, the voluntary companions of his misfortunes, followed him from attachment. They were apprized that the Captain was poffeffed of a Firman, figned by Mourad, whicli condemned the head of their mailer on their landing, and loil no time in acquainting him with it. Haffan, feigning ignorance of his deiliny, begged the Captain to put him on fhore on the coafl of Egypt, inflead of conveying him to Gedda. Neither promifes nor menaces could prevail upon him. On his re-fufal, he feized oii the arms which were on board, during the night, and, affifled by his two flaves, cut off the head of the Captain, and of three failors, threw them into the fea, and taking the helm, conducted the veffel to Coffeir, whence he repaired into the Sayde, carrying with him the fum of 400,000 livres which he found in the veffel. From that moment he is labouring to procure himfelf partizans, and he may one day, perhaps, re-enter Cairo, where lie is looked for by the wiflies of the people. The The death of fix Beys of Ifmaers party, and the flight of the others, rendered Ibrahim and Mourad abfolute matters at Grand Cairo. Having now nothing to difturb them, the Emir Haji prepared, according to cuftom, to conduct the caravan of Mecca. The pilgrims gathered together from all parts in the plain of Helle, in the neighbourhood of the city. About ten thoufand tents were pitched ; they covered a great extent of ground. Thofe of the officers and chiefs were compofed of painted linen, lined on the infide with fattin, and adorned with cufhions embroidered in gold and filver. During the night, a great number of lamps of coloured glafs were lighted around each tent, which produced a brilliant and variegated illumination. The reflections of the light, gilding the foliage of the orange and date-trees fpread over the plain, formed a charming fpectacle. The relations and friends of the pilgrims came to pafs the night with them. At the break of day the Emir Haji gave the fignal with the drum and trumpets. Every man flruck his tent, and putting his baggage and provi- fions fions on camels, began the journey__ Firfl went the van guard, efcortcd by a corps of cavalry, well mounted. Next appeared the camel bearing the tapeflry def-tined to cover the Caaba, or houfe of God. His head was decorated with a magnificent plume of feathers, and his back covered with a cloth of gold. He was environed by Priefls, fingfng the hymns of the Coran. About twenty thoufand pilgrims followed on foot, on horfeback, and on camels. A body of five thoufand cavalry, diflributed in different troops, under the command of the Emir Haji, marched on the flanks of the caravan. A few ladies alfo, borne in litters, were making the pilgrimage. Nothing can be more magnificent than the departure of this caravan. The men, neatly clad, feem full of health and vigour ; the horfes, of fire and ardour. On their return every thing is changed; the animals meagre and languid, and the pilgrims pale, lank, and fun-burnt, appear like fkeletons. In fact, this journey, which is extremely difficult, lafls forty days acrofs the deiarts, where they are obliged fometimes to travel fifty leagues without without rinding a fingle drop of water that is drinkable. The heat of the fun is ex-ccffive, and the duft raifed by the feet of fuch a multitude of men and animals, darkens the air, fills the eyes and mouth, and prevents refpiration. Sometimes the peftiferous winds from the fouth-eaft roll it along in fuch terrible whirls, that three or four hundred men perifh in a day. This calamity is highly advantageous to the Emir Haji, who is entitled to the baggage and Commercial effects of all thofe who die upon, the way. Accordingly he frequently returns to Cairo poffeffed of the third of the property that went from it. The caravan under the convoy of Mourad, after turning the extremity of the Red Sea, entered Arabia Deferta. Th? Arabs prefented themfelves, and attempted to exact the cuftomary tribute. He cut off the heads of their Chiefs, and the others, unable to difpute the paffage with him, returned to their terns, breathing vengeance. The caravan arrived faf ly at BeaJcr, where, according to cuftorn, it joined that of Damafcus, and fix days after they reached Mecca. Mecca. During the fourteen days that the Mahometans, collected from all parts of the world, remain in this city, to perform the duties of religion, an immenfe commerce is carried on. Part of the pilgrims repair thither to fulfil the precept which commands every Muffulman once in his life to vilit the houfe of God. The reft are drawn by the allurement of intereft, and carry with them the rarefl produce of their refpedlive countries. Here the pilgrim meets with abundance of the precious fluffs, and of the diamonds of India; the beautiful pearls of the Perfian Gulph, the balfam, in fuch requefl amongfl the Orientals, the fleet weapons of Damafcus, Moka coffee, the gold-duff, of Africa, and the fequins of Grand Cairo. It is perhaps the richefl fair in the whole world. Upwards of one hundred thoufand merchants are collected here ; and as the time is fliortj one cannot calculate the number of millions that are bartered for in the fpace of fourteen days. It were to be wifhed, that fome European, verfed in the Arabic tongue, and difguifed as a merchant, could afiifl at this folemnity, and give us fuch details D N E G Y P T. 221 details of it, as we are now forced to receive from the mouth of thofe in whom we cannot place perfect: confidence, the Muffulmen never willingly conyerfing with Infidels on fubjecls refpecling their religion. Veffels which could at this time reach Gedda, laden with certain European and Indian merchandize, would be Jure of felling their cargoes in a few hours, and of being paid for them iimnediately in gold. The Efiglijh have made fome fuc-cefsful adventures of this fort, which, no doubt, they would have continued, had not political views, and difputes between them and the natives of the country, prevented their profecution *. Mourad * Colonel Capper ftates this matter in his voyage and journey from India. " It is much to be lamented" . fays he, u that the Coventry frigate, which lately went u up the Red Sea, was inadvertently betrayed into a " quarrel with the inhabitants of Cojfeir, a place about " fix degrees north of Gedda, on the weftern more, and " only one hundred and twenty miles from the banks of " the Nile.-It is faid, that not only the fort and a " number of houfes Were deftroyed, but that alfo near Mourad Bey was not fo profperous In his return as he had been in going to Mecca. Several Arab tribes combined their forces to avenge the blood of their chiefs. They waited the moment when the caravan mull pafs between the mountains, and attacked it with advantage< At firft, there was no- lind of one eye or Of of both eyes, are met with here in great numbers. This calamity muft not be wholly attributed to the reverberation of a burning fun, for the Arabs who live in the midft of fands, have in general ftrong eyes and a piercing fight. Nor muft we give more credit to Mr. Haffelqueft fcj, who refided a fhort time in this country, when he fays, that this diforder proceeds from the vapours which exhale from the ftagnant waters, for the French merchants whofe houfes line the canal of Grand Cairo, which for fix months of the year contains ftanding water of an infupportable odour, would be all blind, and for fifty years paft not one of them has left his fight (d)r The cuftom the Egyptians have of (leeping in the open air in the fummer, either on the terraces of their houfes, or near their huts, is doubtlcfs the origin of this infirmity. The nitre generally diffufed throughout the air, and the (c) Voyage d'Egyptc. (d) One only of thefe merchants loft his fight, but he lived within the city, and not on the banks of the canal. rhisfai£l therefore proves nothing in favour of Air. Haf-iel^ueft's ouinipa. heavy heavy dews of the night, attack the delicate organ of fight, and deprives them either of one or both eyes. Eight thoufand of thefe unhappy people are kept in the great mofquc of Cairo, and they are provided with a decent fubfiitence. The fmall pox and hernias are alfo very common, but without making any great ravages in Egypt. As to the phthific and fluxions of the breafl, which in cold countries carry off fo many perfons in the flower of their age, they are ffrangers to this happy climate. Pains of the breaffc are never felt here. I am perfuaded that perfons attacked by thofe cruel maladies, would recover their health in a country where the air, denfe, warm, and moift, impregnated with the perfume of plants and the oily quality of the earth, appears highly favourable to the lungs (e). It (e) Mr. Paw pretends that the Egyptians have been at all times afflicted by the leprofy. Herodotus, Strabo, Diodorus Siculus, who were well acquainted with this country, do not however mention this malady, a proof that it was unknown there, in their time. I have feen lepers w the ifiands of the Archipelago, fequeftercd from fociety> as It muft be admitted, however, that there is an unhealthy feafon in Egypt. From February to the month of May, the fouther-ly winds blow at intervals. They fill the atmofphere with a fubtle dull which, impedes refpiration, and bring with them pernicious vapours. The heat becomes fometimes infupportable, and the thermometer rifes fuddenly twelve degrees. During this feafon, called khamfin or fifty by the inhabitants, from the period in which this wind is more peculiarly felt, from Eafter to Whitfuntide, they feed on rice, vegetables, frefh fifh, and fruits. They bathe frequently, and make great ufe of lemon juice and perfumes. With this regimen they guard themfelves againft the dangerous effects of the khamfin. It muft not be imagined that this wind, which corrupts in a few hours flefh meat, and all animal fubftance, lafts fifty days together ; it would make Egypt a defart. But as among the Jews: they inhabit cottages on the fide of the highways, and beg alms of paiTengers.. But in Egypt, where I have travelled a great deal, I never met with one of thefe unfortunate perfons. it rarely blows three days fucceflive-ly. Sometiines it appears only in the fhape of an impetuous whirlwind, which panes rapidly, and is fatal only to the traveller furprized in the middle of the defarts. A hurricane of this fort fuddenly arofe whilft I was at Alexandria, in the month of May, rolling before it torrents of burning fand. The firmament was enveloped in a thick veil; the fun appeared of the colour of blood. The duft penetrated into the very apartments, and burnt the face and eyes. At the end of four hours the tempeft calmed, and the fky refumed its ferenity. Some wretched travellers who happened to be in the defart were fuffocated. I faw feveral dead brought in, and fome who were thought to be of the number, reftored to life by bathing them in cold water. The inhabitants of Grand Cairo, fituated farther up the-country, naffer, more from this calamity, and a French merchant who was very lufty, died there, fuffocated by the heat. Similar phenomena have buried whole armies and caravans. Several Several modern authors, at the head of whom appears Mr. Paw, have alferted that the plague is of Egyptian origin. Were this a fact, it would certainly greatly diminilh the advantages of this country, for no fertility or riches can ever balance the miferies inflicted by this fcourge upon humanity. The information I have acquired, both from the natives of the country, and from foreign phyficians who have refided here from twenty to thirty years, tends to prove the contrary. They have all alfured me that this epidemical difeafe was brought there by the Turks, and that it afterwards commiu ted great havock. The following circum-ftance has fallen within my own observation. In 1778, the Grand Signior's Caravelles arrived at Damietta, and landed, according to cuitom, the filks of Syria. The plague is almoff. always on board of thefe veffels. They put on fhore without oppofition their merchandize and the perfons fick of the plague. This was in the month of Auguif, and as the epidemic ceafes in Egypt at that feafon, it did not communicate. The vef-fels fet fail, and proceeded to poifon other places. places. The fummer following, fome fhips from Conftantinople infected with this disorder, arrived at the port of Alexandria. They landed their fick without doing Uriy mifchief to the inhabitants. Since that period fome (hips from Smyrna have brought this contagion at the beginning of winter. It has fpread throughout the country, anci has deftroyed a number of the Egyptians. The following is an obfervation made forages paft. During the months of JUne> July, and Auguft, if merchandize infected with thispoifon be introduced into Egyptj it dies of itfelf, and the people are under no alarm. If it has been conveyed into the country at any other feafon, and has been communicated, it invariably ceafes at that period. But what nearly amounts to a de-monftration of its being a ftranger to this, country, is, that except in times of great famine, it never breaks out hrft in Grand Cairo, nor in the interior cities. It always begins in the fea-port towns, on the arrival of Turkifh veffels, makes a gradual progreis to the capital, from whence it afcends as far as Sienna. When it has attained its period period at Grand Cairo, and is afterwards introduced anew by the inhabitants of the Thebais, it rages with redoubled fury, fometimes deftroying two or three hundred thoufand men; but it always ceafes in the month of June, and thofe who then catch the infection, recover. Muft its cerlation then be attributed to its great heats, to the falubri-ous north winds which reign during the fummer, or to the abundant dews which fall in that feafon ? Perhaps all thefe different caufes contribute towards it ffj. Another • (f) I muft lay before you a fact. Sir, which was related to me by a captain worthy of credit, llnce it may fumifh fome light to phylicians who are fecking for an antidote againft this deflruiSlivc fcourge. ** I left Con-" ftantinople where the plague was raging. My failors .u had contracted this epidemic diforder. Two cf them " died fuddenly. In taking care of them, I caught the " infection. I felt an excefiive heat which made my " blood boil. My head was very foon attacked, and I " perceived that I had but a few moments to live. I employed the little judgment I had remaining to make , ** an experiment. I {tripped quite naked, and laid my-" felf for the remainder of the nigrht on the deck. The copious dew that fell, pierce;! me to the very bones. *? In a few hours it rendered my refpiration freer, and my 2 \ • «* heal Another remark deferving our particular at tention, is, that the extremes of heat and cold are alike enemies to this terrible ^ tagion. The winter puts an end to it Conftantinople; the fummer deftroys it ' in Egypt. It fcarcely ever reaches to the polar circle, and never panes the tropic The caravans of Grand Cairo, Damafcus and Ifpahan, v/hich are fometimes infected with it, never propagate the diforder at Mecca, and the yemen is wholly free froin this calamity. In reading hiltory we feldom find thg plague at Laceda^mon, Athens, or Byzan tium. ' When it fpread itfelf in Greece, the people foon put a flop to it by keeping great fires lighted in the public places, by clean ing the canals, by cutting the hills which intercepted the vapours, and by flopping the communication. There is no change in the " head more campofed. The agitation of my blood was " calmed, and after bathing myfelf in fea water in the " morning, I was compleatly cured." I do not know Sir, whether this be an infallible remedy, but I am certain* that all infecled fubflanccs that have paflcd throtjgh wats * *•«• longer communicate the poifon, • ' air air, the water, the fun of thefe beautiful countries; and the fame falubrity would reign there, were they ftill inhabited by natives whofe government was attentive to the public welfare, and the health of the citizens. In our days, Smyrna and Conftantinople are the foci of this frightful malady. The caufe of this muft be attributed to the little value the Turkifh government fets on the lives of men, and to their abfurd ideas of predeftination. What iignifics it to the defpot whether one half of his people perifh, provided he can himfelf brave death, (hut up in the recelfes of his Seraglio? What matters it to the Mahometan to fee thou-fands of his fellow creatures fwept away from his fide by the plague, fmce he can only ceafe to live when his hour is come ? lie will make no attempt therefore to retard it ? When the contagion reaches the houfes of the Europeans and Greeks, they purify them by fumigations; they leave the windows open to give a free circulation to the air, and burn every thing that has belonged to infected perfons. Not fo with the Ar- Vol. II. S mcnians menians and Turks; they neither btittt ^ . 11 nor purify any thing. When the principal members of a family are extinguished, th Jews, purchafe at a low price the furniture and other effects belonging to them, and fhut them up in their magazines. As f0on ^ the calamity has ceafed, they fell them very dear to fuch perfons as (land in need of them and with them communicate the pefbilen * tial poifon (g). It foon breaks out afrefh and caufes new ravages. It is thus that this nation covered with opprobrium, valuing gold beyond life, fells the plague to the muf Mmdn, who purchafe it without fear, and go to (leap with it until the fatal moment when refuming its activity, it precipitat«s them-to the grave *. 'The fpcctacie'this calamity prefents, ef peci illy at Grand Cairo, chills an European with horror. This immenfe city, from the report of the Intendants of the cuftom (S) The'lad plague at Mofcow, which carried cfF 200,000 inhabitant- was conveyed thither bv r*»ft-<£ merchandize cut of the warehoufes oi the ■■. y,-,. *' See De Tott's.Memoirs, p. 75, vol. L T. ^oufcS> houfes, contains from eight to nine hundred thoufand inhabitants. They arc heaped together by thoufands. Two hundred citizens there occupy lefs fpace than thirty at Paris §. The ftreets are very narrow, and always crouded with people. They prefs forward, they run againft each other, and one is fometimes obliged to wait feveral minutes without being able to get through the crowd. A fingle infected perfon communicates the poifon to a hundred wretches. The diforder makes a rapid progrefs, and fpreads with the violence of a conflagration, aided by the wind. The Mahometans die in their houfes, in the public fquares, in the ftreets, without affording any ufeful example of terror fo the furvivors. Ell moukaddar, fay they, it is the'rr dejliny •> yet they have before their eyes the example of the Europeans, who alone efcape the general difafter. As foon as the epidemy is declared, the French fhut up their quarter, and cut off § And thirty citizens of Paris occupy lefs fpace than ten in London. [Tranflator.] S 2 aft all communication with the city. Arab fervants who live without, bring them eve day their neceffary provisions. Exce t bread, which does not communicate the poiJ0n they throw every thing elfe through a wicket in each gate, into a bucket of water, y^* jiuid purifies them, and they are taken out without any danger. By means of thGfe precautions, the French merchants preferye their health and their lives, environed as they are with all the horrors of death. The ftreets are continually filled with funeral proceflions, followed by mourning and by tears. When the Egyptians carry to the grave their relations and their friends, hired female mourners make the air refound with their groans (h); defolated - mothers aban- - (h) In the time of Herodotus, the mourning Was ^ fame. He fpeaks of it as follows : " When a peifon of - any importance dies, all the women of the family cover " their faces with mud. They run through the city ynth " their hair difhevelled, their bofoms expofed, theif " clothes tucked up, and, making loud cries, beat their " breads !" Euterpe.-The inhabitants of the South Sea Iflands carry frill farther their filial piety, their ma ternal tendernefs; for, at the death of their relations th*> make deep fears upon their faces, and fignalize their for row by Ihedding ftreams of blood don don themfelves to lamentations, cover their faces with dun:, tear their garments, and conduct to the very edge of the tomb the child they have been clafping in their arms, and whom they are to follow probably a few moments after; for the Orientals, more pious than we are, never abandon their infected relations. They beitow their cares on them to the lafl moment, though morally certain that this act of tendernefs will colt them their lives. Thefe cries of defpair, thefe funeral proceffions, fprcad univerfal conflernation, and the French tremble in the bofom of their fanctuaries; and who could without grief and horror behold humanity groaning under the rigour of fo fe-vere a fcourge? They do not all perifh whp are attacked with it; feveral are cured, but I have been affured, that the plague carries off fometimes at Grand Cairo, three hundred thoufand inhabitants. Can you conceive it poffible that the example of the French, who come out of their houfes after the contagion is at an end, fafe and healthy, furnifhes the Turks with not the fmallefl idea of making ufe of fmilar precautions ? S 3 Can Can you imagine that, in the van: extent of the Ottoman empire, there is not a iingle port for performing quarantine ? Does fuch a nation deferve to occupy the country of the ancient Greeks, and the Egyptians, their maffers ? It has deftroyed the arts, liberty, and commerce. It leaves the wretches it has reduced to ilavery to perifh for want 0f Government. It perpetuates amongft them the moft deftructive of calamites, and con„ verts kingdoms, celebrated iflands, and flourishing cities, into defarts. I have the honour to be, &c. letter:, xlv. OBSERVATIONS ON THE DIFFERENT INHABITANTS OF EGYPT. The Coptis, defendants of the Egyptians, have lof the genius and knowledge of their an-ceftors. Next to them the Arabians, the moft ancient inhabitants of the country. Their dominion twice extended over it. Thofe who, under the government of the Beys, cultivate the lands, have entirely loft the good faith natural to the nation, while thofe who live under their Scheiks have preferved their honefty and virtues. The Bedouins inhabit the defirts, and declare war againft all the caravans ; but they are generous, hofpitalle, and pay a fiicrcd regard to their oaths'. The Chrijlians of Syria, the Greeks, and the Jews, practife the mechanical arts* Real Turks not numerous in Egypt. