HOSE of our readers who are interested in the beliefs and monuments of Ancient Egypt will find pleasure in the perusal of "The Land of the Monuments." Besides a pleasantly-recorded tour amongst Egypt's ever-absorbing wonders, the volume offers a variety of happily-selected incidents, illustrating passages of Scripture. From these we cull a few.
“TWO WALKING TOGETHER.
“The chief mourners follow immediately behind the bier; then other men, probably the friends of the deceased. Some of these are occasionally seen walking hand in hand. Wherever and whenever this occurs, it is an indication of great friendship. It is a custom of great antiquity; in hieroglyphic characters two figures represented hand in hand form a determinative of friendship or brotherhood.
It is a custom alluded to in Scripture. ‘Can two walk together (i.e., hand in hand) except they be agreed?' ‘Thou hast holden me by my right hand.' ‘Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart?... If it be, give me thine hand.”
“RUBBISH HEAPS.
“Beyond them, away to the south and east, Are huge mounds of rubbish, the accumulation of the sweepings of centuries, of which the most imperishable portion is the pottery. Potsherds shine in the sunlight, and form more or less regular strata of color through 'the dull mass. It is a curious and interesting fact that the age of mounds and tells may be fairly determined by the shape, style, and character of the earthenware and fragments of pottery which they contain.... Such mounds of rubbish as these are to be met with on the outside of all Eastern towns and villages; they are universal dust-heaps, ancient as the Book of Job. 'And he took him a potsherd to scrape 'himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.' 'He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill.'"
“A WATERED GARDEN.
“On arriving at the village of Matarieh we were driven up to the gate of a garden, through which a small stream of beautiful clear water was running. The splashing, gurgling sound was most pleasant and refreshing. Its effect upon the vegetation was very evident; it was indeed a watered garden.' Flowers were abundant, beautiful, and fragrant; shrubs and trees were growing most vigorously.”
“THIEVES BREAKING THROUGH.
“The streets of the city are narrow, irregular, and badly paved. The houses seldom exceed two stories in height; those of the poorer classes are of one story, and miserable structures. Where thieves break through and steal.' `He would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up,' or broken through.' Nothing would be easier than to break through' these frail walls...”
“THE SCEPTRE, OR BATON OF OFFICE,
denoted chieftainship, the ruler of a province, chief authority, precedence. Upon it the names and titles are inscribed, and it was also customary for the name to appear upon the ruler's staff. The scepter marked the person of distinction, the great landed proprietor occupying a high position in the state. The staff implied much the same dignity as the scepter, and is found only with persons of the highest position—princes, priests, and high officials. Numerous staves, five to six feet in height, with ornamental tops of various designs, have been found at Thebes, upon some of which the name of the owner could be read. The figure of a man leaning upon a staff denoted a great one,' a prince,' or a person of distinction.' Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.' Jacob, as chieftain of the Hebrews and the sheik of the tribe, would naturally have his ruler's staff when he came down to Egypt, as the Arab sheik of the present day has his spear, which is driven into the ground before his tent. Joseph, the ruler of the land of Egypt, would possess one of the highest orders, second only in distinction to that of Pharaoh, who said to him on his appointment: Only in the throne will I be greater than thou.' The Vulgate renders the passage, and bowed himself lowly before the ruler's staff' (scepter, or baton of office) which his son carried.' In this, one would read the acknowledgment by the dying patriarch of the overruling providence of God, who had raised his son to the highest position as ruler of the land of Egypt, and had thus saved their lives by a great deliverance.'”