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.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE American publishers of this volume, while they acknowledge the general accuracy of the author's statements, and the clearness and interesting nature of the information he has laboriously collected from so many sources, feel themselves obliged to enter their protest against the disparaging and, in their opinion, unjust remarks with which it is interspersed, reflecting upon the scientific Frenchmen who accompanied Napoleon's expedition to Egypt: the reverend author has not, in their judgment, done justice either to the efforts of those gentlemen, or to their success. It may be true that much was not accomplished which might have been expected from the magnitude and completeness of their preparations and appointments; but it is to be remembered that their time to investigate and explore was too often lamentably abridged, by the necessity under which they laboured of accompanying the rapid movements of the army: and no unprejudiced man will or can deny that the results of their exertions were highly important, and very honourable to themselves, when fairly estimated with a reasonable consideration for the difficulties and embarrassments with which they had to contend.

NEW-YORK, August, 1831.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION.

Importance of Egyptian Antiquities-Egypt an old Country in the Infant Age of Greece-Thebes famous in the Days of Homer-Learning and Science of Europe derived from Egypt through Phenicia and Greece-Inquiry into the Source of Egyptian Learning and Civilization -The early Improvement of Nubia and Abyssinia-Resemblance between the Religion, the Symbols, and Architecture of India and of Egypt--Anecdote of the Sepoys in the British Army-Remarks on the Temples in both Countries-A similar Resemblance between the Egyptians and Chinese-All primitive Tribes derived their Knowledge from the same Source-Institution of Castes in Egypt and India -Statements of Herodotus and Diodorus on that Subject-Probability that Civilization and the Arts descended the Nile-Contrast between their advanced Knowledge and their debased Worship-Reflection on the Importance attached to the durable Nature of Architectural Monuments.

CHAPTER II.

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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF EGYPT. General Description of Egypt-Origin of the Name-Opinions of the Ancients-Egypt the Gift of the Nile-Depth of the Soil-Attempts to ascertain the mean Rate of Deposition-Opinions of Shaw, Savary, Volney, and Bruce-Speculations of the French Philosophers-Proof that Egypt has acquired an Elevation of Surface-Fear of Dr. Shaw in regard to the eventual Sterility of the Land-Constancy of the Inundations-Frauds by the Government-Qualities of the WaterAnalysis of the Mud-Accident witnessed by Belzoni-Seasons in Egypt-Heat-Infrequency of Rain-The Winds, Simoom-The Political Geography of Egypt-Mouths of the Nile-Natron LakesWaterless River... . Page 26

CHAPTER IIL

CIVIL HISTORY OF ANCIENT EGYPT.

Obscurity of Egyptian Annals-Variety of Hypotheses-Reign of Menes determined; his Actions-Account of Osymandias; his Palace and Tomb-Chronological Tables-Invasion of the Shepherds-Quotation

B