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. I Have hitherto only fpoken vaguely to you, Sir, of the different races of people who in-S 4 habit habit Egypt. It is proper to make you more particularly acquainted with their cha, racier, their cuftoms, and their arts. The Arabs, efpecially thofe who environ this king, dom, and who partly occupy it, merit a. peculiar attention. The details I am now about to offer you will explain how pofTihle it is for four millions of men to fubmit to the yoke of eight thoufand foreigners, and in what manner a wandering nation has been able to preferve its liberties and laws, amidft the formidable powers that furround it. The genuine natives of Egypt are ths Cophts, or Coptis, who, according to fome authors, derive their name from Cophtos, that once celebrated city of the Thebais, and, according to others, from Cobtos, Cut, becaufe they have always preferved the cuf. torn of circumcifion. Thefe are the f0]e defendants of the Egyptians. Subjected for upwards of two thoufand years to fo, reign Princes, they have loft the genius and the fciences of their anceftors but they have preferved many of their cuftoms, and the ancient vulgar language of the country. The knowledge tranfmittcd to them from father father to fon, of all the cultivated lands, of their value and extent, makes them be fe-lected as Secretaries to the Beys, and In ten-dants of all the Governors. In order to prevent thefe great men from becoming acquainted with their books of account, they write them in general in Coptic. They do not, however, perfectly underiland the language they make ufe of; but as their mafs-books, the Pentateuch, and many of the works they are pollened of, are accompanied with an Arabian translation, the ancient vulgar tongue of the Egyptians is not loft. It will furnifh the learned poflibly fome day with the means of throwing a light on the darknefs fpread over the nrit. ages of the monarchy of the Pharaohs, and of lifting up the veil which covers the hieroglyphic myfleries. The Cophts embraced Chriftianity in its origin. After Amrou conquered Egypt, he permitted them the free exercife of the Chriftian religion. They have ever fince had churches, Priefts, Bimops, and a Patriarch, who fixed his feat of refidence at Grand Cairo, when that city became the capital. capital. Devoted to the errors of Monothe-lifm, their ignorance will not allow them to difcovcr the blindnefs into which they are plunged. They are enchained by obflinacy and the fpirit of feet, and nothing can alter their belief. They mix in their worfhip a number of fupcrftitious cuftoms, which they have received from their anceftors. In other refpects, the Cophts are gentle, humane, and hofpitable. Paternal tendernefs and filial love conftitute the happinefs of their families. They honour and cheriffi all the ties of blood. The internal commerce, the art of hatching chickens, and of bringing up bees, form almoit their only fcience. They often acquire prodigious wealth in the management of the affairs entruited to them, but they never enjoy the fruit of their labours in tranquillity. The Bey, who fees them in opulence, ffrips them of their riches without pity s too happy if they can purchafe their lives by the lofs of their fortune. Thefe vexations never excite them to revolt. Their want of energy holds them chained down to fer-3 vitude ON T G Y P T. 267 vitude and mifery, and they fupport th 1 without murmuring. After the Cophts, the Arabs are the moft ancient people of Egypt. Twice have fh f reigned over that country. The firft ep 1 of their dominion goes back to the remoter!: antiquity, and, according to grave writers, precedes the arrival of Jofeph in the country. The fecord commences with the feventh century, and rrnifhes with the twelfth. They flill compoll two thirds of the inhabitants. Their manners vary with their fituation. Such as have become huf-bandmen, and live under the government of the foreigners who rule the country, afford to the philofopher a ft ri king example of the influence of laws on men. In fubjection to a tyrannical government., they have loft the good faith, the uprightnefs, which characterize their nation. They take part in the quarrels of their mafters. Villages rife up in arms againft villages,- cities againft cities. During the perpetual revolutions at Grand Cairo, the country presents a frightful fcene of carnage and of horror. The harvefts aitc^evoured I y the flames', and the blood blood of the peafants bathes thofe fields from which they heretofore produced abun., dance. As hatreds are unextinguifhable a^ mongft thefe people, as the mother infufes the defire of vengeance with her milk, into her infant, men are only born to be mutual deftroyers. Thefe degenerate Arabs, known by the name of Fellah, render the navigation of the Nile very dangerous. They attack boars under cover of the darknefs, murder the travellers, take poffeiTion of their merchandize, and commit all forts of robberies. Another part of the Arabs, who may be alfo called cultivators, live under the government of their Scbeiks, who poffefs feveral principalities in the Thebais. This word, which lignifies old man, is the moft illmtrious token of their power. They are flill, as heretofore, the Judges, the Pontiffs, and the Sovereigns of their people. They govern more like fathers of families than Kings. Thefe venerable patriarchs ufually take their repafts at the doors of their houfes, or their tents, and invite all who prefent themfelves. On rifing from table 2 they they cry with a loud voice, In the name of God, let him that Is hungry come near, and eat y nor is this invitation a barren compliment-Every man, whoever he be, has a right to feat himfelf, and to partake of the food he finds there. Permit me to quote the paf-fage of Genefis (i)9 where Abraham receives the angels, that.you may compare their prefent manners with thofe of the fame people in fuch diftant ages. " AndA bra-** ham fat in the tent door, in the plains of " Matnre, in the heat of day. And he lift <£ up his eyes, and looked, and 1c, three " men flood by him; and when he faw " them, he ran to meet them from the tent iC door, and bowed himfelf towards the " ground, and fa id, My Lord-, if now I *' have found favour in thy fight* pais not " away, I pray thee, from thy fervant. Let " a little water I pray you be fetched, and " waih your feet, and refl yourfeives under " the tree, and I will fetch a morfel of (i) Genefis, chap. iS. • The yerfion of the Bible has it, My Lords, Seigneurs, which certainly Appears moft accurate-—but this with humility.--T; anjlator. *'* bread, 2?0 letters « bread, and comfort ye your hearts j after «< that you fnall pafs on, for therefore are " ye come to your fervant. And they jfaid, o fo do as thou hail faid. And Abraham " haflened into the tent unto Sarah, and " faid, make ready quickly three meafures '« of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes " upon the hearth. And Abraham ran in-" to the herd, and fetcht a calf, tender and " good, and gave it unto a young man, and " he hailed to drefs it; and he took butter, who had revolted, and made them return to their duty with a fmall body of foldiers. The rigour of the impofitions having caufed a general revolt in the Thebais, he appeared, and the rebellion was immediately calmed. After him, Petronius, at the head of fome cohorts, flopped the impe-tuofity of many thoufand Alexandrians who had attacked him, and left a great number of them dead on the field of 'battle. Elius Gallus, having entered. Arabia with a part of the troops which guarded Egypt, proved by his victories how unwarlike thefe people are, and would have conquered Yemen but for the treachery of Syllaeus. The Ethiopians, taking advantage of his abfence, made an (o) This city is totally deftroyed. Its ruins are buried .dcr th* Lands of the Ifthmus of Suez. U 2 L irruption •s irruption into the Thebais, overturned «* the ftatues of Caefar, carried off a rich " booty, and led away prifoners the feeble " garrifons of Phile and Elephantinos. " Petronius purfued them with ten thou-" fand infantry and eight thoufand horfe ♦ " and though their army was compofed of " thirty thoufmd foldiers, he forced it to " retire to Pfe/cba, a city of Ethiopia. " Unable to obtain by his ambaffadors the " reftitution of the captives, he penetrated " into the country and gave them battle. ** Thefe troops, badly armed and without " difcipline, could not fland againff the " valour of the Romans. Some fled into *c the defarts, others took fhelter within the " walls of the capital, and the greatefl " number efcaped by fwimming to an ifland (< in the river. Amongft the latter were " feveral generals of Candace, a warlike **'. woman, then Queen of Ethiopia, Pe-" tronius croffed the Nile in boats, made " them all prifoners, and fent them to the *« city of Alexandria. He then laid fiege ic to Pfelcha and took it. A part of the " inhabitants perifhed in this attack. " After cc After this conqueft, he marched towards tc Premnin, a town fortified by nature, and *< to arrive at it, croffed thofe vaft fandy I* defarts, where the army of Cambyfes was **■ fuffocated by the winds (p). Having " carried it by ftorm, he went to lay fiege " to Napata, where was the palace of Can-" dace with her fon. The queen, fhut up " in a neighbouring fortrefs, fent ambaffa-" dors to the Roman general to treat of peace, and to offer reftitution of the cap-" tives, and the ftatues carried off. With-*' out hearkening to thefe propofitions, he " attacked the place and became mafter of it, but the young prince faved himfelf *' by flight. Imagining that it would be The priefts did not originally indicate by this name the obfcurity which reigns on the fetting of the fun, but that darknefs fpread over chaos previous to the creation, which the eternal Being animated with his breath, and from which he drew forth every being. This myfteri-ous night was in their opinion the origin of things foj. Damafcius, in fpeaking of the theology of the ancient Egyptians, fays: " They eftablifhed as the firft principle, " that darknefs which the human under^ " ftanding is unable to comprehend, and * which they celebrate three times in their * facred hymns." Sanchoniathon, im-preffed with this doctrine, fays : " Mortals *' were created from the wind Kclpia and " his fpoufe Baaou(p)" Kolpia, a Hebrew word, fignifies the breath of God, and ■Baaou, the void*. Thus it is the voice of (*) Jablonfki, Pantheon /Egyptiacum, tome pre-rnicr. (o) Damafcius, quoted by Cud worth. (p) Jablonfki, tome premier. * Blackcrel tranflated from Sanchoniathon—Colpitis, t5le voice of the mouth of God, and his fpoufe Bau or Bohov^ darknefs or night. Trarfator. A a 2 the the Creator which brings beings into exigence. This theology differs little from that of Genefis, where the prophet thus ex-preffes himfelf (q) : " And the earth was •« without form,, and void; and darknefs !* was upon the face of the deep, and the " fpirit, for breath) of God was upon the " waters." Simplicius (r) accordingly pretends, that thefe words, Tbe Creator called the light, day, and the darknefs, night, were borrowed from the Egyptians but fhould Mofes even have adopted this doctrine from, the priefts of Memphis, as he has difen-gaged it from all the abiurdities which enveloped it, it would be the lefs divine *. This ancient people, defcended from Mif-raim, the grandfon of Noah, might, as well as the Hebrews, have received the light of revelation from their common father If they had obfcured its purity, the chief of (q) Genefis, chap. i. (r) Ariftotle's Phyfics, book 8- * A learned prelate well obferves: "That the fables •*■ which were profane in other nations, were fanclijied in ** Syria, and confirmed by God himfelf!" Tranjlator.. 4 the ■ j the Ifraelites has reftored it to its proper luftre. Orpheus, initiated in the myiteries of the Egyptians, firfl conveyed into Greece their religious opinions, and fung them in harmonious verfes. *' At the beginning of the " world," faid he, " appeared ./Ether, crea-*' ted by God 9 from her bofom proceeded '* Chaos and the dark night. She covered " every thing that was below iEther." In the dialogue between Jupiter and the night, the poet availing himfelf of his privilege perfonifies her, and makes the Creator fay fJ'J: " Nurfe of the gods, immortal night---- u How fliall I proceed with wifdom to the " creation of the immortal gods ? How *' fliall I contrive to make the univerfe one !' great whole, and each thing exifl fepa-" rately? Night. Surround the creation t with an immenfe aether, place the heavens " in the middle, and in the heavens the " earth encompaffed by the fea, and flars to compofe its crown." The Greeks eagerly received the religion (/) See Efchcnbach. A a 3 fung fung by Orpheus. It flowed from the pri_ mitive ideas which the ancient Egyptians had of the origin of the world. The natural philofophers covered it with a veil impenetrable to the people, and the poets having perfonified the elements, compofed of them a fabulous Theogony, through which it was difficult to difcover the truth, concealed under fo many veils. The religious opinions of Egypt, however, long prevailed in the temples of Greece. Paufa-nias, viiiting that country, faw at Megara The Oracle of the Night, where they taught probably every thing refpecting Athor. This fymbolical deity, by which the Egyptians characterized the poffible prin-< cipal of things, became in the language of the Greek philofophers, Venus, or the mother of the world. It was ftill Orpheus who taught them this comparifon (t) : "I " mall fing the Night, Mother of Gods and Men, Night the origin of all created " things, and we fhall call her Venus/* The poets foon got poifefTion of this meta-* (t) Jablonfki, tome premier. phyficai phyfical idea, and as they muft have a deity fit to embellifh their poems, they made her fpring from the froth of the fea, excelling in beauty, and created her goddefs of Plea-fures. She animated the world; fhe gave life to every thing that breathed, and Ovid celebrated her power in the following allegorical verfes : (") Venus rules the univerfe with her glorious fceptre. No divinity equals her power. She gives laws to heaven, to the earth, and to the teeming waters. She prefcrves all beings by uniting the fexes, All the gods owe their exiftence to her. She makes the trees to grow, and matures the harvefts. See alfo Lucretius. Alma Venus ceeli iubter labentia figna Quoj mare navigcrum, qua: terras frugiferenteis Concelebras; per Te quoniam genus omne animantum Concipitur, vifitque extortum lumina Sous: Nam fimul ac Species patefacta eft verna diei, referata viget genitalis, aura favoni Aercaeprimum volucres, te Diva, tuumque Significant initum, percufias corda tua vi —— Omnibus incutiens blandum per pectora amorem Efticis ut cupide generatfm flecla propagent. LUCRET. Tranflator. (a) Ovid, De faftibus, lib. 4. A a 4 The The Egyptian priefts who had painted Night as a divinity, from whofe bofom the Eternal had drawn forth all his creatures, aware that the minds of the vulgar required fenfible objects, propofed to their veneration the moon in the midlt of darknefs. Doubtlefs they at firft taught that this planet was only the emblem of the night and a fign of the divine power; but as it often happens that the image effaces the divinity, the people addreffed their prayers to the moon and erected altars to her. The philofophers ftill farther extended this doctrine. They beftowed the name of Night, of Athor, of Venus, on the period when the Sun having pafTed the Equator, remains in the Southern Hemifphere, becaufe then the days are the fhorteft, and the nights the longeft. " The natural philo-" fophers (■*)," fays Macrobius, " have " honoured with the name of Venus, the *' upper, and with the name of Proferpine, *' the lower Hemifphere. The Phceni-" cians and the Affyrians reprefent the (*) Lib. i. chap. 21. ? former goddefs in tears, when the fun, !' palling through the twelve figns of the " Zodiac, enters the Southern Hemi-" fphere. All the time he remains there, " and renders the days fhorter, they pretend " that Venus weeps the abfence of the " god carried off by a temporary death, " and detained by Proferpine. We fee her " ftatue on Mount Lebanon; (it is the " celebrated Venus of Aphacitis) fhe has *' her head veiled, and her countenance for-rowful. Befides that this ftatue repre-fents the afflicted goddefs, it is alfo the " fymbol of winter." The following paffage proves that this opinion came from Egypt(y): " In the " month of Athyr (z), the Egyptians fay, " that Ofiris (the fun) is dead. Then the " nights become longer, the darknefs en-*' creafes, and the force of the light dimi-" niflies. The priefts on this occafion per- (y) Plutarch, Trcatife of Ifisand Ofiris. (z) Athyr is the name of a month. The Egyptians call Venus, Alhor, ami from this name they have formed ^at of the third month of their year. Orion the grammarian, «' form mournful ceremonies. They ex-pofe to the people a gilded ox covered yfs before the creation. This Chaos, fung fung by the poets of Greece and Rome, could produce nothing of itfelf. The phi, lofophers of Egypt acknowledged a mind which drew forth from it the univerfe, and efrablifhed that admirable order which reigns in it without alteration. They gave it the name of Ptha, Difpofer fdj. Jamblichus^e) gives us this information in the following words : " The Egyptians call Ptha the " creating fpirit, which does every thing «£ with truth and wifdom. The Greeks tc have called it Vulcan, confided ng no-*• thing but the art with which he pro-*? duces." They placed their fpirit before every thing, taught that he firft gave to Chaos the form of an egg%, and that he afterwards created all beings. Thales, the Mileiian, inftru&ed in the fchool of the Priefts of Memphis, faid (f), " Water is (d) La Croix, trefor epiftolaire, liv. 3, Jablonfki, Hv. premier, fays, Ptha, in Coptic, fignifies, Difpofer of things. (e) Myfleres Egyptiens, fe<£tion 8. § The difcovcry of the oviformity of the earth was brought from Egypt into Greece by Orpheus, from whence it was called the Orpic Egg.-Tranflator. (f) Cicero, lib. 4. de natura dcorum. " the *' the principle of things, and God is that c fpirit which has formed the univerfe out of the humid principle." This palfage of Veneris has great fimilitude with the doc-trine of the.Egyptians on the creation (g)+ The fpirit for breath J of God moved upon the face of the waters. It is natural to imagine, that Mofes, brought up in the court of the Pharaohs, acquired there part of his know-kdge, and that he afterwards extricated the true light from the myfteries and fables which enveloped it*. To paint the Creator ln a manner adapted to the fenfes, the Egyptians attributed to him both fexes, that ls to fay, they acknowledged in him the Power of producing without the aid of any other being. Accordingly Synefius, who Was tainted with this ancient theology, has of the infinite mind, Thou art the fa- (g) Chap. i. * Blackerell, in his Letters concerning mythology, /*) " ' Tis quite enough, if by comparing the Egyptian tuition of the rife of things from Sanccniatbon, or P'aut, we find fome traces ofvtbat afferi^on, That the u el)rew lawyers were inftru&ed in all the wifdom of Ae Egyptians." Prax. Apoit.-Tranflator. tber, ther, thou art the mother, thou art the male, thou art the female fhj. On the obelifk of granite, tranfported from Egypt to Rome, amongil the hieroglyphics, of which Hermaphion has given the interpretation, is the following remarkable paffage on the fubjecl of Ramefles, King of Heliopolis (i): This is he whom Ptha, the father of the Gods, has elcSled. Thefe words, father of the Gods, point out the flars which the Egyptian fages regarded as the mofl finking emblems of the divinity, and which the people really adored. From the time of Herodotus (k) fire, water, earth, the heavens, the moon, the fun, the day, and night, received divine honours in this country but thefe were the deities of the vulgar. Perfons initiated in the myfleries, had another belief. They acknowledged only the Author of Nature, who had drawn forth every being from non-entity. The firfl dynafly of Manethon compre- [h) Synefius, hymn 3. (i) Ammian Marcelfin, lib. 17. (k) Herodotus,lib. 2. hends the reign of the Gods in Egypt (1). He places Pbtba or Vulcan at their head, and after him, his fon—the Sun. This paffage, taken in an allegorical fenfe, is by no means contrary to found theology. The &n being the work of the Creator, may be confidered as his fon; and the Egyptians, t0 ennoble their orign, adored the Creator as the firfl: of their Kings. Mancthon affigns t0 each of thefe material Gods the years of their reign, which muft be underftood by lhe various Solar and Lunar Cycles, in-ycrted by aftronomers f/;;/ This dynafty proves that Pbtba precedes time and thofe viv-fible deities, whofe conftant order fuggefted ^ regulation of their courfe when men ftu-died the heavens. The Egyptian Prieft pofi-tively declares \t(n): ft No determined pe-* riod can be afiigned to Pbtba, becaufe he " always mines in the midft of darknefs, as / in the day," The (Tars of the firmament, *n fact, appear and diiappear alternately. fhcir empire is not eternal, becaufe it had i*) Man'ethon, according to Synccllius. (*9 See Vignolcs, tome 1. W Manethon, according to Syncellius. v°l. II. B b abe~ a beginning j but the inviiible mind exifled before time. His power mines forth perpetually in his works, and his reign is immutable. The Egyptian Priefts confined within the fancluarics of their temples this fublime doctrine, either tranfmitted to them by the firfl men, or to which they had, like Abraham foJf elevated themfelves by the efforts of their reafon, and by the fludy of aftro-nomy. Having cloathed it in allegories, of which they only poffeifed the explanation, they left the people plunged in ignorance, and favoured their idolatry by pronouncing, (o) St. Clemens, of Alexandria, afferts that Abraham raifed himfelf to the knowledge of the only God by the fvudy of altronomy. It'appeals that this alfo was the; opinion of the Arabs. Mahomet, who had collected the traditions of his country, represents the patriarch of the believers, with his eyes turned tov/ards heaven, and after obferving, with _ aftonifhment, the appearance and va-' nifning of the liars, the fun, and the moon, which he had at firft looked upon as divinities, he makes him ex-' claim, Ar) Jeremiah, phap. 7, and 44. (j) Jabloaiki, tome premier. cal name of Ofiris, which was confecrated by religion (r). " It is acknowledged," %Ts Macrobius, " that Ofiris is no other 2 than the fun. When the Egyptians wifh 'r to defcribe him in their hieroglyphic " characters, they paint him with a fceptre J and one eye." They could not figure in a manner more fenfible the ftar which enlightens the world, and to whom they attributed the empire of the iky. Accordingly Martian Capella (f), in the beautiful hymn which he compofed in