The hieratic form, which is the most complete of all, possesses some very remarkable peculiarities; but as it passes naturally into the demotic or enchorial, and has a much closer affinity to that than to the hieroglyphic, we shall confine our account of it to a mere exposition of the principle on which the scheme is made to rest. The digits, omitting the variations, which are of little importance, are represented thus:

Ten is represented by the Greek lambda direct or reversed or. The sign of a hundred is, of two hundred of three hundred, of four hundred "; while 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, are represented respectively by combining the signs of 200 and 300; of 300 and 300; of 300 and 400; of 400 and 400; and 300 thrice repeated. The mark for 1000 is the sanpi of the Greeks.5; the symbol of 10,000 is 2, while 100,000 is represented by the sign of a hundred combined with that of 1000.

So much for the common numbers of the hieratic scale. But there is also a peculiar and distinct set of numerical signs for the days of the month; which are not a little interesting, as exhibiting the source whence the Arabians derived three or four of the figures which that people afterward introduced into the western world; thus conferring upon Europe one of the greatest benefits it ever received, at the hand either of conqueror or of sage, the art of printing alone excepted. These numbers resolve themselves into three decades, the first of which is as follows:

N 2

The numbers composing the second decade, or from ten to twenty, are represented by combining the symbol of 10 with the digits in succession, thus, 11;12; 13;

and so on to twenty, the mark or sign of which is Lastly, from twenty to thirty, the numbers are represented in the same way precisely as from ten to twenty,,21; ,23. So much, then, for the hieratic notation in both its parts, which is evidently in many respects a great improvement upon the hieroglyphic, the source whence it was primarily derived.

23

The demotic form of notation is not so perfectly understood as the method just described; there being a blank from 13 to 20, and from 60 to 100, the intervening numbers not having been yet determined by actual discovery. The signs or marks bear a great resemblance to those of the hieroglyphic class, of which they are obviously a copy :

The history of the various steps by which Champollion and others arrived at the knowledge of the numerical system

of the Egyptians is extremely interesting, and affords an instance, almost as striking as that of phonetic hieroglyphics, of the triumph of genius, combined with perseverance, over difficulties which appeared entirely insuperable. Accident, it is true, contributed in both cases to diffuse a light over the subject, which could not have been struck out by dint of unaided sagacity. The Rosetta stone enabled our antiquaries to accomplish what the learning of Clemens and the ingenuity of Warburton had failed to make known; and, in the latter inquiry, the appearance of a neglected papyrus, containing the translation of an ancient deed, supplied the means of determining the value of a long list of numerical signs.

There can be little doubt that it was to Egypt the Saracens were indebted for the scheme of arithmetical notation which they subsequently communicated to the scholars of Europe. Thus it is rendered more than probable that to the same people we owe two of the most important inventions which could be employed in the service of learning,an alphabet, and a regular scale of numbers suited to the profoundest investigations of science. Justly, indeed, has it been remarked, as a most striking fact in the history of the human mind, that the only two discoveries which no one has ever claimed as his own are precisely those which succeeding ages have found it impossible to extend or improve, and which, at the period of their first introduction, were as complete and as universal in their application as they are at the present moment. It is hardly less surprising that the Greeks, who were indebted to the Egyptians for the elements of almost all those sciences which they afterward so much advanced, should have failed to discern the manifold conveniences attached to their numerical system. Some centuries, however, had passed away before they were induced to adopt it from a people comparatively barbarous, but who, like themselves, had profited by their vicinity to that fountain of knowledge which so long beautified and enriched the country of the Pharaohs.*

*To the authorities mentioned in the text we feel satisfaction in adding an article, in a recent number of the Westminster Review, on the "Egyptian Method of Notation," to which we acknowledge ourselves under great obligations. See also "Remarques sur les Signes Numériques des Anciens Egyptiens. Par E. Jomard. Description de l'Egypte, vol. ii. p. 57. Antiquités."

A review of the literature of this ancient nation might seem to require that we should give an account of the theological opinions entertained by the priests, as well as of the doctrines received by the multitude, relative to the nature of the human soul, and a future state of reward and punishment. But it must be apparent that the object of our undertaking precludes all such discussion, as being at once too abstruse and too extensive in its ramifications. It may therefore be sufficient to observe that the popular religion of Egypt, like that of all pagan tribes, was directed towards those qualities in the physical system of the universe upon which the permanence of the animal kingdom is known to depend. The generative and prolific powers, under their various forms, and as affecting every description of organized matter, were worshipped as the Universal Parent, whose names were multiplied according to the changing aspect of nature, and whose attributes, when personified, gave birth to a thousand subordinate divinities. The tenet of the metempsychosis appears to have regulated the faith of the people so far as it applied to the effect of their conduct on their future condition. The soul was understood to expiate the sins committed in the human body, or to enjoy the rewards due to pureness of living, in a succession of transmigrations during three thousand years; at the end of which it was expected to resume its former tenement, and to discharge once more the functions of an earthly existence.

Again, as to the poetry, the eloquence, and the polite literature of that remarkable people, we are still too ignorant of the Coptic to form an accurate judgment. But there is reason to hope that the example presented by M. Quatremère to the scholars of Europe will not be neglected-that the spoken language of the Egyptians will at length receive a degree of attention equal to its importance-and, consequently, that the productions of the poets and orators of Thebes, the passionate effusions of the lover and the patriot, may yet be added to the stores of English learning.

In respect to the arts of the ancient Egyptians, we shall have a better opportunity of introducing a few observations in the following chapter, where we intend to bring before the reader a view of some of the more striking remains of their taste and skill, as collected from the descriptions of recent travellers.

CHAPTER VI.

Remains of Ancient Art in various Parts of Egypt.

General Magnificence of Remains-Alexandria-Pillar-Cleopatra's Needle Catacombs-Memphis-Beni Hassan-Hermopolis MagnaAntinopolis-Siout-Sepulchral Grottoes-Temple of AntæopolisAbydos-Dendera or Tentyra-Magnificent Temple and PorticoElegant Sculptures-Zodiac and Planisphere-Opinions as to their Antiquity-Thebes-The Gateway or Propylon at Luxor-Magnificent Sculptures-Karnac-The Temple; its Approaches and splendid Gateways; its vast Extent-Temples at Dair and Medinet AbouThe Memnonium-Statue of Memnon-Tombs-Herment-EsnehEleithias-Striking Representations of Domestic Life-Edfou-Hadjur Silsili-Koum Ombos-Es Souan-Quarries of Syené- Island of Elephantiné-Concluding Remarks.

We have purposely made a distinction between those immense works which display the gigantic plans and mechanical resources of the ancient Egyptians, and the specimens of the finer arts of architecture, statuary, and painting which still delight the eye of the scientific traveller amid the ruins of Thebes, Dendera, and Ebsamboul. No view of Egypt would be complete without such an outline as we now propose to exhibit; for it is not possible in any other way to connect the history of that remarkable country with its proud monuments of ancient taste and grandeur, or to render credible the sublime descriptions which have been transmitted to us by philosophers as well as by poets. The remains which still indicate the site of its oldest capital present the most unequivocal proof of its early civilization, and of the high degree of power which the inhabitants had attained by means of their knowledge. Its origin is lost in the obscurity of time, being coeval perhaps with the people who first took possession of the country; but, to give an idea of its great antiquity, it may be sufficient to remark that the building of Memphis, the date of which even stretches beyond the limits of authentic history, was the first attempt made to rival its magnificence and prosperity. Alluding to one portion of that splendid city, Champollion expresses himself in the following terms:-"All that I had