PREFACE.

THE object of this volume is to present to the eader, in a condensed form, an account of all that is known respecting Egypt, both in its ancient and in its modern state. The history alone of such a country could not fail to be highly interesting to every one who has any curiosity to mark the progress of the human race in civilization and learning, and more especially the beginnings of society at that earliest period to which the writings of uninspired annalists carry back the mind of the contemplative student. It has indeed been our main endeavour to represent the genius and astonishing acquirements of the old Egyptians through the medium of the great works of architecture, statuary, and sculpture, which are still to be found on the banks of the Nile. In this part of our undertaking we have spared no pains to illustrate the descriptions of the Grecian, Roman, and Arabian historians, by a reference to the actual condition of that singular country in our own times; attempting by these means to supply to the reader of Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, Strabo, Pliny, and Abdolatiph, a light reflected from the ruins of those splendid monuments which they were the first to make known to the great body of their less-informed contemporaries.

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However dark may be the cloud which still hangs over the more ancient portion of Egyptian history, it is much less obscure than it was thirty years ago. The united exertions of travellers abroad, and of learned men at home, since the beginning of the present century, have contributed not a little towards removing the perplexity which was wont to beset the historian and chronologer at the very threshold of their inquiries. The labours of Dr. Young and of M. Champollion have opened up a path by which, there is great reason to hope, the research of modern authors will be enabled to penetrate into those remote ages which preceded the Persian conquest, and which it has too long been the fashion to consign to mysticism and fable. Without permitting ourselves to yield to an undue confidence in regard to the discoveries which are said to have been made since the comparatively recent period when the language of hieroglyphics was supplied with a key, we may nevertheless cherish the expectation that the light which has been already thrown on the dynasties of the ancient kings of Egypt will increase hereafter into a much greater degree of brightness. It was not the least pleasant part of our task to trace the steps of that arduous investigation which finally led to the knowledge of Phonetic hieroglyphics: one of the most valuable additions made to literature in modern times.

The reader will find that we have not neglected any source of information in respect to the learning and science of the Egyptians, and more especially as these are in any way connected with the mechanical labours, the arts, or the political govern

ment which distinguished the first ages of their history. It was our intention to have included an account of Nubia and Abyssinia in the narrative now submitted to the public; but we soon discovered that the interesting notices which are daily reaching this kingdom relative to the improvements introduced by Mohammed Ali, the present viceroy of Egypt, and the important changes which he still appears to meditate, would necessarily prevent the accomplishment of so extended a plan. Hence it has been determined to reserve a full and methodical description of those vast countries for a future volume of the Library.

In collecting materials for the history of modern Egypt, we placed the greatest reliance on the works of such writers as had lived some time in the country, and had thereby an opportunity not only of marking the progress of events under the extraordinary man who for more than twenty years has directed the government, but also of comparing the actual condition of the inhabitants with the oppression and barbarism from which they have gradually emerged. In this point of view the successive communications of Mr. Salt are extremely valuable; as are also several notices which have been received in this country through the medium of France. Among these last a distinguished place is due to the "Histoire de la Régénération de l'Egypte," written in the form of letters by Jules Planat, a staff-officer in the service of the pasha.

The reader may be surprised, that in describing the manners and customs of the modern Egyptians, we have not taken any notice of a volume by the late Mr. Burckhardt on this very subject. Suffice

it to observe that the work in question is simply a collection of Arabic proverbs, which illustrate the sentiments of the people rather than their customs or manners, and was therefore altogether unsuitable for the purpose which we had in view.

It is not necessary to remark that the chapter on Natural History is meant entirely for popular use, and has no claims to scientific precision either in the description or arrangement. Besides, as the sixteenth volume of this Library contains a full view of the Geology and Animal Kingdom of Africa, contributed by two able writers, we have intentionally limited our survey to such objects as are peculiar to the Egyptian valley and to the rocky barrier by which it is bounded.

EDINBURGH, April, 1830.