honour of the father of the day, fays, Eye of the world, brilliant torch of Olympus ; hatium calls thee the Sun, for, after thy author, Thou art the fplcndid cauie of light. The Nile calls thee Scraphis; And Memphis adores thee under the name of Ofiris. Some authors have alfo called the Nile Ofiris. Plutarch explains this opinion (/). The Egytians look upon the Nile as the preferver of their country, and as deriv- (0 Macrobiu?, Saturnal, lib. i. (>) Martian Capella, lib. 2. M Plutarch's Trcatifc of Ifis and Ofiris. LETTERS «'< ing its fource from Ofiris." In fa^ t|ie* vapours exhaled by the fun, and then con-denfed in the atmofphere, fall down in rain, and form the great river which conftitutes the riches of Egypt. It is accordingly in this fenfe that Komer always calls it the emanation of Jupiter The Egyptians,' lays Herodotus (;;) pretend that Ofiris is the fame as Bacchus. This fentiment has many partizans amongft the Greeks, and is not without probability. .The Priefts of Egypt made Oiiris travel from one end of the world to the other. They painted him as a-powerful King, who had conquered the earth, and loaded men with bounties. The Greeks, who attributed the fame gifts, the fame conquefts, to Bacchus, have faid that he was the fame with Ofiris. But in the iacred language of Egypt, thefe journies only reprefented the courfe of the fun, and the advantages he procures to mortals. Thefe allegories have been at all times in ufe amongft the Orientals, and the Pfalmift (/;) Jupiter was the fame with the Sun, or Ofiris. (x) Herodotus, lib. 2. O N E G Y P T. 3S5 makes uic of one when he thus exprefles himfelf (z) : The fun " is as a bridegroom Atoning out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a ftrong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it; and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof." Ti-bullus, following literally the opinions of the Greeks, has renders them in verfes full j of grace and harmony (a). Primus aratra manu Solerti fecit Ofiris, Et teiicram fcrro follicitavithumum. Primus inexperta; commifit femina terra?, Pomaquc non notis legit ab arboribus. Hie docuit ttnexam palis adjungere vitem : Hie viridem dura caedere fake comam. A fact admitted by the graveff. writers of antiquity, evinces to a demo nil rat ion how far the Greeks were deceived in attempting to eftablifh a perfect refemblance between Bacchus and Ofiris. The iirrt was honoured as the author of the vine, and the Egyptians, fo far from attributing its Ciil- (*) Pfalm 19. («) Tibullus, lib. if elegy 8. Vol. II. Cc ture to Ofiris, abhorred wine as poifon. « The Egyptians," fays Plutarch (<£), « had " never drank wine before the time of <« Pfammeticus (c) Regarding this liquor " as the blood of the giants, who, after M making war againft the Gods, had perifh-«« ed in the combat, they did not offer them «' any in libations, imagining it was odious " to them. They afferted even, that the " vine had fprung from this blood, mixed " with the earth." This facred fable had pafTed from Egypt into Perlia, and as far as the extremities of India {d). St. Clemens, of Alexandria,, reports that the Magi abflained from wine with the utmoft attention. The Arabs had a law which prohibited them the ufe of it(f). Ovington (/*), in fhort, who has travelled in India, affures us, that in our days the Brachmins deteft that liquor, and hold it in no lefs horror than Manes, who- (b) Plutarch's Trcatife of Ifis and Ofiris. (c) This Prince was one of the laft Egyptian Pharaohs' ((f) Stroma 3. {e) Diodorus Siculus, lib. 1. {/) Ovington's V oyage, Vol. I. *< regarded Regarded it as the blood of demons. It is difficult to fay whence arofe this averfion of the Orientals for wine j but it really exifts* £nd this is probably one of the reafbns which induced Mahomet to prohibit it(^). Perhaps we ought to fearch for the caufe of this prohibition in the curfe pronounced by Noah againft his fon Cham, who, having furprized him in his drunkenriefs, infulted his fituation.- However this may be, the Egyptians, who hold it in horror, never could attribute the culture of the vine to' Ofiris. But what does this fignify ? On what oc-eafion was it given to the fun ? This queftion has excited the refearches of the ancients and the moderns, and they have laboured to refolve it. Diodorus Siculus {h)> and Horopollo (/), fay, that Ofiris fignifies Pitiophthalmus, he who has many eyes, ^his interpretation applies to the fun, but . (g) Wine is an abomination; invented by Satan.-—-Cor an. {b) Diodorus Siculus, lib. i. (0 Horopollo, Hieroglyphics, lib. I* C c 2 does 388 LETTERS does not explain the word Ofiris.' For.if Os, or Ofcb, may be tranllated in Egyptian by many, Iris has no connection with, eye, " The name of Ofiris," fays Plutarch (£), " indicates a great number of things, and " may be interpreted in various ways. It " expreffes efficacious ftrength and bounty." This ftill does not render the literal fenfe. The learned Jablonlki(/) interprets this word in a more natural manner. "Ofiris," fays he, " comes from Ofcb-lri, he who " makes time." The Egyptians underftood by this expreflion what God declares in flaking of the fun and of the moon (w) : " And God faid, let there be lights in the "firmament of the heaven, to divide the •5 day from the night, and let them be for " figns, and for feafons, and for days and " for years." The following paffage of Clemens, of Alexandria, favours this fentiment in) : " The Egyptians paint (k) Trcatife of Ifis and Ofiris, (/) Jablonfki, tome premier. {m) Genefis, Chap. i. verfe 14. («) St. Clemens, quoted by Eufebius, Prep. Evangel, lib. 1. " the To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. A HE Egyptians, Sir, verfed in the ftudy of Aftronomy, perceived that the fun appeared under different afpeefs according to his 392 L -E T T E R S " his fituation in the Zodiac. They obferv-cd that he ilackened his motion towards the folfficcs, that he haflened them at the equinoxes, and that his influence was greater or lefs under thefe various circum-fbances. They expreffed thefe different phenomena by characlerifiic denominations. Having adopted in their theology the ufe of the hieroglyphic language, which fpeaks only by fymbols, they alternately painted the fun under the form of a. child, of a man grown up, and an old man, now joyous, now fad, or fplendid, in the midit of light. The prieits by thefe emblems alluded to aftrono-mical or phyfical effects, The vulgar, ac-cuftomed to fee thefe figures in the temples, forgot' the object they reprefentcd, and adored them as divinities. Macrobius, who had penetrated into the myfleries of this ancient religion, unveils them to us in the following terms (r): " The Egyptians, at '* the winter Solftice, wifhing to mark the " ihorteit day of the year, drew from the <' fancfuary, the fun, reprefentcd under the (r) Macryb, Saturnal. lib, I, " form form of an infant. His growth is rapid, which they indicate by reprefenting him at the fpring Equinox in the figure of a young man. At the fummer Solftice, when he has reached his maturity, his age is di-ftinguifhed by a full face, ornamented with a long beard. At length they difplay him with the features of an old man, to point out the diminution of the days." Thefe reprefentations, adopted doubtlefs before the ufe of writing, and preferved by the priefts, expreiled emblematically the four feafons of the year. Firft let us examine what the Egyptians underftood by the name °f Ammon, fo celebrated in antiquity. Amnm, fays Plutarch (j), of which wc have made Ammon, is the Egyptian name of Jupiter. This god was paiticularly worshipped at Thebes, called by the facred hooks Hamon-no, the poffeihon of Hammon, and by the Septuagint (/) the city of Am- (0 Trcadfc of Ifis and Ofiris, Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus, give Jupiter alio the name of Ammon. . (0 Ezcchiel, chap. 30. The Greeks r-.nd the Romans Calkd it Dhfiol'^ the city of Jupiter. mon. mon- Herodotus tells us under what form he was honoured (u). " The inhabitants of " Thebes regarded the ram as facred, and *• do not feed on its flefli. Every year ° however, on the feftival of Jupiter, they cut off the head of a ram, and take off 49 its fkin, with which they cover the' u ftatue of the god." Proclus teaehes us the object of this ceremony (x): " The ** Egyptians," fays he, " had a lingular " veneration for the ram, becaufe the " image of Ammon bore his head, and that " this fign, the firft of the Zodiac, was the « prefage of the fruits of the earth." Eu-febius (y) adds that this fymbol marked the conjunction of the fun and moon in the fign of the ram, You recollect, Sir, the ceremony obferved by the priefts of the temple of Ammon, when men went to confult that oracle. Faithful obfervers of the opinions adopted by their anceftors, who made the fun travel (a) Herodotus, lib. 2. fx) Timseus of Plato. (y) Eufebius, prep. Evangelic.lib. 3« in Jna veffel, they carried in a boat the ftatue .of that god, formed of precious ftones, and bearing the head of a ram. So many authorities and facts, evidently demonftrate, Aat amongft the aftronomers of Egypt, Ammon reprefented the fun. It is in this fenfe that Diodorus Siculus has faid (zji Ofiris is the fame with Ammon. Notwith-ftanding, thefe two names did not reprefent the fame phenomena. The former, as you will have obferved, announced this luminary the author of time; the latter, the fpring, and the commencement of the aftronomical year which happen in the fign of the ram, a"d was pointed out by the fymbolical figure of that divinity. The word Amoun, compofed of A?n-ouein(a) fiining denoted, the dcfired effects produced by the fun on attaining the Equator, fuch as the encreafe °f the days, a more fplendid light, and a-hove all, the fortunate prefage of the inundation and abundance. The priefts, on the feftivals of Ammon, (*) Diodo - Siculus lib. 1. ia) jablonfld, tome premier. were 30 LETTERS were accuftomed to a'ffociate Hercules in his worfhip. After covering the ftatue of Jupiter with the fkin of the ram, they brought near to this emblematical god, the repre-fentation of Hercules (fi), whom they called in their language Dfom or Dfom(c), frength. This expremon characterized the virtue of the ftar of the day, when arrived at the Equinoctial line. Accordingly, Plutarch [d) fays, they alferted that Hercules, placed in the fun, turned with him. This obferva-tion has not efcaped Macrobius (e): " The m name alone of Hercules (Hcracleos) " proves that he indicated the fun. In fact, ** Her as fignifies of the air, cleos, glory \ and u to whom attribute this epithet, if not to " the body which fills the univerfe with his * fire, and which on retiring, leaves it " plunged in darknefs ?" Hence have arifen the brilliant allegories of the Greeks, who themfelves acknowledge, that the (h) Herodotus, lib. 1. (c) Jablonfki, tome premier. (d) Plut. Treatife of Ifis Ofiris. (e) Mac rob. Saturnal,lib. i. twelve ON EGYPT. 397 twelve labours of this hero, allude only to the fun palling through the twelve figns °f the Zodiac, in his annual revolution. I have the honour to be, 6cc„ L tTT £ R S L ETTE R LIE 6t HORUS^A SYMBOLIC At DEITY WHlCtf. REPRESENTED THE SUN.' Horus, as well as OJiris, had a hawk for his fymbol. The fame attributes frequently afcribed to both. His throne fupported by lions, becaufe he reprefented the fun at the fummer So If ice. His education at Butis, on the border of the great lake, denoted his great power in raifing vapours into the atmofphere, whence they fell down in dew upon the earth. The victory of Horus over Typhon, depicted the happy effecls produced by the fun in his progref through the fummer fgns, fuch as the inundation, the ex^._ tinblion of the north winds, and the excite-, ment of thofe named the Etefan. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. H ORUS, a renowned deity of ancient Egypt, was alfo, Sir, an emblem of the fun. ON EGYPT, 399 fan. Plutarch pofitivcly affirms it {J) r that virtue which prelides over the fun, whilff. he is moving through fpace, the Egyptians called Horus, and the Greeks Apollo*. The veneration of the people for this god(g) appears from the circumftance of three cities being called by this name(/6) in the Thebais. The fparrow-hawk re-prefented equally Ofiris and Horus. It Was their common emblem, and they had fometimes the fame attribute. The interpretation left by Hermapion of the hieroglyphics engraved on the obeliik of Helio- (/) Plut. Treatifc of Ifis and Ofiris. * Job alfo calls Ur or Orus the fun—" If I gazed " upon the fun (Ur, Orus) when he was mining, > or on (Jdrecha) the moon walking in brightnefs, and 4 Biy heart hath been feverely enticed (i.e. to worfhip) °r my mouth hath killed my hand ; this alfo were an Equity to be puniflied by the judge, for I mould have denied the God who is above." Job, chap. xxxi. vcr. a6> 27, 28. Tranjlator. is) Horapollo, Hieroglyphics, lib. I. ^ (*J Their Egyptian name was Cities of Horus. 1 he ^r<*ks calk-d them Cities of Apollo. polis, polls, offers thefe remarkable words ii)f Horns is the fupreme lord and the author of time. You know, Sir, that thefe qualities were chiefly attributed to Ofiris ; that they may apply to Horus, he muff neceilarily denote the flarof the day, in certain cir-cumftances; this is what is explained to us by the oracle of Apollo of Claros: Learn that the, firft.of the gods is Jen. lie is called invifible'm winter, Jupiter in the fpring (/!), The fun in fumrrter,-and towards the end of autumn, die tender Jao. '" i >] Zu ' 10 The {far of the day, on attaining the fum-mer Solfticc, and called per excellentiam the fun, is the fame as Horus. In fact the Egyptians reprefented him borne on lions(/), which flgnified his entrance into the fign of tlie lion. They who p redded over the divine inflitutions, then placed. fphynxes at the head of the canals and facred fountains, to warn the people of the approaching in- (i) Ammian Marcellinus. (/•) That is to fay A/noun. Thefe various denominations will be explained in the courfe of thefe letters. (I) Uorapollo, Hieroglyphics, lib. I. undation. undation. Macrobius, who informs us why the Greeks gave Horus the name of Apollo, confirms this fentiment (m): " In the myf-" teries," fays he, " they difcover as a ck fecret, which ought to be inviolable, that " the fun arrived in the upper hemifphere, " is called Apollo." Thefe teftimonies concur in proving, that this emblematical deity was no other than the flar of day, paffing through the figns of fummer. Thefe lights may lead us to the explication of the facred fable, which the priefts published on the fubject. of Horus for they enveloped in myftery every point of their religion. Plutarch («) gives it at length. I fhall only quote the principal traits. They faid that he was the fon of Ofiris and of Ifis; that Typhon, after killing his brother Ofiris, took poiTeffion of the kingdom; that Horus, leaguing himfelf with Ifis, a-Venged the death of his father, expelled the tyrant from his throne, without depriving him of life, and reigned glorioiifly in Egypt. i'n) Macrob. Saturnal, lib. I. {>') Plut. Treatife otiiisaii! Our*. Vol. II. D d A perfoa A perfon who has travelled ever fo little in Eo-ypt, caiily. difcovers natural phenomena, hid under the veil of fable. In the fpring, the wind Kbai:yhi frequently makes great ravages there. It raiies whirlwinds ; of burning finds, whieh fufrbcatc travellers, darken the air, and cover the face of the fun in fuch a manner as to leave the earth in perfecl: obscurity. Here is the death of Ofiris, and the reign of Typhon. Thefe hurricancs break looieuiually in the months of February,- -March,' and April. When the fan approaches the fign of the lion, lie changes the ifate-of the ■ utmofphere, dif-perfes thefe; tempeifs, and re (lores ■ the northerly winds, which drive before .them the malignant vapours,, and . preferve . in Egypt cooi/ieis and falubrity under ra burning iky. This is the triumph of Horns-over Typhon,' and, his glorious rejgn.; As the natural philofophers acknowledge the influence of the moon over the ila e of the* atmofphere, they united her with this god, to drive the ufurper from the throne. The priefts confidering Oiiris as the father of Time, might beftow the name of his fon on Horus, Horns, who reigned three months in the year. This is, I believe, the natural explication of this allegory. Befides^ all enlightened men mult have underitocd this language, which was familiar to them. The people only, whofe feeble fight extends no farther than the exterior, without diving into the true meaning of things, might regard thefe allegorical perfonages, as real gods, and decree prayers and offerings to them. fo) Jablonfki, who has interpreted the epithet of Arucri, which the Egyptians gave to Horus, pretends that it iigniiies efficacious virtue. Thefe exprefiions perfectly characterize the phenomena which happened during the reign of this god. It is in fummer, in fact, that the fun manifefts all its power in Egypt. It is then that he fwells the waters of the river with rains, exhaled by him in the air, and driven a-gainft the fummit of the Abyffmian mountains ; it is then that the hufbandman (0) Jablonfki, tome premier. Dd 2 reckons reckons on the treafures of agriculture. It was natural for them to honour him with the name of Arueri, or efficacious virtue, to mark thefe aufpicious effects. I have the honour to be> &c. LETTER LETTER LIIE OF the celestial serapis, a SYMBOL OF the sun. The worfhip of Seraph fiourifinng under the Ptolemies, who built a fuperb temple in honour of him. Adored in Egypt before their reign. His origin on the banks of the Nile. This emblematical divinity denoted the Sun in his progrefs through the autumnal figns. Said to be invifible, becaufe fen only for a fioort time by the inhabitants of the north. The fame with the Pluto of the Greeks, but divefted of the fables with which their poets involved him* To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. The Ptolemies having brought from Synope, a city of Pontus, to Alexandria* the ftatue of a god, who on his arrival received the name of Serapis, propagated his worlhip throughout Egypt. The magnificent tern-D d \ Plc pic they built in his honour, and which for grandeur,.the beauty of its ornaments, and the majefty of its architecture, was compared to the capitol, the feftivals they efta-blifhed, the brilliant ceremonies they infti-tuted, attracted the veneration of the people to this deity. Serapis, become the god of the court, made the Egyptians almoft forget their ancient gods. The provinces emulated each other in building temples to him, and burning incenfe on his altars. It is to this celebrity that we muft attribute the opinion of thofe writers, who have pretended that his worfhip was firft introduced into this country by the Ptolemies, and that he was a ftranger there before their reign. Various paifages, extracted from better informed hiftorians, prove the contrary. Plutarch (/>) in his life of Alexander the Great, introduces a man, who fays to him : Serapis has appeared to me, and after breaking my chains, has fent me to thee. The Athenians having decreed to this conqueror the ■ (j>) Plutarch, Life of Alexander. honours O N' E G Y P T. 40- "honours of Bacchus, DiogenesJthe Cynic (y) exclaimed': Let them make me Si-rapis then. Thefe draimftanccs prove that Serapis was known before the Ptolemies. Other paifages inform us that he had his birth on the banks of the Nile. One fees in Eg) pt,-fays Pau-fanias, feveral temples of Serapis (;). Alexandria poffeiTes the moil magnificent; the nivft ancient is at Memphis. Laftly, Tacitus, whofe evidence cannot be called in queftiOli, expreifes himfelf thus, in fpeaking of the god of Synope tranfported to Alexandria [s)\ " A temple worthy the'grandeur ] Trcatife of Ifis and Ofiris. (c) Jablonfki, Pantheon Egyptiacum, tome pre. micr. (d) Horapollo, Hieroglyphics, lib. 2. (c) Plut. Treatife of Ifis ami Oliris. fuperb fuperb lily of the Nile, does not blow before the end of autumn. The Priefts, who enveloped with the veil of fable the moft ftriking phenomena of nature, and who had compofed an enigmatical theology, faid that Jupiter (Ammon) Having originally had his feet joined together, could not walk freely; that the fhame he felt at this deformity induced him to live in folitude; that Ifis, touched at his fituation, reftored him the ufe of his legs by ie-parating them. Through this allegory we difcover Harpocrates, or the fun, ftationary at the winter Solftice ; and by the operation °f Ifis, Ammon, or the ftar of the day, advancing with a more rapid motion, when he reaches the Equator. But the Egyptians were not the only people who expreffed themfelves in a fymbolical banner. All the ancient nations, efpeci-a% in the infancy of language, were compelled to adopt the ufe of parables and allegories. Before the invention of letters,, fenfible figns were neceffary to fpeak to the Underftanding; and the metaphors employed *P frequently by the Hebrew and the Arab, a ftamp 4T4 L E T T^E R S, itamp the feal on their antiquity. « The « Paphlagonians, according to Plutarch (/), ff faid that the fun flept in winter, and was '«< awake in fummer; and the Phrygians, «« that he was chained during the winter, " and that in the fpring he walked free f* from his irons." I have the honour to be, &c. (f) Trcatife of Tiis and Ofiris. LETTER LETTER LV. of.. afende-s,' the symbol of THE TOrtf r ...... sun. Mendest he firfl emblem ef the fun. De-noted the fecundating influence of this pla- SfiXet. The 'he-goat flic red to him, becaufe the mofl 'prolific of animals. The Briefs initiated in the mvfleries of Mendes. The Phallus, an emblem of generation, adorned , their habits, and decorated the fiatues of other deiteSj Named by the Greeks, Fan, . but improperly, for he bore little nfmbla/ice to that demi-god. To Mr. L. M; Grand Cairo. Tn E deity I am about to treat of, Sir, was probably the nrft fymbol of the fun. The Egyptians having diicovered that they owed the riches of their country to that flar, that he was the principal caufe of the inundation, that his beneficent rays conveyed heat and life throughout nature, that'made 1 the the plants fpring up, and ripened the riar-e vefts, looked on him as the firft fource of fertility. They worfhipped him under the name of Mendes, which fignifies very fruit* fill (g). To point out in a fenfible manner the productive power with which they believed him to be endowed, they confecrated the goat to him as the moft prolific of animals. This animal was fed in the Temple of Mendes, as the living image of the God he reprefented. The inhabitants of the Mendclian province celebrated feftivals in his honour, wore mourning at his death, and held him in fuch extraordinary veneration, that * decency forbids me to relate what Herodotus, Pindar, Plutarch, and feveral other hiftorians, have written concerning them, to fuch a pitch can fuperftition mif-lead feeble mortals ! The father of hif-tory (h), deceived by this worfhip, thought that Mendes really iignified a he-goat. Se4 * Preterea McwJa nil Pan colitur, et Hircui animal—» Hoc in loco ITirci cum mulitribits coeunt. Strabo, lib. 17. [Tranflator.] (j) Jablqnfki^ Pantheon Egyptiacum, tome premier. (/>) Herodotus, lib. 2. veral Veral Grecian writers have adopted this Hiiftake. Others have difcovered it, and have obferved that Mendes was the fymboli-cal deity for fecundity, the goat his living image, and the fun the principle. Suidas pofitivcly alferts it(/). " The Egyptians, " fays he, honour the goat, becaufe he is " confecrated to the generative virtue." § Diodorus Siculus^ and Horapollo/'/y are of the fame fentiment. The Greeks, who reprefented Pan with the horns, the feet, and the tail of a goat, difcovered a ftrikinff analogy between him and the Egyptian God. They gave to Mendes the name of Pan, and called the city of Cbemmis, now Acbmim, Panopolis, in which Pan had a temple. But this refemblance was only in appearance. Their Pan, the guardian of the woods, the caverns, and fountains, had only the title of demi-god, (0 Suidas, at the word Mendes. § Wrcum autem deificcrunt, ut apud G)\tcs, Priapum, Proptergenitaletnpartem. Diodorus Siculus, lib. i.-- CTranflator.] (^) Diodorus Siculus, lib. i. CO Uorapolb, hieroglyphics, lib. i. "Vol. 11. E e and and that of Egypt was in the number of the eight great divinities. " Hercules, " Bacchus, and Pan," fays Herodotus [m)9 tf have been newly received into the tern-" pies of Greece. Pan (that is to fay, " Mendes) is the mofl ancient of the eight " great Gods of Egypt." Diodorus Siculus adds (/?), " The Egyptians honour Pan " with a particular worfhip. Almofl all " the temples have his flame, and the " Priefls who inherit the prieflhood, firfl " initiate themfelves in his myfleries." Thefe paffages authorize us to regard Mendes* the firfl emblem of the fun. Indeed, reafon itfelf leads us to this con-clufion. Before men were aflronomers, before they had conceived the idea of the Tropics and the Equator, and obferved the various phenomena produced by the revolution of the fun, the Egyptians mufl have remarked his productive virtue. To paint this fenfiblv, they created an emblematical divinity which they called Mendes, very pro- •» (m) Herodotus. (n) Diodorus Siculus, lib. I* fyic, and of which the goat, from his pro-creative quality, was the image. It is for this reafon that Diodorus Siculus foj declares that Mendes is the fame with Ofiris. In truth, both one and the other reprefent the ftar of the day, but each of them has different attributes. What adds a frefh degree of evidence to this truth is, that the Phallus, the fymbol of generation, and particularly of Mendes, decorated all the Gods I have been fpeaking of, and ferved as an ornament to the facerdotal drefs of the Egyptians. I have laid before you, Sir, the different denominations under which the fun was adored in ancient Egypt. You have feen, that under the celebrated name of Ofiris, he was regarded as the author of time; that Amnion marked his paiTage to the Equator, announced the fpring, and the renewal of tight; that Hercules indicated his beneficent power; that the glorious reign oi Horus, reprefenting him in the figns of the fummer, announced to the people the extinction of the foutherly winds, and the (0) DioJorus Siculus, lib. I. E e 2 progreft progrcfs of the inundation; that Serapis was the emblem of this luminary, returning from the Equinoxial Line towards the Tropic of Capricorn ; that Harpocrates marked the ilownefs of his courfe when he has reached the winter Solftice, and that Mendes was the fymbol of his generative virtue. Thefe various attributes, perfonified by the Priefts, compofed a fabulous theology which the people looked upon as facred, and which made them offer incenfe to chimerical deities. In the following letters I fhall give you fome account of I lis, and the deities connected with her. Through the whole, you will difcover the fame fpirit of myftery; through the whole, you will fee the Priefts ftudying nature, obferving aftronomical and phyfical effects, and concealing their discoveries from the eyes of the vulgar, with an impenetrable veil. I have the honour to be, &c. LETTER LVI. <*F ISIS, OR THE MOON, AN EGYPTIAN DEITY. The moon anciently worfipped by the Egyptians under its proper name Joh ; the adoration of which, when introduced into Greece, gave birth to the fable of Job's being changed into a cow. Its influence on the atmofpbere being obferved, they afterwards named it Iris, which fgnijies the caufe of abundance. The inundation of the Nik afcribed to the tears of this deity ; that is, to the dew, of which fee excites a fermentation in the waters. T? this day the Coptis pretend that the dew which falls at the Solfice, makes the waters jerment, and by that means produces the intimidation. To Mr. L M. ^ Graijd Ctiro. * HE Egyptians, Sir, had a boundteis veneration for the moon. From the moft rcinote antiquity, (he was honoured by E c 2 them 422 LETTERS them as the Queen of Heaven (/>). At rirft they worshipped her under her proper name of Job (q). Inachus, the firiffc king of Argos, carried this worfhip into Greece, one hun~ dred and twenty years before the birth of Mofes (r): " It is there," fays Euftathius(j), " that a cow is the fymbol of Jo or the i( moon; for in the Argian language the " moon is called Jo." John Malala (/) confirms this fentiment. " In our days the " Greeks call the moon Jo, in a myftic and " hidden fenfe." After the Greek language prevailed over the Egyptian, this foreign name appeared myflerious, and was only made ufe of within the walls of the temples, where the origin of the ancient modes of worfhip was preferved; it is for this reafon. that Malala calls it myftic. In the end, the Egyptian priefts, employed in obferving the phamomena of nature, (p) Jeremiah. (q) Job, in the Egyptian language, fignifies the moon. Pantheon iEgyptiarum dp Jablonfki, tome fecond. (r) Jablonfki, tome fecond. (s) Commentary on Dion. Perigetcs, (t) Chronologic de Jean Malala. having having remarked that the moon has a direct influence on the atmofphere, the winds, and the rains, regarded it, like the fun, as one of the fources of the inundation. They fought therefore for an expreflion which might characterize this effect, and called it •I/is, which, in the Egyptian language, fignifies (u), the caufe of abundance* This happened 320 years after the departure of the Ifraelites. At this period they bellowed fur-names on the fun and moon, proper to fx their difcoveries, and prefented the people with a new theology. It is to this change that we mull attribute the origin of the Grecian fable, which makes fo crofs the % fea, metamorphofed into a cow, and conducts her into Egypt, where fhe receives the name ©f JJis(x). Lucian, who was perfectly verfed in ancient mythology, puts thefe words into the mouth of Jupiter : " Conduct Jo to the u banks of the Nile acrofs the waves of the " fea. Let her become IJis; let her be the " goddefs of the Egyptians: let her augment (u) Jablonfld, Pantheon ^gyptiacum, tome fecond. Jx) Lucian, Dialogue of the gods, book i. " the waters of the river and let loofe the " winds." The fwelling of the Nile being the event, the mofl important for this country, fince the lives of the whole nation depend upon it, the caufes of it were fought after with the greatefl attention. The priefts, initiated in the myfleries, that is to fay, acquainted with the natural fenfe of the allegories with which they amufed the credulity of the vulgar, knew every thing which was connected with the inundation, and by what figns it might be conjectured how far it would be moderate or favourable. Their intimate connections with the Ethiopians, had procured them mofl valuable information on this head, which they refervedto themfelves: w The abundant rains," fays Euflathius (y) ^ which Ml during the fummer in Ethi-** opia, make the Nile fwell, as Ariflotle and " Eudoxus affure us, who fay they derive " this knowledge from the Egyptian f* priefts." They knew alfo that thefe rains owed their origin to the northerly (y) The learned commentator of Homer, Odyf. lib. 4. winds. winds. " The rains of Abyftinia," fays Pliny, « are attributed to the northerly " winds, which convey thither during the *' fummer the clouds of the northern coun-" tries." Thefe effects being merely physical, were not unknown to the facerdotal tribe; but to rule over the minds of the people, and hold them in fubjection to the yoke of religion, the priefts enveloped their own knowledge in mylteries, and were the fble depofitaries of fcience. The Nile beginning to increafe at the new moon which follows the folitice, the priefts, who regarded this planet as the mother of the winds, (the vulture, the fym-hol of Ifis, announced her power of engendering and letting loofe the winds) (a) decreed to her the honour of this ph&nom^non. " Ifis," fays Servius (b)9 " is the Genius of l< the Nile. The iiftrum fhe bears in her n right hand, indicates the encreafe and the " flowing of the waters. The vafe fhe " holds in her left, marks their abundance in (*) Plin. lib. 5. and Pomponius Mela, lib. 1, (a) Eufeb. prep. Evangel, lib. 3. (*) Servius, Obfervations gn the /Eneid, lib. 8. f all " all the canals." Temples were erected to her in the different provinces, and fhe had altars and facrifices throughout the country. " Coptos," fays Euftathius (c), '« is a city *< of the Thebais, where Jo is adored under 1« the name of Ifis. It is on her feftivals " that they celebrate with the fiftrum the ** increafe of the Nile." The people, from the allegorical language of the priefts, imagined that they owed this bounty to the tears of that divinity. The Egyptians, according to Paufanias, were perfuaded that the tears of Ifis had the virtue to augment the Nile, and to make it rife up into the country. The Coptis are not yet cured of this fiiperftition. In our days, they fay that at the folftice there falls a dew which makes the waters of the river ferment, and produces their overflow. Are not thefe the tears of the goddefs fo celebrated amongft the ancient Egyptians, their anceftors? They afterwards attempted to eftablifh a pointed analogy between the phaenomena of (<:) Euftathius the grammarian. th« ON E G Y" P T. fa the courfc of the moon, and thofe of tlvz. inundation. They faid, as Plutarch (d) af-fures us, " That the degrees of the eleva* *' tion of the waters correfponded with the ft phafes of that planet; that at Elephanti-" nos they rofe to the height of twenty eight *' cubits, a number equal to the days of her " revolution; that at Mendes, where the " encreafe was the lean: confiderable, they *' approached to feven cubits, correfponding ** to the number of days in which me de-*; creafes; that the mean term of the inun-41 dation at Memphis, was fourteen cubits, ** and \vas relative to the period of the full " moon." This paiTage proves with what t attention they endeavoured to become acquainted with every thing, concerning an event fo particularly intereiling to the public felicity. The Egyptians having called the moon Ifis or the caufe of abundance, beftowed this epithet on the earth, as on the mother of {d) Trcatifc of Ifis and Ofiris. f*0 Servius on the jEncid, lib. 8. fruits. fruits. We know, fays Macrobius (/), that Ofiris is the fun, and Ifis the earth *. Ifis, in the Egyptian language, adds Servius, means the earthw Conlidered in this point of view, fhe has a linking affinity to the Ceres of the Greeks. This obfervation has not efcaped Herodotus (g), who declares that it is the fame divinity. But not to wander from the Egyptian theology, we mufl not extend this denomination to the globe in general (b). Plutarch, who was well acquainted with this matter, informs us that tire priefls honoured only with the name of Ifis, that part of Egypt watered by the ( /) Macrob. Saturnal. lib. I. * The gods, fays Blackwell, in whofe worfhip all the Egyptians, agreed were no more than Ifis and Ofiris, the fun moon and earth : for Ifis is fometimes Diana, though for the moft part Ceres.-See alfo Herodotus, Euterpe. Tranjlattr. (g) Herodotus, lib. 2. (b) Plutarch has compofed a compleat treatife on If\? and Ofiris, where much curious matter is to be mer with. Nile, ON EGYPT. 419 Nile, rnd in allufion only to her fecundity; he adds thar, in the facred language, they termed the inundation, the marriage or Ofiris with Ifis. I have the honour to be, &c. BETTER LETTERS LETTER LVIL OF SOTHIS, A STAR SACRED TO IRIS. Some writers call Sothis by the name of Iris ; but this far, denominated Sirius by the Greeks, and Canicnla by the Latins, was only facred to that goddefs. The Egyptians marked the rifng of Sethis by two fated periods. The veneration of the people Jor this far arofe from a particular circum-fance*y namely, that at its heliacal rifng, they could judge of the degree of inundation. * On this account, it was named the flar which makes the waters increafe. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. ASTRONOMY having observed the courfe of Sothis, and its connections with Ills and the inundation, offered this flar to. the veneration of the people. It became confecrated by religion, and poffeiTed fuch celebrity that feveral authors have called it 3 *>j ON E GYP T. 431 by the name of Ifis. Horapollothus expreffes himfelf: " His is alfo the name of jff a flar, called in Egyptian, Sothis, and in ?! Greek, Aflrocyon." The Egyptians, adds Damafcius^, affert that Sothis is the fame with Ills. However thefe opinions may be, it is certain that Sothis did not indicate Ifis, but only the conflellation of the dog-ftar, and particularly the flar which mines at the head of it. The Egyptians dated the commencement of their civil year from his nfing. « In Egypt," fays Plutarch (I), " that flar Was called Sothis, to which the Greeks give the name of the dog-ftar, " and Sirius. The conftellations of Orion {* and of the D02, are confecrated to Horus '* and to Ifis." The aftronomer TheonfV/^, comes in fupport of this fentiment. " The Dog riles towards eleven o'clock at night. It is at this epocha that the Egyptian {') Horapollo, Hieroglyphics, lib. 1. Damafcius,life of Ifidone. (0 Treatife of Ifis and Ofiris. fw) Phenomena of Theon. ft year « year begins. This flar and* his rifmg ate" w confecrated to Ifis." Porphyry(n) goes farther. " Aquarius," fays he, " is not at " Memphis, as at Rome, the commence-" ment of the year, but Cancer. Near to " this fign is Sothis, called by the Greeks, " the dog. The Egyptians regard the ** rifing of this liar as the firfl day of the " month, and as the inflant of the birth of 9* the world." We may join to thefe authorities, that of Macrobius (o); " Antiquity *' aflipns to the iun and to the moon, the f* lion and the crab, becaufe they were in tc thofe figns at the creation of the world." We may believe that thefe lafl words mark the period when men, after numerous obfervations on the movement of the heavenly bodies, formed from their difcoveries a fyflem of doctrine, to which they gave the name of aflronomy. They dated from this-epocha, the birth of the world. If this conjecture be jufl, it proves that the Egyptians are the mofl ancient aflronomers on earth, (») Porphyry, of the cave of the Nymphs. {s} ivincrob. Dream of Scipio, lib. I. for for it is to them that writers attribute this allegorical language. The quotations I have laid before you, Sir, demonflrate that Sothis did not repre-fent Ifis, but was only confecrated to her. The aftronomers formed two periods which they called Sothic, becaufe they commenced with the rifing of that ftar. In the former, which comprehended 1461 years, they con-fidered principally the courfe of the fun* who after this long revolution returned to the fame point of the heavens from whence he fet out. In the latter, the duration of which was twenty-five years, they paid attention to the courfe of the fan, and of tl$e moom They remarked that after this fpace of time the new moons returned to the fame days of the year, without being however in the fame point of the zodiac. They made ttfe of this cycle, which comprehended exactly 309 lunar revolutions, to regulate the feflivals; for they paid great attention to the new moons. The following was the principal reafon which led them to confecrate the dog-ftar to Ifis : they regarded this divinity^as the Vot. II. Ff cau& caufe of the inundation, and as they were able on the rifing of Sothis to judge of the degree to which the waters would rife, they dedicated it to this flar. Horapollo gives us to underfland this indifputably (pJ: ft The rifing of the dog-ftar announces by " certain figns, the events of the year.'* This paffage mult be underflood as relative to the increafe of the Nile, the mofl important phenomenon for Egypt. Accordingly Diodorus Siculus (q) tells us, that the Egyptians called Sothis, the far which makes the waters increafe. Bochart and Kircher, who knew that a-mongfl the Greeks, Sothis was called Cynos, Dog, and amongft the Romans, Canicula, have pretended that this word had the fame meaning in Egyptian. But this is an error that Jablonfki (r) has refuted in a convincing manner. He proves that this name is derived from Sotb-ois, the beginning of time. It is impoffible to give a more (p) Horapollo, Hier. lib. i. (?) Diodorus Siculus, lib. I. (r) Pantheon iEgyptiacum, tome fecond. proper ON EGYPT. 43S proper defignation of a flar, from whofe rifing was dated the renewal of the civil year, and in an allegorical manner the creation of the world. I have the honour to be, Sec. Ff 2 LETTER LETTER LVIII. OF BUBASTIS, A SYMBOLICAL DEITY OF THE EGYPTIANS. Great honours paid to Bubafis in Egypt. A city diflinguifed by her name. She was reputed the patronefs of pregnant women, and known to the Greeks and Romans by the name of Diana and Ilithyia. This fymbolical deity reprefented the new moon. Her fefival celebrated the third day of the month, becaufe then her increafe is vifible over all the world. To. Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo.. *YoU know, Sir, that the Egyptians be-ftowed different names on the fun, either to ' characterize his effects or his relations with re-fpedt to the earth they followed the fame method refpecting the moon. Chaeremon, a facred writer writer of Egypt, leaves no doubt on this, fubject. " (s) Every thing which is pub-" lifhed of Ofiris and Ifis, all the facer-" dotal fables, allude only to. the phafes of u the moon, and the courfe of the fun." Bubaftis was one of the principal attributes of Ifis. Theology having perfonified her, formed of her a divinity, in whofe honour a city of that name was built, as defcribed by Herodotus (t), and where the people collected from all parts of Egypt, at a certain period of the year. A cat was the fymbol of this deity. The priefts fed it with facred food, and when it died, they embalmed its body, and carried it in pomp to the tomb prepared for it. The ancients have explained this worfhip varioufly, all of them in a manner by no means natural, and which I fhall not relate. The Greeks pretend that when Typhon declared war againft the gods, Apollo transformed himfelf into a Vulture, Mercury into an Ibis, and Bubaftis into a Cat, and that the vene- (s) See Porphyry, Epift. to Anebon. (f) Herodotus, lib. 2. F f 3 t ration ration of the people for the latter animal took rife from that fable; but they afcribe their own ideas to the Egyptians, who thought very differently. However that' may be, the cat was greatly honoured in Egypt, and a Roman foldier having imprudently killed one, was immediately put to death by the populace. BubafHs, in the language of the priefts, was deemed the daughter of Ifis, and even reprefented her in certain circumftances. It is for this reafon that the Greeks, who honoured the moon by the name of Diana, beftowed it alfo on this Egyptian divinity. Bubaftis, fays Herodotus (u), is called Diana by the Greeks. The Egyptians attributed to her the virtue of aflifting pregnant women, as antiquity teftines (x). Nichar-chus fays alfo, in fpeaking of a lady who had been happily delivered, without invoking her, " Thus has the office of Bubaftis " been rendered ufelefs. If all women *6 were to produce children like Pbilanium, (u) Herodotus, lib. 2. (*) Antolog. lib. j. P N EGYPT. m ua labor antes utcro puellas Ter vocata audis, adimifquc letbc, Diva triform/si The philofopher will feek for the origin of this ancient worfhip in the laws impofed hy nature on women, and which in fome meafiM-e follow the lunar revolutions. The natural philofophers, and the poets, buried it under allegories, unintelligible to the -people. A perfect: refemblance does not exifr. between the two deities I have been fpeaking of- The Greeks constituted Diana Goddefs °f the Chace, and of the Forefts, an attribute the Egyptians did not acknowledge in Bubaftis. The former added, that fhe was (y) Horace, lib. 3, Ode 16, F f 4 the the daughter of Jupiter and Latona* an$ Bubaftis was produced by Ofiris and Ifls. A barbarous cuftom was introduced at the feftivals celebrated in honour of Bubaftis, called by the Greeks alfo, Ilithyia, or Lucina, to mark her prefiding over childbed. The Egyptians adored her under this name in the city of llitbyia, fituated near Latopolis fzj. " In this city, fays Plutarch^, they w burnt men alive, calling them Typhons, " as Manethon allures us. Their afhes " were thrown to the winds." ft Amahs, *' continues Porphyry (£), who cites the ** fame fact, abolifhed thefe fanguinary fa-" crifices, and eftablifhed figures of wax *' of the natural fize, for the human vic-f* tims." Herodotus (), the air either *' diffolves itfelf into rain, or if the Iky be " ferene> it diftils an abundant dew. This " is what has made the Lyric Poet, Alcman, " fay, that the dew was the daughter of «« the air." Amongft modern naturaliftsr Mr. Mile(^) has adopted this fentiment; "On a fine day, and efpecially in tha (n) Plutarch. (s) Plini. lib. 1* (/>) Macrob. Saturnal,lib. 8. (?) Hiftoire Naturelle, tome fecond. *' fpring, ON £ G Y P u$ u fpring, a fubtle and cold vapour is at-*' tracked by the moon into the middle re-*' gion of the air. Condenfed fhortly into T imperceptible drops, it moiftens the eartH with abundant*dew, and furnifhes plants " with proper nouriihrnent.*' I do not quote thefe authorities, Sir, as un-queftionable facts : It cannot be denied that the moon has great influence on the atmo-fphere furrounding our globe; but I think it would be difficult to prove that fhe is endowed with the power of attracting towards herfelf the exhalations from the water. This is the virtue of the fun, who dilating the particles of the humid element, and rendering them lighter than the ambient air, forces them to rife into the atmofphere, Until they are in equilibrio. But were the Ancients ignorant of this attraction ? Do not the paffages I have quoted tend to prove that they were acquainted with this phenomenon, and that they knew that it was more fenfible when the two great bodies which enlighten us are in oppofition ? However that may be, the Egyptians, placed under a burning fky, were hardly ever refrefhed by the falutary V©i. II. G g raint« rains which fall in other climates, and whofe country would be uninhabitable, did not the nocturnal dews (r) reftore life to vegetables, attentively obfervcd the-caufes which might produce them. Perceiving that they were more abundant during the full moon, they created of it a divinity, who prefided oyer the dews. It is at the full moon efpecially, fays Plutarch(>»•), that the dew falls in the greateft quantity (r). In..Egypt, at Butis, and at Babylon, adds Theophraftus, where the rains feldom rnoifte,U earth, the dews furnifh the ahment of .the plants. This is the rea-fon why the holy fcrjpture (&) frequently prpmifcs the Israelites, who inhabited a climate pretty nmilar to that. of Egypt, the dew of heaven, as a fignal favour, and announces ,the jefuial of.it as a chailifement. .... -t : -.. j - ' ,.' '.' ' ■ (r) Thcic dcv/s are fo copious, efpecially in fummer, that the earth is deeply foakod with them, fo that in the morjung one would imagine, that rain had'fallen during; the night. (si Plutarch, ltbt gjKl -f (i) Theophraftus's Hifcory of Plants, lib. 8. ^0 Genefis, chap, xxyiii. -.O ' To O N - E G Y P T. 45I To have a more lively idea of the effect of thefe promifes and threats, let us for a moment fuppqfe the devouring fun of thefe countries tranfported to France, and let us examine what would happen in that rich kingdom, if for one year only the iky, become Uke iron, poured down neither rain nor dew. We mould foon fee the country burnt up, every fource of fecundity exhauft-ed, and all animals perifh. The Egyptians, in; fhort, who were attentive obfervcrs, had divided (a-) the time from the crefcent to the full moon, into three equal parts. They called the firft period an impe?fe£i gift, and the third, which comprehends from the eleventh to the fifteenth day, -was named per excel-lentiam, the perfect gift, becaufe the dews then fall in abundance. The name of fiutis, under which they honoured their Symbolical deity, precifeiy marked the Phenomenon • of which they believed it to be the caufe, for it fignifies, the far which attracts humidity, or the mother of the dew (y). C* Proclus, Tim. of Plato. 00 JablonflcF, Pantheon ./Egypt'acum, tome fecond. G g % You You will conceive, Sir, from the genius of the Priefts, that they concealed thefe natural effects under allegories. This is the fable they intended, and which Herodotus has preferved (z). " The Egyptians fay " that Latona (Butis) whom they place in *' the number of their eight great divinities, " dwelling in the city of Butis, where we *' fee her oracle, received Horus as a de-" pofit from the hands of Ifis, and conceal-4C ed him in a floating ifland. She pre-" ferved him from the outrages of Typhon, ** who, fearching after the fon of Ofiris, " repaired to this place; for they pretend " that Horus, or Apollo, and Bubaftis, ee whom we call Diana, were the children * of Ofiris and Ifis". You know, Sir, the deftrudtive effects of the fouth wind which raifes whirlwinds of burning duft, and fuffocates men and animals in the midft of the fands. One of its. moft pernicious effects, too, is totally to prevent the dews from falling, and depriving Egypt of that aliment fo neceffary to vege- (z) Herodotus, lib. 2. table table life. This fcourge is the tyrant Typhon, who feeks for the fon of Oliris, to put him to death. But Ifis has entrufted him to the care of Butis, whofe habitation is placed in the midft of waters; that is to %, that the fun, by attracting their exhalations, and the full moon, by exercifing Her influence on the atmofphere, put an end to thofe evils produced by the Khamjin, and reftoreto the earth thofe falutary dews which give new life to nature. This I imagine is the natural interpretation of this facerdotal fable. I have the honour to be, &c G£ 3 LETTER LETTER LX. THE nile adored as a god BY THE ancient egyptians. The Nile raiftd to the rank of gods. A city | -built in honour of him. His -priefis, fefti-vals, and facrjjices. At firft he bore' the general name of Jaro, which fgnifes a -river. When the phenomena cf his inundation were obferved, he received the epithet oj Neilon, that is, one who grows in a fbated 'time.' At the winter flfiice, they invited him to a feafi, which was publicly prepared for the purpoft; and the people believed, that without this ceremmy he would never overflow their fields, To Mr. L, Mf Grand Cairo, I Have reprefented the Nile to you, Sir, as a river to which Egypt owes her fertility and her riches 5 I am now going to paint her to yen as a divinity to whom fuperfti- tion o n' eg nrwjr. „r5S tion erected altars. You may conceive of what importance he is to this country, fincc without the aid of his fertile waters, at would foon be converted into a defart: Thp veneration of the; people Was proportioned to the wonderful advantages he procured them. They carried it even to the moft fantaftic ex-czkfa.). Religion, fays-Plutarch, afford to none of the gods a more fclemn worfhip th. n to the Nile. Nor have the Egyptians been the only people who have deified rivers (tK The ancient Greeks and the .Indians .a lfo granted them divine honours. But the priefts of Egypt furpafled: them all by tlie pomp of their ceremonies- They feemed to Worfhip Ofiris and Ifis only from their connection with tliiff river, and from their decided influence on its waters. They at firft called it Jaro(c)> which fignifies river. - I Itdong retained that general denomination, and we may conclude that (a) Ti-cntife of Ifis and Ofiris. V>) Maxime de Tyr. (0 Genefis, ettip. 4.1. Thifname in Coptic fignifies alg>, River. Jabloniki, Pantheon /E^yptiacum, tome fecond. • G g 4 when 456 L"E T T E R S when Homer wrote, it had no other, as thit poet and geographer calls it fimply the river of, Egypt. After they had obferved, perhaps for ages, the phenomena of its increafe, they befcowed on it the epithet of Nei/on, which hicreafes at a certain period fdj. This chara&eriftic expreffion, adopted by all the nations of the earth, obliterated the ancient name. Hefiod is the firft author who has employed it, from whence we may conjecture that this poet was pofterior to Homer. Thetis, fays he, has produced from the ocean, the great rivers the Nile, the Alpheus, and the Eridanus, famous for its deep whirlpools (e). The Ethiopians and the Egyptians de-fcribed it under different names. Dionyfius Periegetes (f) tells us this in thefe words; " The river which waters in its long wind-4< ings the country of Ethiopia, is called (d) This word comes fro'm the Egyptian Nei Jlei, which er.creafes at a certain period. The Greeks have made Neileon of it, and the Latins, Nilus, Jablonfki, Pantheon j*Egyptiacun>, tome fecond. (e) Theogony of Hefiod. (/) Dion. Perieget. Defcription of the univerfe. " Siris, *' Siris, but the inftant he bathes with his " azure waters the walls of Syena, receives " the name of Nile.* The rivulets, adds P/ifcian/#y, which form this great river, rufh from the mountains fituated to the eafi; of Lybia. The Ethiopians call it Sir is, and the huibandmen of Syena, the Nik. The people of Egypt thought they could not make too ftriking a difplay of their gratitude towards a river to whom they owed in great meafure their exiftence. Accordingly the pompous denominations offh) father, of preferver of the country, and of the terreftrial Ofiris, were lavifhed on him* They declared that the gods were born upon his banks fij; which muft be taken aUe-gorically, Nilopolis/^k) was founded in ho-r nour of him, and a fuperb temple was there built to him. Herodotus (I) informs us (i) Prifcian, Pliny, lib. 5. and SoJinus confirms thefe authorities. {b) Treatife of Ifis and Ofiris, (0 Diodorus Siculus, lib. 1. (*) The City of the Nile. See Stephen of Byzaa-rinm. (0 Herodotus, lib.. 2, that 45g L E T T fe R S 1 that in all the confiderable cities, there were priefts confecrated to the Nile, whofe principal occupation 'it was to embalm the bodies of fuch as were killed by crocodiles, or who were drowned in his waters. " In t* a town of Egypt," fays Palladius fmj-, " was to be feen a temple remarkable for " its grandeur, wherein was a wooden ** ftatue fttrt&ds for the adoration of the " Nile." " The fecundity of this coun-" try," adds Libanus^^, " is a gift of the " Nile. This god is invited by (acred " ceremonies to aflift at the fplendid fef* (C tival which is annually prepared fdr-him, *' that he may overflow the lands. If.they Xl who prehde over divine things, fail to " obferve this folemnity at the appointed " time, he would ceafe to carry his fertility « over the plains of Egypt." It is evident, Sir, that the priefts abufing the credulity of the vulgar, :inftituted '.this fuperftitious worfhip, the abfurdity of which they knew, in order to eftablifh themfelves (tit) Palhcl. chap. 57. («^ Libar Lu S", Ov. pro Templis* ' ON EGYPT. 459 as the mediators between heaven and earth, •and to be regarded as the difpenfers of a~ bundance. The enigmatical theology which they compofed, and which they hid from the people under the veil of hieroglyphics, was wonderfully fubfervient to their views, and they employed all the light of their under-Handing to render it refpectable. Thefe ■obfervations may be applied to many other nations. The grand ferfival of the Nile happened at the fummer folflice, the time when the inundation commenced.' " This folemnity," lays Heliodorus'^, "is the moft cele-4t bra ted of the country. The Egyptians " grant divine honours to their river,' and " revere him as the firfl: of their divinities. "They declare him to be the rival of *' heaven, fince he waters the country with-** out the aid of clouds and rain." A Nilometer was the fymbol of his en-creafe. At the moment it commenced, the priefts brought it forth from the temple of Serapis, and carried it in pomp through the {o) Heliodonjs, lib, 9, towns towns and cities. This is the ftatue of wood againft which Palladius declaims. When the waters fubfide, they depofit it in the fan&uary. Befides thefe emblems, they had alfo fculptured on ftone, an image of the inundation, confecrated to the god of the Nile (p). Pliny fpeaks of it as follows in treating of the Bafaltes. " The largeft *' we know of, is that which is placed in " the temple of Peace by the Emperor " Vefpafian. It reprefents the Nile with *« fixteen children playing around him. ** They reprefent the number of cubits to " which his waters mount." Such, Sir, were the religious opinions of the ancient Egyptians refpecting the Nile, and the feftivals eftablifhed by fiiperftition in his honour. They are not entirely ex-tindt in our days. The pomp with which the canal that conveys the waters to Grand Cairo is annually opened, ftill preferves their memory. I have the honour to be, &c (p) Pliny, lib. 36. LETTER LXL of apis, the sacred ox of the EGYPtians, adored BY the people. Apis renowned over the world, Kings and princes folemnly offered facrifices to his godhead. Defcription of his difiinguijhing marks, his inauguration, the place where he was kept, and the temple to which they removed him at his death. Fefivals celebrated at the birth of a new Apis. This allegorical deity was created by the priefls to be the guardian of the filar year ^365 days, the type of the cycle of it years, and the fymbol of the inundation. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. Ap is became famous in Egypt, and renown conveyed his name to the neighbouring nations. Pomponius Mela(^), and (q) Pomponius Mela, lib. 1 4 iplian, tfz L E T T E R S iElian(r), and Lucian (j), who report the teftimonies of the priefts, tell us that he was generally worshipped throughout the country, and that his divinity was proved, by evident characters ((). Alexander, after conquering this kingdom, did not difdain to offer facrifices to him. Titus (it), Adrian and Germanicus^'), went to vifit him, and rendered homage to liim, Thefe great Princes were-undoubtedly fully feniihle of the folly of this worfhip but curioiity led them to become acquainted with the myf-teries- with which the priefts encompaffed their God, and the defire of acquiring the love of the Egyptians, induced them to offer incenfe to their idol. The wifeft and belt informed writers on the Egyptian religion, inform us, that Apis was only a fymbolical deity. " Amongft (r) /Elian, lib. II. . (s) Lucian. (/) Arrian's Expedition of Alexander.' 1 ( u) Suetonius.'s Life of Titus. (x) Spar dan's Life of Adrian. {y) Annal. lib. 2. the ON. EGYPT. 46j " the animals confecrated to ancient rites, " fays Ammianus Marcellinus (s), Mnevis ct and Apis are the morf celebrated : the firffc is an emblem of the fun, the fecond ** of the moon." Porphyry (a) tells us that Apis bore the chara&erifKc figns of the twoftars; and Macrobius(^), who confirms , this opinion, adds, that he was equally confecrated to them both. You may fuppofe, Sir, that this Bull, become the objecl: of public adoration, could not be born like other animals; accordingly the priefts publifhed that his origin was celcilial. " An Apis is felclom born, fays " Pomponius Mela(f). He is not pro-" duced by the ordinary laws of generation. " The Egyptians fay he owes his birth to V celefKal fire.". Plutarch (d) explains this pallage: " The priefls pretend that the (x) Amniianus Marcellinu*, lib. 22.' - , {a) Porphyry, quoted by Eui'ebius, Prep. Evangel, lib. 3. (^"Macrob. Sarurnp.l. {<■') Pomponius Mela, lib. I. («0 Treatifc tffJUfe and Ofiris. TIeroaottis, lib. 2, fays the fame thing, -5 " moon t( moon diffufies a generative influence, and *« as foon as a cow who takes the bull is " ftruckbyit, (he conceives an Apis. Ac-** cordingly we difcover in him the figns of « that flar." Such were the fables induftrioufly fpread by thofe who prefided over the divine infti-tutions. The vulgar, to whom this emblematical deity prefaged abundance, received them eagerly, and implicitly believed them. Pliny (e) has defcribed the characters which diftinguifhed this facred Bull: " A white " fpot, refembling a crefcent, on the right *' fide, and a lump under the tongue, were " the diflinguifhing marks of Apis." When a cow, therefore, which was thought to be flruck with the rays of the moon, produced a calf, the facred guides went to examine it, and if they found it conformable to this defcription, they announced to the people the birth of Apis, and fecundity. " Immediately, fays .ffilian (fj, they " built a temple to the new god, facing (e) Pliny, lib. 8. iElxan, lib. ii, confirm this defcription. (/) &lian'sTrcatife on Animals, lib. it. « the *' the rifing fun, according to the precepts tf of Mercury, where they nourifhed him " with milk for four months. This term ft expired, the priefts repaired in pomp to " his habitation, and faluted him by the " name of Apis." They then placed him in a veffel magnificently decorated, covered with rich tapeftry, and refplendent with gold, and conducted him to Nilopolis, finging hymns, and burning perfumes. There they kept him for forty days(g).. During this fpace of time, women alone had permifhon to fee him, and faluted him in a manner which I fhall not relate, but which is defcribed by refpectable authorities. They were never after admitted into his prefence for the remainder of his life. After the inauguration of the god in this city, he was conveyed to Memphis with the fame retinue, followed by an innumerable quantity of boats, fumptuoufly decked «ut {/j). There they completed the ceremo- (g) Diodorus Siculus, lib. i. Eufcbius, prcpar. Evan* ■SeHc.Iib. 3) relates the fame fad. (h) Ammian Marcellinus. Vol. If, H h fefei nies of his inauguration, and he became facred to all the world (z). Apis was fuperb-ly lodged, and the place where he lay was myftically called the bed. Strabo (/£) hav-. ing viiited his palace, thus defcribes it: «* The edifice where Apis is kept, is fituated ** near the temple of Vulcan. He is fed " in a facred apartment, before which is a " large court. The houfe in which they " keep the cow that produced him, occupies " one of its fides. Sometimes, to fatisfy " the curiofity of flrangers, they make him " go out into this court. One may fee him " at ail times through a window; but the " priefts produce him alfo to public view." Once a year, fays Solinus, they prefent a heifer to him, and the fame day they kill her. A bull, born in fo marvellous a manner, muff be poffeffed of fupernatural knowledge. Accordingly the priefts published, that he predicted future events by geftures, by motions, and other ways, which they con-ftrued according to their fancy. " Apis, (/) Pliny, lib. 8. (/f) Strabo, lib. 17- " &ys " fays Pliny (I), has two temples called u Beds, which ferve as an augury for the " people. When they come to confult him, if he enters into a particular one, it " is a favourable prefage, and fatal if he " paffes into the other. He gives anfwers " to individuals by taking food from their: *c hands. He refufed that offered him by '* Germanicus, who died foon.after." It would be unju.fl to conclude, that this re-fpeclable writer gave credit to fuch auguries. He relates the opinion of the Egyptians, and contents himfelf with citing facts without offering his judgment. (m) Diogenes Laertius informs us, that, during the flay of the aflronomer Eudoxus, in Egypt, Apis appeared to lick the edge of his garment, and that the priefls predicted his celebrity; but that his career would be of fhort continuance. Several hiflorians relate, that fome children who were playing round the facred Bull, feeling themfelves Suddenly infpired, faw into futurity, and re- (0 Pliny, lib. 8. Diogenes Laertius, lib. 7. II h 2 sealed vealed events that were to happen. What empire has fiiperftition over the minds of men ! yet they boaft of their knowledge! You have feen, Sir, the inftallation of Apis. His anniverfary was always celebrated for feven days(«). The people af-fembled to offer facrifices to him, and, what is extraordinary, oxen were immolated on the occafion. This folemnity did not pafs without prodigies. Ammianus Marcellinus, who has collected the teftimonies of the ancients, relates them in thefe words: fp) " During the feven days in which the " prieft.6 of Memphis celebrate the birth of *' Apis, the crocodiles fcrget their natural " ferocity, become gentle, and do no harm *' to any body." This Bull, however, fo honoured, muft not exceed a myfterious term fixed for hi* life. ** Apis, fays Pliny [q), cannot live " beyond a certain number of years. When (n) NIcetas. {o) Herodotus, lib. 2, relates this facL (p) Ammian is Marcellin. hb. 22, to which may be added the teitiui ny oi oolinus, who cites this fadt. Pliny, lib. 8. " he u he has attained that period, they drown '* him in the fountain of the priefts; for ** it is not permitted, adds Ammianus Mar-** cellinus, to let him prolong his life beyond " the period prefcribed for him by the facred " books." When this event happened, he was embalmed, and privately let down into the fubterraneous places deflined for that purpofe. In this circumftancej the prieft s announced that Apis had difappeared; but when he died a natural death, before this period arrived, they proclaimed his death, and folemnly conveyed his body to the temple of Serapis. (r) " At Memphis was an ancient temple of Serapis, which Grangers were for-c bidden to approach, and where the priefts themfelves only entered when Apis was interred. It was then, fays Plutarch (s), that they opened the gates called Letbes and Cocythe (of oblivion and lamentation) which made a harm and piercing found." [r Paufanias. U) Treatife of Ifis and Ofiris. Thefe were the gates •f Serapis. Hh ? Ammianus Ammianus Marcellinus, and Solinus, paint with great energy the general defpair of the Egyptians, who, with cries and lamentations, demanded another Apis from heaven 5 and Lucian (/) reprefents this very plea-fan tly. " When Apis dies, is there any f4 one fo enamoured of his long hair as not " immediately to cut it off, or to difplay 011 his bald head the fymptoms of his for-" row?" It is of fome confequence, Sir, to know the term prefcribed for the life of Apis, fince that will point qut to us the object of the priefts in creating this fymbolical divinity. Plutarch throws fome light on this fubject(«). " The number of five, multi-" plied by itfelf, gives the number of the " letters of the Egyptian alphabet, and the " age of Apis." His life therefore was twenty-five years. Now you know that this number marked a period of the fun and ©f the moon, and that this Bull was con»-fecrated to thefe two bodies. The followr (t) Lucian, of facrifices. {u) Treatife of Ifis and Ofiris? ing obfervation of Syncellius (>;) may ftill farther aid us: When he comes down to the thirty-fecond Pharaoh, called Afeth, he fays, " Before Afeth, the folar year coniifted ** hut of 360 days. This Prince added five -" liopolitans regard him as a god.'* The ancients unite in affirming that this bull was confecrated to the fun {b). The epocha of his confecration is loft in the obfcurity of time. It is much more ancient than that of Apis. Mr. de Vignoles (/) makes it mount as high as to Menes, the firft of the Pharaohs; but this opinion, being unfup-ported by the authority of hiftory, muft be regarded as a conjecture. It was very probably, however, prior to the departure of the Ifraelites, who, accuftomed to the Egyptian idolatry, moulded a golden calf in the defart, to ferve them as a guide. The workup of Mnevis gradually difappeared, when Apis, who was confecrated to more impor- (g) Strabo, lib. 17. (h) Diodorus Siculus, lib. 1. Elian's Treatife on Animals, lib. 11, and Porphyry cited by Eufebius, Prep. Evang. lib. 3. (0 Chronologie de Vignoles, tome fecond. tant ten* events, became the general deity of the? country. * Accordingly Macrobius.(^) in_ forms us that Mnevis held only the fecond rank amongft: the facred Bulls. Ammianus "Marcellinus (/) adds, that they related nothing memorable of him. Strabo (m) relates that Cambyfes, the fcourge of Egypt, overthrew the magnificent temple of Heliopolis. It is doubtlefs from this era that we muff date the down-fal of the worfhip of Mnevis Jab-lonfki, who has interpreted his name, fays that it fignifled, dedicated to the fun. The city of Hermuntis, which poffeffed a nilometer, admitted alfo the worfhip of a bull, called Onuphis (0), the Good Genius, becaufe he was honoured as the fymbol of abundance. The priefts fed him in the magnificent temple of Apollo, which I have defcribed to you in my twelfth Letter. (£) Macrob. Saturnal. lib. i. (/) Ammian. Marccxiin. lib. 22. - (m) Strabo, lib. 17. (n) J:\blonfki, tQJTic fecond. He derives it from Mnociny dedicated to the fun. ( column of meafurement. This place became facred, and the priefts, the depoii-taries of all knowledge, had the exclufive right of entering it. Their obfervations, and their difcoveries, written in facerdotal characters, ferved by way of guide to their fucceffors. Enlightened by thefe meteorological tables, continued for ages, and more and more improved, they predicted from this fanctuary the phenomena of the inundation long before it reached its term. Mafters of this important fcience, they announced to the people, either abundance or fterility, and were looked upon as oracles. In order to give more authenticity to their predictions, they declared that they received them from Serapis, the divinity under whofe protection they placed the column of mea-furement. Aware that the vulgar muft be (y) Jablonfki, tome fecond, gives this explication of thefe Egyptian words of which the Greeks have made Serapis. gratified with fenfible objects, they compofed a Nilometer of wood, which was the emblem of Serapis, and to which they attributed a divine virtue. The priefts carried it about with folemnity on the feftivals of Apis. " It was the cuftom," fays RufEn(z), ** to carry the meafure of the Nile into *' the temple of Serapis, as to the author " of the inundation. The Nilometer was '* afterwards depofited in the church to " render homage.to the fovereign of the ** waters." Zozomne (a) adds that this change took place under the Emperor Con-ftantine. From that moment the cubit with which they meafured the increafe of the river, ceafed to be carried into the temples of the Gentiles, and it was placed in the churches. Julian (b)x called the apof-tate, reftored things to their former fituation; but the Emperor Theodoiius, having overthrown the magnificent temples of Serapis (z) Ruflin, Hiftoire de l'Eglife, livrc fecona\ {a) Zozomene, Hiftoire de l'Eglife, livre premier. (£) Zozomene, Hiftoire de l'Eglife, livre 4.. Ii 3 at 48* L E T T E R § at Alexandria, aboliilied this fupcrftitioiu ceremony. Thefe and feveral other authorities I could cite, if it were neccfTary, prove that the Egyptians at firft called the Nilometer, Serapis, the column for meafurement; that they bcftowed the fame name on the god under whofe protection they placed it, and to whom they attributed the power of encreafing the waters; andlaftly, that they carried the fymbolical image of it in their folemnities, Thus did they abufc their knowledge to keep the people in idolatry, and to render themfelves refpectable in their eyes. (c) There is ftill remaining an Alexandrian crown piece, on one face of which^ the Nile, under the form of an old man, is reprefented in a recumbent attitude, He bears a bufihel on his head, holds in one hand the cornucopia, and in the other a piece of papyrus with this infcription : To the Holy God Nile,: On the reverfe of the medal, is a head of Serapis, covered with a hufhel, with this legend: To the .Holy God Serapis. (c) Pignoriu^ exp«fition c*e la table Ifiaque. ' I (hall I fliall not lay any ftrefs, Sir, like Ja-blonfki, on the fituation of the ancient temple of Serapis, as that queflion appears to me a matter of indifference. I fhall only obferve that this learned man, to whofe knowledge I do homage, and whofe valuable refearches have been fo ferviceable to me, is deceived in placing that edifice in the Ifle of Raouda, where we at prefent fee a Mekias, the fole remains of the Nilometers of Egypt. I could prefent you with a long differtation on this fubjedt, and combine with the tef-timonies of the ancients my own local knowledge; but I fhould be apprehenfive of abufing your patience. My object was to trace to the origin of the terreflrial Serapis, which I hope I have fulfilled. I have the hpnour to be, &c* Ii4 BETTER LETTER LXIV. of anubis, a symbolical deity of the egyptians. Anitbis had in Egypt temples and priefts, and a city was built in honour of him. His ftatue bore the head of a dog; and this animal, ' Jrom being his living image, was confecrated to him. This allegorical divinity, invented by the afronomers, reprefented the horizon. Hence he was regarded as the infeparable companion of OJiris and Iris. Called in the facred language their illegitimate fon, becaufe he is not luminous of himfelf, and jlnnes only by borrowed luftre. m To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. A N U BIS, who was regarded as the faithful companion of Ofiris and of Ills, received divine honours in Egypt. Temples and priefts were confecrated to him, and his image was borne in all religious ceremonies. Lucian Lucian puts thefe words into the mouth of Socrates (d): Do you not fee with what re-fpecf the Egyptians adore the god Anubis ? They give to his ftatue an emblematical form, which is the head of a dog upon a human 'bo&yfej. Accordingly Virgil^ and Ovid call him the Barker Anubis. The ingenious Lucian, who diffufes fuch a delightful vein of pleafantry over every object that falls under his pen, and who in his exquiiite farcafms, fpares neither heroes nor gods, introduces Momus on the ftage, and makes him fpeak as follows: " O thou whom Egypt reprefenteth with the head " of a dog! Who art thou ? Speak. " Since thou barkeft, how haft thou pre-* fumed to fuffer thyfelf to be placed in the " rank of the immortal gods ?" (h) Cynopolisy the prefent Minieb, fituated ■*» - * • (d) Lucian, tome premier. (e) Diodorus Siculus, lib. i. fays, The god called Anubis is reprefented with the head of a dog. (f) Virgil, .jEneid,. lib. 3- Ovid, Metamorphofis, lib. 9. (g) Lucian, tome fecond. (k) Cynopolis, the city of the Dog, in LETTERS in the lower Thebais, was built in honour of Anubis. The temple wherein he was worfhipped no longer fubfifts. The priefts celebrated his feftivals there with' great pomp, and confecrated the dog to him, as his living reprefentation (*). " Anubis/* fays Strabo, ** is the city of dogs, the capi-" tal of the Cynopolitan prefecture. Thefe •* animals are fed there on facred aliments, " and religion has decreed them a worfhip." An event however related by Plutarch, brought them into confiderable difcredit with the people. Cambyfes having flam the god Apis, and thrown his body into a field, all animals refpe&ed it except the dogs, which alone ate of his flefh. This impiety diminifhed the popular veneration for them. Cynopolis was not the only city which burned incenfe on the altars of Anubis. He.had chapels in almoft all the temples, which made Juvenal fay So many cities (/) Strabo, lib. 17. Stephen of Byzantium, adds, Cy-mopolis is the city in Egypt where Anubis is adored. (*) Juvenal, Sat. 13. 1 N EGYPT. 49f venerate: the dog ! — On folemnities, his image always accompanied thofe of Ifis and Ofiris. Rome having adopted the ceremonies of Egypt, the Emperor Commo-dus (/), to celebrate the Iliac feafts, fhaved his head, and himfelf carried the god Anubis. His ftatue was either of maftive gold or gilt, as well as the attributes that accompanied him. The ancients are agreed in this point, and Lucian, who relates an outrage committed by a Syrian flave, confirms this fentiment. This flave, fays he, formed a connection with fome facrilegious perfons. They entered the fanctuary of Anjjbis, robbed the god of two vafes, and a caduceus of gold, with two cynocephati of filver. Even the name of Anubis figni-fies gilded {m). It was myfterious, and the Egyptian priefts, as we fhall fee, had not given it without reafon, (I) Lampridius, chap. 9. Spartian quotes the fame fact. (rc) Jablonfki, Pantheon jEgyptiacum, tome 3. Anubis, fays he, comes from Nub, GcMt and Annub, gilt. The Greeks have made Anubis of it, Bvit But what was the fignification of this emblematical deity? what is the natural meaning concealed under it ? Plutarch explains this («). " The circle which touches «' and feparates the two hemifpheres, and *' which is the caufe of this divifion, re-" ceiving the name of Horizon, is called " Anubis. He is reprefented under the Mcrt/it fouth wind, and more generally Khamfin. its violence, gave it the epithet of Apoh, fyJ Giant. I have mentioned to you more than once, in the courfe of thefe Letters, its deftructive effects; but however forcible the expref-fions I have made ufe of may feem, the/ fall greatly fhort of the reality. Whole caravans fuffocated in the defarts, whole tribes of Arabs extinguished in one day, the Iky obfcured by a duff, which burns the eyes, deflroys the functions of the breaft, and hides the face of the fun fhowers of land with which the Surface of all Egypt has fometimes been covered, the fandy hills, in fhort, which rolled along from the depth of the defarts, threaten to fwailow up every living being; fuch is the calamity they called the giant Typhon. I have read in the hiftory of the Arabs (2), of a hurricane from the fouth which lafted three days and three nights, and Egypt was on the brink of ruin. Had it continued with the fi\me violence, this beautiful kingdom would have (>•) Jablon(ki, Far»th. j'Egypt. tome 3. (*) Elmacin, Hiftory of the Arabs. 2 "been © N EGYPT. Soi been converted into a frightful folitude. The Priefts, to exprefs the fury of Typhon, published in their allegorical language, that he was not born in the fame manner as Ofiris and Horns; but that, having burft open the fide of his mother, he efcaped by that opening^). Herodotus (b) gives the folPowing defcrip- ; tion of two ftatues, which in his time were placed in the temple of Vulcan, at Memphis. " One which faces the north, and which is " called Summer, is adored by the Egyp-M tians, and is encompaffed with marks of " their refpect and gratitude $ the other " turned towards the fouth, and called " Winter, meets with a very different fate." The latter is that which they fcourged on certain occafions, becaufe it reprefented Typhon. It is in th* month of February, in fact, that the foutherly wind begins to ( he felt, and to cmife the misfortunes-J have mentioned. During the fummer, the northerly winds prevail in their turn, («) Treatife of Ins and Ofiris. {b) Herodotus, lib. 2. Kk 3 purify 5o* LET T B R *" S purify the air, and procure the happieft ef- ' fedts for this country. The knowledge of thefe circumftances will furnifh us with the means of giving a fatisfaclory explanation of the facred fable, circulated by the priefts, on the fubject of Typhon, and of which I have already, in part at leaft, delivered to you my fentiments. Plutarch relates it at length. It will be fufficient to cite fome-of the moft remarkable particulars of it. (c) Opiris, having mounted the throne of Egypt, reigned there with glory, and became celebrated for his beneficence and juftice. He travelled over the univerfe to load men with his bounties, Typhon, his brother, did not dare for fome time to undertake any thing againft his intereft, becaufe Ifis watched over the fafety of the kingdom ; but when Ofiris returned from Ethiopia, Typhon lay in wait for him with 72 conlpirators, attacked and flew him, en-clofed his body in a wooden coffin, and threw it into the Nile. It defcended into the Me* diterranean by the Tanitic branch, Ifis (c) Treatife of Ifis and Ofiris, found it on the coaft of Phoenicia, and brought it back to Egypt. But the ufurper perceiving it at night, whilft he was chafing the wild boar, broke it, divided the body into 14 parts, and difperfed the fcattered members over the country. Ifis collected them all(^/), and carefully preT ferved them. Delivered from all his enemies, Typhon exercifed his defpotic fway over Egypt. To make fure of the crown, he tried to kill Horus, fon of Ofiris, and in-duftrioufly fought after him. But Latona, who had concealed him, and who brought him up at Butis, evaded, his refearches. This god became ftrong, declared war againft the murderer of his father, vanquilhed him, and delivered him over, loaded with irons, to the care of his mother. Ifis fet him at liberty. Horus, full of indignation, wrefted from her her crown, fought frefh battles With the tyrant, and, after overthrowing him (d) " Except the private parts, which being thrown ** into the river, were devoured by the Lepidote, the K Phagrc, and the Oxyrinchus." Perhaps this circum-ftance was added to denote the prodigious fecifndity of thofe nihes which became facred. Kk 4 a fecond a fecond time, enjoyed a glorious and peace,-able reign. A few fhort obfervations will fuffice to explain this fable, which muft be already partly underftood. Ofiris _■ is the general name of the fun, who diffufes his favours1, from one end of the world to the . other,; and who peculiarly manifefts his power in Egypt. His return from • Ethiopia marks, the period when returning from the Tropic of Capricorn, he proceeds towards the-Eq.ua-\ tor, and pafles through the winter fignsb This is the feafon when the foutherly wind-prevails. The feventy-two confpirators (e) indicate the number of days during which it ufually blows. .This is the epoch of the- (c) At this dav, the time during which the Southerly' wind prevails is called Khamfin, or fifty \ but this num-. ber, as Well as that of fvcntj-tivo, docs not mark its.du-; ration with prec'u'ion. It is fometimes of longer, fometimes of fhorter continuance. Tnis" epoch, therefore, could1 only be mafked by a number approaching the truth, and that of 72 appears to me the molt accurate. I haVe already apprized you that this phenomenon was not con-' tinued, for it would render Egypt uninhabitable, and that' it feldom lulls three days fuccefiivcly. death death of Ofiris and the triumph of Typhon. Horus, brought up near the Jake of Butis, denotes, in the opinion of , the Egyptians, the fun, who attracts towards him the benignant vapours, to fried them, in dews upon the earth. The ftrength he has acquired, and his victory over the tyrant, point out his entrance into the fummer figns, and the northerly winds which begin to repulfe the tpmpcfts from the fouth. In fhort,Typhon, fet at liberty by Ifis, teaches us that this fcpurge fometimes recurs even to the end of the month of June, efpecially at the full moon ffj • but the fun having reached the Tropic of Cancer, the north wind refumes .(/) I have .feen-in Egypt inftances when this pbeno- • menun has become tremendous; for then the foutherly wind drives back towards tire north the clouds which are to caufe" the overflowing of the river, and the country is threatened with Iterility. As this event frequently happens during the full moon, the priefts faid that Horus, enraged at Ifis for rdeafurg Typhon, had wrefted her crown from her, and was obliged to light new battles with the tyrant, in which he was viitoriousi that is to %, that the moon being in conjunction, and travelling in the day with the fun, had loft her light, and that in this interval, the north wind refuincd its fi;pcriority. its its empire, cools trie air, puts an end to contagious maladies, drives the clouds towards the lofty fummits of the Abyfiiniaii mountains, and fvvells the Nile with the rains which fall there in torrents. This is the glorious reign of Horus. The Greeks, the difciples of the Egyptians, greedily received thefe allegories, and, by adapting them to their theogony, c loathed* them in foreign colours, and in frefh fables. Some oi" them changed the names of Typhon into Typheus ; others left him his ancient denomination. Kefiod (g) painted him with a hundred dragons heads coming out of his moulders. Pindar foy&fhj, that he was buried under Mount ./Etna, whence he launches forth his fires. Apollodorus (ijs who lived 140 years before Chrift, gives us the following defcription of him. " The enor-:). Plutarch, profoundly vcrfed in the Egyptian theology, gives this explanation of that pailage: u Queen Afo, u who afiiited Typhon, denotes the fouth wind which comes from Ethiopia. If " he repulfes the northerly winds which " convey the clouds towards that burning country; if he prevents the rains from falling, which produce the fwelling of continue to caufe the fame ravages, and to defolate this delicious country. I have the honour to be, &c. LI 3 LETTER LETTERS LETTER LXVIII. OF CANOBUS, A PRETENDED DEITY OF THE EGYPTIANS. Canobus, named by the writers of the Lower Empire Canopus, was the pilot of Menelaus. He died on the coaft of Egypt, and they erecled to him a tomb. This place, called hi the Egyptian language Cahi noub, the golden land. A city and temples were built here. The Greeks, mi fed by this appellation, fpread a report that they had been erceded in honour of the Jlranger; but this was a miftake. Rujfin relates a long fable, by which he ajfecls to prove, that the deity which they worfkipped in the temple of Canobus was a pitcher: but this was only an offering made to the god of the Nile, the water of which it ferved to purify. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. CANOBUS, Sir, became famous under the empire of the Ptolemies. It is of importance portance therefore to inquire into his origin, the motives that induced fome hiftorians to deify him, and what he really iignified in the opinion of the Egyptians. Several of the writers of Greece and Italy, building on the testimony of Homer and Hecatens, make Menelaus land in Egypt, and fay that Canobus, his pilot, dying of the bite of a viper, that hero erected a tomb to his memory on the fide of the beach. This brilliant fact, fupported by grave authorities, cannot be called in queflion. They add, that a city was afterwards built on this fpot, called Canobus (z), in honour of the itran-ger. Dionyfius Periegetes (a) improving on their reports, expreffes himfelf in thefe terms": " In the moil northerly gulph of " Egypt, we fee the famous temple of the " Spartan Canobus.'' It would be .very remarkable for the Egyptian?, who from the formal teftimony of Genefis (/£), had an utter averlion for I have hitherto called it Canopus in conformity With the modern ufage, but the real name is Canobus, [«) Dion. Periegetes. (£) Genefis, chap. 43. L 1 4 flrangers, ftrangers, to have elevate 1 io the rank of godhead a Grecian pilot, whilft we know that they never awarded divine honours to any mortal. Herodotus, who lived for fome years with the priefts of Heliopolis and Memphis, learnt from their mouth, that Menelaus, after receiving Helen from the hands of King Proteus, repaid this fervice by outrages, and pillaged the coaft before -lie fet fail (c). Eefides this, he makes no mention of Canobus. Is it credible that fuch ingratitude fhould have been rewarded by the apotheohs of his pilot, even fuppofmg that the religion and the manners of the Egyptians were not directly repugnant to it ? Let us give no credit therefore to the improbable aftertion of Dionylius Periegetes, the only writer among the Gentiles who has decreed the honours of a temple to the. Lacedemonian pilot. ■ h) The teftimony of Herodotus cannot be invalidated, who, a Greek by birth, never would have invented a falfe-hoocl to throw difcredit on his nation, in whofe prefeuce he read his hiftory. This mull have been a well known fac?c in his time, and the love of truth alone could have made him fpeak of it. Ammianus O N E G Y P T. SCLl (d) Ammianus Marcellinus tells us, that the city of Canobus porlefied feveral temples. The moll celebrated was that of Serapis; the mofl ancient built in one of the fuburbs, was in honour of Hercules (e). Thefe are the only ones mentioned by antiquity. Strabo (f) defcribes the temple of Serapis, which the Ptolemies decorated with a truly royal magnificence. They made an addition to it of feveral buildings, in which they formed an academy where the Belles Lettres were taught, and above all, the myfleries of the religion, and ancient language of Egypt. A great number of learned men flourifhed there, and Ptolemy, the aflronomer, rendered it very famous. H lie paffed," fays Olym-piodorus fgjy " forty years in the wings of f< the temple of Canobus, during which he (d) Ammianus Marcellinus, lib. 22. () Ptolemy's Geography. (q) Amongft the rarities which Mr. Dombei, who has travelled with glory for nine years in fouth America, has juft brought back to France with him, I have remarked fome vafes taken from the tombs of the people of Peru, which greatly refemble thofe we find in the vaults of Saccora ; and fome idols of gold, iimilar to thofe the Arabs tear from the mummies, which their avarice leads them to pull to pieces. and ON EGYPT, $29 and their lliade ferved to mark his courfe, whilft he was above the horizon. All thefe fadts* teftify that the Egyptians were very attentive in confederating to god the fruit of their inventions. The name of Cahi Noub+ land of gold, bellowed on the country which produced the clay, the beft adapted to the compoiition of thefe pitchers, for filtrating the water, fhews us that it was with reafon the priefts offered one of them to the gods in the very place where they were fabricated, and perhaps even invented. I have the honour to be, &c. Vol. If. Mm LETTER LETTERS LETTER LXIX. OF THOTH, A SYMBOLICAL DEITY Op THE EGYPTIANS, AND REGARDED AS A CELEBRATED MAN BY THE GREATER PART OF WRITERS. Thoth was held to be an extraordinary man by a great number of writers. To him they afcribed the invention of all arts, fciences, and human infitutions; and dignified him with the name of Trifmegifms, or thrice great. This alone might be fuMcient to ■prove that the perfonage was allegorical. Thoth, in the Egyptian language, fignifies a pillar ; and as it was ufual to engrave approved works upon pillars, they all received the general appellation of Thoth. The three Thoths or mercuries might denote the infancy, the progrefs, and the perfection of human knowledge. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. A F T E R offering you, Sir, fome notions refpecting the principal divinities of Egypt, it remains that I fhould treat of Thoth, that fymbolical fymbolical divinity, or famous perfona'ge who received the homage of antiquity, and who was regarded as the inventor of almoft the whole of human knowledge. The ages in which his exiftence is placed, are fo very remote, that it is almoft impoffible to throw upon them any light, capable of clearing up the objects which lie hid in the obfcurity of time. Plato, who wrote upwards of two thoufand years before us, and who was educated in the fchool of the priefts of Heliopolis, did not himfelf know what judgment to form of Thoth, already of too ancient a date for him to difcover his origin frj, t: Theutl\ fays he, invented letters, diftin-guifhed the vowels from the confonants* " the mutes from liquids; a difcovery which " alone fhould make him be regarded as a " god, or as a divine mortal. Fame fays " that he lived in Egypt." In this ftate of uncertainty the moft prudent meafure is faithfully to report the palfages of the ancients, and to examine them with the fpirit of impartial criticifm. (r) Plato calls him Tbeutb. Mm 2 Thoth 'Thoth was differently named by different nations. " The Greeks, fiys Philo, Gf f Biblos (j), gave the name of Hermes, or & Mercury, to Taaout, whom the Egyp-" tians call Thoith, and the Alexandrians " Thoth." Hiftorians agree in attributing to him the invention of almoft all the arts. " Thoth, fays Lacfantius (t), remounts to " the moft remote antiquity, and though aman, he poffeiTed all the fciences, which " juftly obtained him the furname of ** Trt/wegi/lus, three tunes great." He created the different parts of difcourfe (u), and firft gave names to many things. lie difcovered numbers (a*) and meafures, #nd reduced arithmetic to a fyftem^y). The Egyptians faid that he taught them .geometry, which was abfolutely neceifary for them ; likewife aftronomy and aftrology: (s) A Phcenician Hiftory afcribed to ^Sanchoniathon, translated by Philo, of Biblos, and quoted by Eufebius in \us Preparation for the Gofpcl, lib. 3. ; (r) La6tantius, lib. 1. (u) Diodorus Siculus, Plato, and Eufebius, affirm that he was the inventor of letters, and the firil who wrote "books. (*) Pinto in Prrxdro. (y) Diodoiu* Siculus, lib. i# they they added, that being the firft who obferved the nature and harmony of founds, he compofed the lyre.' Clemens of Alexandria (z) fpeaks of the code of laws entrufted to the care of the priefts, and iElian points it out under the denomination of the body of law of Mercury (Thoth). The creation of theology, the eftablifhment of divine worfhip, and the order of facrifices, were alfo attributed to him (a) -t this doctrine was contained in the books of Mercury, depofited in the temples, and the priefts there found every thing concerning religion. In fhort, Diodorus Siculus tells us, the Egyptians af-ferted that all the fciences, inftitutions, and arts, were invented by Thoth, or Mercury. When we reflect, on the nature of the human mind, which advances only ftep by ftep from one truth to another, when viewing the annals of hiftory, we perceive but a final 1 number of creative geniufes, winery difperfed, and at great intervals from each (z) Clemens of Alexandria, lib. 6. Stroma. O-*cro de Natura deorum, and La&antius, lib. I, fay that he gave laws to the Egyptians. (a) Diodorus Siculus, lib. i. M m 3 ©^er ^4 L E t T E R* S other on the earth, making a few important difcoveries; when Plato, an enlightened judge, confidering Thoth fimply as the author of letters, and of writing, calls him god, or a divine mortal, one is compelled to believe that this perfonage, whom they endow with univerfal fcience, never has ex^ ifted.j but that the learned men of a nation, verging on the origin of the human race, publifhed under his name the various knowledge they had acquired for many thoufand years. This fentiment, dictated by reafori, is confirmed by the authority of feveral great men. Jamblichus(^) makes Aba-won (or Anebo) a priefl of Egypt, fpeak thus: " Mercury, the god of eloquence, is with <( reafon regarded as the common divinity (< of priefts ; for it is the fame fpirit which " prehdes over the genuine fcience of reli-" gion. This is the reafon why our an-" cerlors, on dedicating to him their works, the produce of their wifdom, graced " them with the name of Mercury/' Here then we have the books of the {b) Jamblich'JSj Myfr. Egypt, Egyptians, O N EGYPT. 535 Egyptians, publifhed under the name of Thoth*. Galen, trained up to the fciences in the academy of Alexandria, informs us of the manner in which this was practifed: " All the difcoveries made in Egypt, fays ** he, muft be ftamped with the approba-" tion of the learned. When they were a engraved on the columns (c) without the " names of the author, and depofited in " the fanctuary. Hence the prodigious " number of books afcribed to Mercury. 4( The difciples of Pythagoras imitated this ) pre^ (a) Manethon In the book of Sothis, dedicated to Ptolemy Philadelphia. Sec the chronography of Synechias. • (j>) jabionfki, Pantheon iEgyptiacum, lib. 3, chap. 20. tends, ON EGYPT, H% tends, is the fame with Thoth, and whether Jofephus, who was pofterior to Manethon, was defirous of giving a Patriarch the honour of an invention, the glory of which the Egyptians had long arrogated to themfelves. This would be a refearch of pure curiofity. The important matter would be to afcertain from authentic monuments the place where thefe columns were fituated, and their exigence. Both the hiiforians call it the Siridlac land, but that was unknown to the ancients as well as to the moderns, which has led fome of the learned to imagine that inftead of Siridiac, wc ihould read Smngic, an expreflion which denotes fubterraneous paffages. This idea muft have arifen from the following .paffage of Ammianus Marcellinus(tf): " It is affirm* " ed that the Egyptian priefts, verfed in all *' the branches of religious knowledge, and " apprized of the approach of the deluge, *' were fearful left the divine worfhip fliould *' be effaced from the memory of man. " To preferve the remembrance of it, they (q) Ammian Marcellinus, lib. 12. 2 " *' dug invarious parts of the kingdom, fub-« terraneous and winding paffages, on the « walls of which they engraved their know-" ledge under different forms of animals •* and birds, which they called hierogly-« phics, and which are unintelligible to «« the Latins." It feems as if this writer had decided the queftion, and that by the Slridiac land, we are to underftand thefe fubterraneous paffages in the rocks, in the environs cf Thebes and Memphis. In fact, we find in thofe immenfe labyrinths, formed under the plain of Saccora, a great number of figures of men, of birds, and various animals fculp-tured on the walls. Near Thebes we meet with Iimilar hieroglyphics in the numerous-caverns of the mountains. Amongft thefe facred characters, fome are painted, fome engraved, fome cut in relief, divided into compartments, or arranged in columns. Are not thefe the fanctuaries into which the priefts alone had the right of entering, and where they committed to ftone, the different epochas of hiftory, the inventions of the fciences, and the prodigies of art? I know the the Scholiaft of Sophocles (r) pretends, that the Jleles on which thefe remarkable events were configned, were fquare ftones. Perhaps they had that form in Greece; but the obelilks, the columns, the walls of the temples, and of the fubterraneous paffages covered with innumerable hieroglyphics; divided into compartments, were the fteles of the Egyptians, according to the teftimony of Sanchoniathon, Manethon, and the moft ancient hiftorians. The monuments defcribed by Ammianus Marcellinus are ftill fubfiftifig. The traveller contemplates them with a fterile admiration, as the firft efforts of human genius to immortalize the fruit of its labours. The teftimonies of the authors I have cited, are not decifive enough to perfuade us that thefe hieroglyphics are antecedent to the deluge. The reading of the events they contain could alone afcertain the truth or falfehood of that alfertion. That would undoubtedly inform us, both of the era ia which they were engraved, and the un- (r) Scholiaft of Sophocles on Elctfra. 2 known $44 L E T- T E R » fctown hiftory of the nrft ages of the world. £.jt we may at leaft form a reafonable conjecture that thefe characters preceded writing, and that they are the moft ancient monuments that have reached us. It is proved then, that Thoth, that fo much boafted perfonage, never had any real cxiftence, but that the Egyptian priefts pub-limed their works under this general title, after they had been honoured by the unanimous approbation of the colleges. The interpretation of this word, leaves no doubt upon the fubject. Jablonlki^ has proved that Thoth fignihes column. The Qreeks- (s) Jablonfki, tome 3, fays, Thoth, Theuth, or Thoitha nsomes from the Egyptian Thouthi, column.-Black-well fays in his Letters on Mythology—" I am inclined " to think that Taunt is pure Egyptian for Letters, " from in ciaau,Jignum nota, fach as the Egyptian letters tt efpecially were: thence mna Otfotb Signaliterje, " and with the n tranfpofed from the middle, or the Coptic article T5 put before it Taaot." N. B. this is tranflated frorn the Phoenician by Biackwell, and has neither been paraphrafed by Philo, nor traly deduced by fubfequent commentators. See Blackweli's Letters, p. 348, in the notes. Tranjiator. by by tranflating it by the word STHAH^/J; liave retained this meaning. As the learned of Egypt were accuftomed to write their books without putting their name to them, it was natural that they mould bear • that of the monuments by which they were to be tranfmitted to pofterity. It appears even that this honour was granted only to fuch as made important difcoveries, fince the approbation of all the academicians of the country was neceifary to. enjoy it. When the Latins therefore, and perfons who had but a fuperficialacquaintance with the Egyptian hiftory, fpeak of the columns of Thoth, they are guilty of the fame pleo-nafm as thofe geographers who call iEtna Mount Gibel (u). . Ohferve, I requeft you, that Sanchoniathon, Pvlanethon, Galen, and' the other writers who penetrated into the myfteries of Egypt, and drew their information from the genuine fources, do not commit this fault, but only relate that (t) Stele figntfes alfo column.—STHAH (Cippus, Titu--lusj a pillar or column. Biackwell. Trtmflcttor* {'<) Gibel is an Arabic word for mountain. Vol. IE N n t]iey they carved on culumns or ftelcs, the remarkable events, and prodigies of art. Thus when, according to ./Elian (;c), the priefts ajferted that Sefoftris was taught the fciences by Thoth or Mercury, it fignified, that on initiating him into the myfteries, they had taught him to read the hiftory of human knowledge impreffed in hieroglyphic characters on the columns. They bore at firft that fimple denomination; the cuftom of confulting them, the facred places where they were kept, the depofits they preferved, all rendered them refpedtable. They became confecrated by religion, and were placed under the immediate protection of Phtha, or the creative fpirit. Thefe principles eftablifhed, we are enabled to give a probable explanation of the three Thoth or Mercuries reckoned by the Egyptians. They placed the moft ancient before the deluge, and the others fubfe-quent to that eyent. The firft marked the infancy of human knowledge, whether it be, that fome monuments have efcaped the de- <*) -flElian, lib. 12. ftruction OK EGYPT. 54? ftrtiction of the human race, or whether thofe they raifed fhortly after, afcended beyond that terrible epocha. The fecond Thoth denotes the efforts of the Egyptians to difcover phyfical and agronomical truths, the tranilation of the hieroglyphics into facerdotal characters, and the fixed eftablifh-ment of divine worfhip, and the laws. The third again, pointed out the flourifhing flate of the fciences, the progrefs of the arts, and the perfection to which they were carried, as terrified by the pyramids, the temples, and obelifks, the immenfity and magnificence of which have never been equalled by any people. The Egyptian priefts expreffed thefe eras in a fenfible manner by the epithet of Trifmegifius, three times great, which they beftow on their allegorical Thoth. You muft have obferved, Sir, that the hooks of Thoth or Hermes, were the collection of the productions of all the learned men of Egypt, and formed their Encyclopedia. They have unfortunately perifhed in the conflagration of the Ptolemean library, and the originals which remain engraved °n the marbles of Egypt, in a thoufand N n 2 Places» > places, are unintelligible. Of fo many trea-fures we have only a few fragments preferved by the ancients. As to the Hermetical books, boafted of by thofe who facrifice their time, and their money in feeking after the philofopher's ftone, they are merely fup-pofititious works, and falfely attributed to Hermes, or the Egyptian Thoth. I have the honour to be, &c. LETTER LXX. • F THE VOCAL STATUE OF MEMNON. The Jlatue of Memnon greatfy celebrated in ancient times for the found which it emitted at fun-rife. Called by the priefts the Son ef the Day. The fon of Aurora, the conqueror of Antihchus, celebrated by Homer. . His interpreters, and the poets fince his time, have applied thofe exprejjions to the Egyptian Memnon. This is a miftake; the Thebaic jlatue bore the name of Atne-nophis. The Memnon who ca?ne to the fiege of Troy a little after, was fent from Sufi by Teutam, king of AJfyria. The vocal ftatue of Eqypt was broken by Cambyfes. The mutilated figure ceafed to emit any found for a long time, but refumed its vocal power under the Ptolemies. After its difgrace, it pronounced feven notes. The priefts, who gave the harmonic courft of the fven planets the name of celeftial mufic, and who confecrated to them the notes, called this fatue the image of the fun, and the N n 3 C02'fm coufm of Ofris, becaufe it pronounced tbe feven notes which compfed the terreftrial mufic. It received the name of ame nou-phi, to tell good news, becaufe it pronounced tbe notes at the vernal equinox, a feafon dear to the Egyptians* To Mr. L. M: Grand Cair«, 1HAVE briefly mentioned to you, Sir, the ftatue of Memnon, in defcribing the ruins of Thebes; but the wonders which are related of it are attefted by fo many great names engraven on its pedeftal, that I cannot conclude thefe letters without at* tempting to extricate from obfeurity fome circumftances of its hiftory. A hundred Greek and Latin, and a few Egyptian authors have celebrated it in their writings. Their opinions frequently differ, and are fometimes impreffed with the character of a blind credulity. Others, more wife, unable either to reject the teftimony of their fenfes, or to believe in miracles, remain in a ftate of fuf-penfe. I fhall give you a faithful account of their various narrations, which will enable © N EGYPT. 5SI able you to form a judgment refpecfjno-this ftatue, fo celebrated in antiquity. You have remarked, Sir, amongft the ruins of Thebes, feveral coloftal figures, al-moft all mutilated, or lying on the earth. The largeft was placed at the entrance of the veftibules of the tomb I have defcribed to you (y). Diodorus Siculus calls it Oji-mandui; Strabo (2) fays it was called by the Egyptians Ifmandes, but writers in general, give it the name of Memnon (a). This ftatue, ftill lefs remarkable for its gigantic ftature, and the hardnefs of the granite of which it is compofed, than for its property of producing a found at the rifing of the fun, was broken by Cambyfes. Half of it is overthrown, the other half remains up- (y) Diodorus Siculus, lib. 1. (z) Strabo, lib. 17. (a) Ofimandue and Ifmandes were probably the vulgar names of this coloflus, among the Egyptians. Thefe words are derived from Ou Stnandi, to give a found. Memnon may alfo come from Emnoni, of flow. The Greeks have made of it, Memnon Ifmandet, the vocal Jb**. See Jablonfki de Mcmnome. Nn 4 on on its bafe. Philoftrates thus defcribes it (J,) The coloifus of Memnon reprefented a « young man in the flower of his age, whofe ■«« face was turned towards the riling fun. «< When his rays fell upon it, it was faid to fpeak." Dionyfius "Periegetes fays fcj9 ie The people who inhabit Thebes, famous " for her hundred gates, and for the vocal «< ftatue of Memnon which falutes his mo-" ther Aurora on her rifing." The priefts of Egypt called it the Son of Day fd), and, according to Diodorus, the Coujin of Ofris. Homer is the firft who fpeaks of the fon of Aurora ^Vy. " Neftor preferved in his tl heart the memory of his generous Anti-" lochus, ilain by the illuftrious fon of Au-" rora." His commentators have all been (/;) Fhlloftratcs, Life of Apollonius of Thiones, lib. 6. (c) Dionyfius Periegetes, Defcription of the Uni-verlfc, (of) In the old Egyptian ton-rue, the day was called feho; the Greeks made of this, Ejs, the morning, and called Memnon the fon of the morning. Jablonfki de IVlemnone. (e) Homer's OdyfTey. of of opinion that the latter expreflions related to the Egyptian Memnon; but the prince of poets might have made ufe of them to point out one of the chiefs who came to the re-leafe of Troy from the eaftern countries. This metaphorical language was familiar in his time. The fcripture employs it in the fame manner by calling .the people of thofe climes the children of the eaft. The poets who flourillied after him, gave a different explanation of his expreflion : " Aurora, " fays Hefiod (fj, brought forth byTithon, *' the valiant Memnon, who wore a brazen " helmet, and was King of Ethiopia/' Pindar afcribes to him" the victory over An-tilochus (g) : " The brave Antilochus, en-" dowed with a magnanimous foul, delirous " of faving his father's life, fell in the com-" bat he fuftained with Memnon, the leader " of an army of Ethiopians (/;). One of «{ Neftor's (f) Hefiod. Theogonia. (g) Pindar, Ode C*) Thefe paffages relate to the Egyptian Memnon. In fad, the ancient Greeks long called the Delta by the iiame of Egypt, and all the country farther to the fouth- ward, « Neftor's horfes, pierced by a fpear thrown «« by the hand of Paris, flopped his car." Building on thefe authorities, the poets of Greece and Italy confounded the Trojan with the Egyptian Memnon. Virgil (;) fpeaks of the troops of Aurora, and of the arms of the black Memnon. This colour, employed to mark the country of the hero, muft not be regarded as a fign of deformity; for the poet of Achilles, in celebrating Eu-ripilus, fays (/£), He was the handfomeft of mortals, after the divine Memnon. Ovid (/) ex'preffes himfelf thus in his Metamorphofes: «' Aurora, who favoured the Trojan paity, *' is no longer touched with the misfortunes ** of Ilion, nor of Hecuba; a nearer con-ward, Ethiopia. Homer puts thefe words in the mouth of Menelaus, fpeaking to Telemachus: / penetrated Egypt as far as Ethiopia. Now, a3 he only conduces his hero to Thebes, it is evident that he underftood th* Thebais by this expreflion. Damis, the companion of Apollonius of Thianes, declares that he faw the temple and the ftatue of Memnon, in Ethiopia, that is to fay, in Upper Egypt. {i) Virgil's ./Eneid, book I. (k) Odyhey,lib. 5. {I) Ovid. Metam. li».-5. " cern x< cern occupies her foul; me mourns her •* own loffes, and bewails in tears the death *' of Memnon." On the bafe of the ftatue is the following beautiful epigram, . written by the poet Afclepiodotus : " Live " Thetis, goddefs of the fea! Learn that " Memnon, who died fighting under the " walls of Troy, daily utters a pleafing " found near the tombs dugout of the Ly-*' bian mountains, at the fpot where the " impetuous Nile interfeefs Thebes, cele-" brated for her gates ; whilft Achilles, u thirfting infatiably for battles, no longer " fpeaks, either near the walls of Ilion, " or in the Thelfalian plains." Here, Sir, is the Egyptian or Ethiopian Memnon (for the ancients gave the name of Ethiopia to the Thebais) generally acknowledged to be him who glorioufly fell in repulfing the Greeks. But thefe are tefti-monies of the poets, who are more anxious to prefent us with moving pictures, and brilliant fables, than accurate hiftorical truths. Let us purfue the fable of his birth (m). {m) Apollodorus, Biblioth. lib. 3- Aurora, Aurora, amorous of Tithon, carried him into Ethiopia, where fhe bore to him Ema-thion and Memnon (tz). Ifacius Tze*za adopts the fame allegory. Tithon, fon of Laomedon, was beloved by the Goddefs of the Day. From this commerce fprung Memnon and Emathion (;) is the firft who calls it Memnon, and he fcarcely fpeaks of it, becaufe it Was mutilated when he vifited Egypt. Since the days of that hiftorian a crowd of travellers has cited it with enthufiafm, and they have almoft all concurred in bellowing on it the name of Memnon, which only proves that this was the denomination generally adopted by foreigners; but to come at the real name, we muft attend to the Egyptians, who muft certainly be better acquainted with their own monuments. We read the following words in the chronicle of Alexandria fyj: " Cambyfes or-" dered Ammophis, the vocal ftatue, vul-" garly called Memnon, to be cut in two." Paufanias, an accurate obferver, comes in fupport of this authority (z). The The-bans affure us that the ftatue we call Memnon, is that of the Egyptian Pha-menophis. The Ph{a), in the language of (■*•) Herodotus. (y) Chronicle of Alexandria. (*) Paufanias in Atticis. {a) Jabloniki de Memnonc. the the country, is the article mafculine; its true name therefore was Amenopbis. After Cambyfes had knocked down the half of this coloifus, it- ceafed probably for a long time to utter any found; for Herodotus, who travelled through this country fhortly after the Perfian conqueft, would not have omitted fo extraordinary a facl. The Ptolemies having founded a kingdom in Egypt, favoured the arts and fciences. From that period, the remains of the ftatue, ftill upon its bafc, continued to make its voice be heard, as Manethon informs us but not fo diftincfly as before its misfortune. Three centuries after, the Romans conquered Egypt, and they flew with admiration, to viiit antiquities. Germanicus was of this number. " He could not refift/' fays Tacitus(c), "the defire of contemplating &c„ L E T T E R S LETTER LXXI. REFLECTIONS ON THE RELIGIOUS WORSHIP OF THE EGYPTIANS. The Egyptians had only two dogmas in their religion, namely, thai of a God the Creator, and that of the immortality of the fold; all the ref was allegorical. This religion was preferved pure and untainted within the temples ; but the neceffity they were under of ufing reprcfentative figures before the invention of letters, induced the people by degrees to adore them; which happened when the art of writing having become cafy, they forgot the ftnfe of the hieroglyphics. The gods of Labdn were nothing but hieroglyphics, of which he had lof the meaning. They were to him the objetls of worfiip, becaufe they had been tranfmittcd by his fathers, and he did not comprehend them. The fame thing happened in Egypt. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo, \ O U will now permit me, Sir, to make a few fliert reflections on the religion, the myflerics • myfteries of which I have been endeavouring to lay before you. It contains only two dogmas, that of the infinite Spirit, author of the creation, and that of the immortality of the foul. The temples of Pbtba, of Neith, and of Cneph, confecrated to the power, the wifdom, the goodnefs of the Supreme Being, are a demonstration of the firft. The care with which they embalmed the bodies, the prayer repeated on the death of an Egyptian, furniih a proof of the fecond. The temple of Cmpb, fituated in the iile of Ele-phantinos, may be regarded as the moft ancient of the country. In fact, before the Egyptians defcended into the valley where the ftagnant waters of the Nile formed impenetrable moraifes, until they had drained them by the moft prodigious labours, and rendered them fit for agriculture, they dwelt, according to Herodotus, on the mountains bordering on the cataracts. This monument, therefore, teitifies, that amongft them the worfhip of the Creator preceded every other. We are juftified even in affcrting, that the priefts retained it in its purity; for mm men who had once rifen by the fublime e£* forts of reafon to the knowledge of one only God, or who haye received it by tradition, could never, whilft they continued to com-pofe an enlightened body, fall back into idolatry, which invariably implies a profound ignorance. The reft of the Egyptian theology was purely allegorical. It embraced the courfe of the fun, the .moon, the ftars, and the moft ftriking phenomena of nature. All thefe objects were perfonified in the facred language of the priefts, but far from making them the objects of adoration, they confidered them only as admirable figns by which the Moft High manifefted his omnipotence to their fenfes. It is very probable that they at firft taught this religion in its purity, but that it became infenfibly corrupted, becaufe the vulgar, accuftomed to behold in the fanctuaries, the fymbolical figures I have fpoken of, and to offer facrifices and thankfgiving to the Creator, at the periods when they were produced, forgot the invifible object of their veneration to worfhip O.N.EGYPT* #5 worfhip his works, hidden under thefe emblems §• But why did net the priefts extinguish this blind worfhip ? Why did they hold the nation in fubjecHon to the yoke of fo deplorable a fiiperftition ? Doubtlefs this was not originally their deiign. The necdHty of § A Chriftian writer, of abilities, makes the follow-ing arch, but pertinent anfwer to the defpifers and too-' zealous calumniators of the ancient mythology. " Sup-** pofe thatamidft the calamities that frequently befel the" *c Jewifo nation, the book of their law, whefe preferva- tion is almoft a miracle, had periihed, and with it, as of *l other incidents, the memory of the Brazen Serpent, " erected by their law-giver, had been irretrievably loft? w what idea could we have now entertained of the ferpents " erected at this day as Talifmans all over the eaft, in inu-" tation of that divine pattern ? We might have groped in *' the dark, attributed then* perhaps to the power of Mer-"^cury's Caduceus, the magic rod with twining fnakes, " or to ^Efculapius's badge of life and health, a fingle " ferpent wreathed round his flaff; or to the myftical veneration of the Egyptians, who have moft of theft 1 T?.l!fmans, for that reptile, which they flill venerate, " amidft.all the ftriclncfs of the Mahometan doctrine con-M cerning the unity of God and the precifenefs of the " Chrijlian Coptis." See Dr. Pocock, and our author, for an inftance of this veneration for the ferpent Haridi.-— [Tranflator.] exprcfiing exprefling their ideas, previous to the invention of letters, by allegorical figures, the practice of confining them to the temples, accuftomed the people to look on them as facred. V/hen the lefs difficult art of writing had made them entirely lofe the meaning of thefe figures, they fet no bounds to their veneration, and paid real homage to thefe fymbols, which were only refpecfedby their fathers. Then Of ris and Ills became tutelary divinities of Egypt; Serapis prelided over the inundation ; Apis foretold abundanceand the evil genius,. Typhon, threatened the country with the moft deftructive calamities. Thefe ideas, once deeply imprefTed on the minds of the people, it would have been difficult to eradicate them, without involving the tota^ overthrow of the eftablifhed worfhip: perhaps, alfo, (for men have been the fame in all ages) the priefts adroitly availed themfelves of this* ignorance to become the mediators between heaven and earth, and the fole difpenfers of the divine oracles. But what fhould render men circumfpecr. when they take upon them to condemn a learned body, 6 N EGYPT. 57? body* who publifhed thofe wife laws which formed the glory of the Athenian code, and who erected a great number of durable and ufeful monuments* is that the Hebrews, though reflricted to the ancient creed of Abraham by their elders and their prophets j no fooner found themfelves in the defert, than taking advantage of the ab-fence of Mofes, who was waiting on the mountain the oracles of heaven, they compelled Aaron to call a golden calf to ferve them as a god; fo true it'is> that the view of fenfible objects has more empire over the multitude than all the precepts of the pro-foundeft wifdom. In fhort, if we reafon impartially, we fhall perceive that it is fometimes no lefs difficult than dangerous to fhew mankind the truth. The principal philofophers of Greece and Rome, as well as the Egyptian Priefts, acknowledged only one Godi Mythology* in their eyes, was no other than a tiffue of allegories, implying effects and natural caufes. They bowed their head, however* before the fiatues of Jupiter, of Pallas, and of Venus. Socrates alone had the courage to lift up his Vol. II* P p voice voice againft thefe fabulous divinities, and Socrates was compelled to fwallow poifon. Do you wifh for another and more recent example of the danger of enlightening our fellow-creatures ? Galileo proclaims a moft important difcovery to the world, and Galileo, after being obliged to afk pardon on his knees for having dared to tell the truth, was perfecuted for the remainder of his life, and died in exile. It is doubtlefs very noble to be a martyr at this price, but few minds are equal to fo fublime an effort. , • Thefe facts, with many others I could cite, prove that if the Egyptian priefts were culpable for having concealed the light from a people whom it was their duty to inftruct, we fhouid not condemn them with too much rigour. For in thefe diftant ages, when men fpoke only by fymbols, idolatry made a rapid progrefs, and it was almoft impoffible to deilroy it, without overfetting all religion. Recollect the gods of Laban ftolen by Rebecca. Thefe idols were hieroglyphics. Laban, who had probably loft the key of their real iignification, adored them, becaufe he had received them from his anceftors. The ON EGYPT. 579 The fame circumftance occurred in Egypt, where the hieroglyphics became the deities of the people, as foon as they had loft the comprehenfion of their real meaning. The fole means of extinguishing the fuperftition would have been by deftroying them but the priefts, in making fuch a facrifice, muft have annihilated all their knowledge, and above all, their abfolute controul over the minds of men. Now, if there are examples of a few individuals who have been generous enough to renounce the charms of dominion, from the pure dictates of humanity, we never yet have feen a body of men capable of fo noble an act of virtue. I have the honour to be, &c. LETTERS L E T T E P. LXXII. OBSERVATIONS ON THE HIEROGLYPHICS. Hieroglyphics, the firft-written language of man. Their antiquity more remote than the deluge. The meaning of them entirely loft under the princes of the lower empire. The recovery of it would render us ac~ quainted with the language of the Coptis, or ancient vulgar Egyptian, by which we might attain to a knowledge of the' facer* dotal dralecl, ufed for explaining fhe hieroglyphics, and which is found on Egyptian monuments. A journey might likewife be attempted to the temple of Jupiter Ammon, inhabited by an Egyptian colony, which may have preferved their ancient language, their books, and the knowledge of hieroglyphics. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. Hieroglyphics, sir, arc the firft written language of mankind. They are imitative imitative and allegorical characters. They differ from letters in this, that the latter paint the thoughts by ftrokes and founds, while the former reprefent them byvfigures. Their antiquity approaches the era of the deluge, if it be not prior to it , for the human race poffeffed the arts and fciences before that dififter, and fince they were carved on ftone, fome of thefe monuments may haveefcaped the general ruin. Clemens of Alexandria, reckons a great number of books afcribed to Thoth, that is to fay, approved by the academies, and published under that title. He even gives an account of fome of them. The firft, fays he, contained the facred hymns; the fecond, rules for the lives of Kings, the four following treated of aftronomy, and the obfervations of the Egyptians ten others contained the fcience of hieroglyphics, geography, and cofmo-graphy. A like number compofed the code of laws, the religion, and the difcipline of the priefts. Laftly, the remaining fix formed a complete treatife on medicine. Thefe works have undergone the fate of P p 3 many many others, which a barbarian, whofe-name muft be ever odious to pofterity, made ufe of for fix months to heat the baths of Alexandria; but the chief part of the Egyptian books were only copies. The originals remain engraven in a thoufand places on the marbles of the temples, the obelifks, and the walls of the fubterrane-ous paffages. Thefe are the monuments which the learned of all nations fhould endeavour to read. Manethon, a high-prieft and facred Egyptian writer, drew thence the hiftory he wrote, under the reign of the Ptolemies. About three centuries after, Hermapion decyphered the obelifk of Heliopolis, tranfported by Auguftus to the capital of the Roman empire. Since that author, no other has poffeffed the knowledge of hieroglyphics, or, if any one has been fo gifted, his works have not reached us. Ammianus Marcellinus, who flourifhed under the Emperor Julian, declares, that in his time thefe characters were unintelligible to the Romans. Are there then no means of tearing off the veil that covers them, and of explaining the facts which they contain ? The The man who fhould make this difcoverv would acquire immortal honour, by reftor-ing to the arts, to fcience, and to hiftory, fo many difcoveries now loft to the world. I 3o not pretend to this fublime effort, but fliall content myfelf with expoling fuch ideas as the ftudy of the ancients, and the frequently-repeated view of the monuments of Egypt, have given birth to, in my mind. We know that the priefts invented the letters which they called facerdotal, and by means of which they trandated the hieroglyphics : they were in univerfal ufe in the temples, and it was in thofe letters they wrote every thing refpecting religion and the fciences. This partial dialect was intermediate between the hieroglyphics and the common language of the country, which fortunately is not loft; for the facl: is, that it ftill exifts in the books of the Coptis, with Greek and Arabic tranilations. It is to be found in a great number of manufcnpts fcattered through Egypt, and in the European libraries, In order to arrive, by peans of it, at the knowledge of the facer-P p 4 dotal dotal dialect, we muft difcover either aU phabets or paffages common to the two languages. Now, we difcover on the walls of the temples, and the fouterrains, certain letters interfperfed amongft the hierogly-. phics, different from all thofe we are acquainted with, and which form probably part of the facerdotal dialect. Thefe are the characters we fhould endeavour to comprehend ; for they would give us the key of the hieroglyphics, of which they are either the continuation or the interpretation. Perhaps fome learned man, perfectly well verfed in the Coptic, the Arabic, and the Hebrew, who would dedicate fome years to the ftudy of the monuments of ancient Egypt on the fpot, might accomplifh this noble enterprize §. The § The fcriptures furnifh many proofs that the Jews brought the hieroglyphics with them out of Egypt, as well as the worfhip of the fun.-Ezekicl, in his vifion, chap. viii. yerfes g, 10, and 16, fays, " And he faid un-f£ to me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations " that they do here. So I went in and beheld every M form of creeping thing, and abominable hearts, and f* all the idols of the houfe of Ifrael, pourtrayed on the The following is another reflection with which I have been greatly {truck, iince I have travelled in this country. The Am- monian* wall round about."—And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's houfe, and behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs towards the temple of the Lord, and their faces towards the eafti and they worshipped the fun towards the jeaft. • The Bifhop of Clogher, in 1753, published a Journal from Grand Cairo to Mount Sinai, and back again, tranf-lated from a manufcript written by the Prefetto of Egypt, in company with the Millionaires de propaganda fide at Grand Cairo 3 fpoken of by Dr. Pocock, and wherein mention'is made of great numbers of ancient unknown charadtersin the wildernefs of Sinai, ata place well known by the name of Gebcl-el-Mokatah, or the Written Mountains. Likewife of the fecond ftone ftruck by Mofes, as related in the twentieth chapter of Numbers, is ftill lying there. The celebrated Mr. Edward Wortley Montague made this journey a few years lince, exprefsly to view thefe objects,, but declared himiejf greatly difap-pointed at finding them every where mterfperfed with figures of men and beafts, which convinced him that they were not written by the Ifraeljtes. With great deference to fo ingenious an obferyer, is it not almoft evident that thefe are neither more nor lefs than the Egyptian hieroglyphics; and that, from the pafiage above cited from monians were an Egyptian colony. The priefts who gave Jupiter Ammon his celebrity, had die fame religion, and poffeifed the fame knowledge with thofe of Egypt. Their God has ceafed to utter his oracles, but his temple may ftill fubfift; the country around it being extremely fertile, muft be inhabited. This tribe not having experienced the revolutions which have overturned every thing in Egypt for upwards of two thoufand years, may have retained its cuftoms, its worfhip, and its native lan^ guage. It is probable that the arts and fci, ences, no longer foftered by Celebrity, have fallen into decay; but tradition may have preferved their memory. Sanchoniathon from Ezekiel, as well as the Egyptian education of Mofes, they may have been written by the Ifraelites, and that the characters interfperfad with the figures of men and beafts, are the facerdotal characters or dialect mentioned by our author ? Mr. Montague had certainly no reafoiiable caufe of difappointment at finding thefe ftones covered with unknown characters for what elfe was to be expected? But thefe very curious and highly interefting monuments are not for that reafon the lefsde-ferving the attention of the learned, whether they be of Ifraclite cr Egyptian origin. [Tranflator.] affirms affirms that he derived his knowledge from the monuments of Egypt, and the books of the Ammonians. Thefe books might flill be found in the heart of the country which gave them birth, and poffibly in the fane-tuary of that ancient temple, protected by immenfe deferts. It fhould be towards this memorable fpot, therefore, that a learned man fhould bend his courfe with any hope of fuccefs. The way that leads to it is befet with dangers. Alexander, followed by a numerous retinue, and by camels laden with water and provifibns, was on the point of perifhing with thirft. One of the armies of Cambyfes remained buried under the fands, and not a fingle foldier who compofed it ever again beheld his country. But what is not an intrepid individual capable of performing, enlightened and en flamed by the love of fcience ? Until fome well-informed European, in fhort, fliall have vifited the temple of Ammon; until he has communicated to enlightened nations the treafures or the ruins it contains, it is natural to imagine that it is furrounded by an ancient Egyptian colony, who fpeak the mother tongue, and who who have preferved the fc ience of hieroglyphics. But what leads us to believe that this tribe is not extinct, is, that the Oafis which I have traced on the chart, are ftill inhabited in our days, and that the Bey of Girge fends to the Oafis, which correfponds with that town, a Cachef to govern it. A traveller who fhould venture to traverfe the defarts which feparate the Oafis from the banks of the Nile, muft infallibly find there monuments hitherto unknown, and infinitely curious ► I have the honour to be, ccc. V ON EGYPT. LETTER LXXIIL /To Mr. Lemonnier, Phyfcian to tbe Kin& 0/France, FirftPhyfcian to Monsieur, and Member of tbe Academy o/'Sciences. plan of an interesting "voyage, and which has never been performed. To take a furvey of tbe great lake ^Menzalc in a boat. To examine the ruins in its i/les. To viftt Perafum'y Farama, the Oafs; to Siene for tbe wells of the fifice, ■and to afcertain tbe ancient' olfrvaii^n of the Egyptians. To pafs through the interior parts of the Imen, with the view of procuring information and manufcripts* To go to Mecca; to fay there during the pilgrimage, and to bring thence and from Medina the works and information that are unknown in Europe. T? travel over 3 both both Arabias, Petroea and Deferta; anJ after remaining fome time at Damas to return to "Europe. To Mr. L. M. Grand Cairo. .MANY things ftill remain, Sir, to be verified in Egypt. The following is the project I propofe to the man who is de-firous of being eminently ufeful to the arts and fciences, and to procure moft valuable information for his country. To furvey in a boat the great Lake of Menzale; to found its outlets into the Mediterranean; to touch at the Ifle of Tanis* where, according to the teftimony of Arabian writers, and the natives of the country, there are vaft ruins and antique marbles; to navigate to the extremity of the lake; to vilit the remains of Pelufium, and of Farama, where the Arabian geographers defcribe a tomb, which muft be that of the great Pompey. To defcend the canal of Sebennytus, now called Samanout, as far as the borders of Lake Lake Baurlos, to fearch for the ruins of the ancient Butis, where Herodotus places the fanctuary of Latona compofed of. the aftoniihing block of granite, the dcfjriptioa of which I have given from that hifto-rian. To difcover the ruins of Naucrates, and of Sais, fituated in the environs of Faoue, and thofe of Phacufa and Bubaftis, where the famous canal of the Ptolemies paffed. To make a treaty with a tribe of wandering Arabs in order to penetrate to the Oafis of Ammon, at no great diftance from Lake Maeris, and thence to the temple of Jupiter Ammon, fo celebrated in antiquity • where there are hopes of recovering the ancient language of Egy^t, and pombly the books which ferved to decypher the hieroglyphics. . To vifit the three Oasis, and defcribe the people and the monuments they contain, and which are loft to the world. . To ftop eight or ten days at Sienna to difcover the well of the folftice, and to verify the admirable obfervation of the ancient Egyptian prieft?, who, when the fun de- icribed g$| I E T T t R S fcribed the Tropic, faw his entire image a£ noon reflected on the water, which covered the bottom of this aflronomical well. For eighteen hundred years part no European has verified any of thefe circumflances, or vilited the places I have mentioned. Thefe re-fearches, however, fuppofe a man verfed in antiquity, and thoroughly acquainted with the manners, the religion, and the language of the Arabs ; fuch a man would riot content himfelf with thefe limits to his travels. He might embark on the Red Sea in the capacity of a Mahometan merchant, furvey all its ports, remain fome months at Moka, where he would meet with precious man.ufcripts, then repair to Sannaa, the ancient capital of the Homerite Kings, whd governed Yemen in the time of the Ptolemies; vifit the interior parts "of that rich country; join .one of the caravans, and ar-^ rive at Mecca. He might remain there under the pretext of religion and of commerce; examine the library begun long before Mahomet; he might purchafe, or procure copies of the mofl interefling ma-nufcripts; and, after obferving the worfhip, the the trade, and the monuments of that city, the antiquity of which is coeval with Ifmael, he might fet off with the caravan for Da-mafcus, and repofe himfelf after his fatigues in that beautiful capital of Syria, where he would procure likewife a great number of fcarce books, &c. Sec. &c. The learned man who mould fucceed in this journey, the difficulties and the perils of which are innumerable, would furnifh Europe with an abfolutely new hiftory of the 'nations of Arabia; for the interior of that country is as little known as the forefls of New Zealand. He would procure a great quantity of interefting difcoveries for natural hiftory and geography, and might pof-fibly have the good fortune te reffore to Tacitus, to Livy, and to Diodorus, the complement of their immortal works, for they have all been translated by the Arabs. After I had given to the publick a tranfia-tion of the Koran, and the life of Mahomet, full of enthufiafm for the fciences, I did propofe to undertake this journey. My project met with obflacles which prevented me from carrying it into execution, and Vol.IL Qji which which gave me much uneafinefs. But we muft fubmit to the law of neceflity. From that time I have totally abandoned the thoughts of it, and I confefs that at prefent I fhould not have the courage to undertake it, becaufe I know from experience the perils of fuch an enterprize, and that after a few years refidence in my native country, to the climate of which I am again habituated, my health probably would not be proof a fecond time to the deftructive heats of Africa and Arabia, But I hope that fome European, inflamed with the love of glory, and wealthier, or more favoured than me, will immortalize himfelf by collecting the information and the manufcripts I have mentioned ; and above all, by procuring for enlightened nations the unknown hiftory of the people of Yemen, of Mecca, of Medina, and of the interior parts'of Arabia, Such is the knowledge I have been able to obtain by five years travels in the eaftern world, and by the ftudy of the ancients, JVlay you, Sir, who, in the charming retirement, which your labours and your talents have enriched with all the rare plants of the world, world, and a collection of valuable books, who afforded me the leifure neceffary to arrange thefe Letters, publifhed under the aufpices of an auguff Prince, who honours you with his efieem; may you, Sir, derive fome pleafure from their perufal, and regard them as a teflimonial of my gratitude. I have the honour to be, With refpect, SIR, Your molt obedient, humble fervant, S A V A R V. End of the Letters on Egypt.