the vicinity; but neither these, nor any other sand drifts in similar exposed situations, could, after a careful examination of the whole valley, be deemed of such a nature as to endanger the fertility of Egypt; though it is possible that, if no inundation of the Nile counteracted its effects, or if the alluvial deposit did not continue to increase in height, the sand might then interfere with the extent of the arable land, and gradually tend to narrow its limits. For the satisfaction of those who are contented with simple facts, it will be sufficient to state that the breadth of the irrigated portion of the valley is much more extensive than it was at any former period, and this increase will continue in spite of the very few local impediments which the drifted sand may accidentally offer; and it may not be irrelevant to observe that no soil is better suited to many kinds of produce than the irrigated edge of the desert*, even before it is covered by the fertilising deposit of the inundation.

M. De Luc's idea respecting the Oases is novel and amusing; and if Egypt once extended to that distance westward, instead of considering the accounts of ancient writers on its former populousness at all exaggerated, we should be inclined to think they had failed to ascribe an adequate number of inhabitants to so extensive a region. So far from being the remains of a once cultivated and level tract, extending to the valley of the Nile, the Oases are surrounded by limestone mountains,

* It generally consists of a clay mixed with sand.

rising to the height of several hundred feet, and generally bounding them on all sides; whose level summit is part of the same table land, or mountain plain, extending to and bordering the western side of Egypt, which is overlooked by these precipitous cliffs in the same manner as the similarly depressed though less extensive tract of the Oases. Like other provinces of Egypt, they were much more densely peopled than at present; and remains of towns and villages attest their flourishing condition, even to the late period of the Roman dominion.

Nubia, or that part of Ethiopia lying between the cataracts of E'Sooan and Wadee Halfeh, was at all times a thinly inhabited and unproductive province; and the vicinity of mountains, frequently reaching to the water's edge, prevented its receiving those benefits from the inundation, which the very great rise of the water would have afforded to a more level and extensive tract. It is in this narrow strip of land that the noxious approach of moving sand is more particularly felt, since its advances are more sudden and overwhelming than on a gradual slope; and the ancient towns and temples on the west side of the Nile are therefore frequently surrounded or partially buried by its accumulating drifts. They are mostly built on this bank; and it is not improbable that the

The Oases look very much like a portion of the valley of the Nile surrounded by the same kind of limestone mountains, but without any river.

The more southward the greater the perpendicular rise of the Nile. It decreases, of course, gradually towards the mouth; and while in Nubia it is upwards of ten yards, at Rosetta it is only a very few fect.

unproductive nature of the soil was the principal reason for placing the towns there; the land on one side, which they were taught to consider so valuable, not being thus unnecessarily wasted, and the religious respect due to the abode of their gods, and regard for their own comfort, being sufficient motives for industriously striving to prevent the encroachments of the desert on the other. For that they were aware of the danger threatened by the sand is evident from the crude brick walls frequently erected there as a protection to the monuments; and the fall of one of those barriers gave ingress to the torrent which has overwhelmed and concealed the entrance of the great temple at Aboosimbel.

REVENUES AND COMMERCE.

That the conquests of the ancient Egyptians extended beyond the limits of their valley, is abundantly proved by ancient authors and monumental records; but as I have already noticed this fact in the foregoing chapter, I shall proceed to the consideration of the revenues arising from them, as well as the commerce and other fiscal resources of the country.

Judging from the sculptures of Thebes, the tribute annually received by the Egyptians from nations they had subdued in Asia and Northern Ethiopia was of immense value, and tended greatly to enrich the coffers of the state; and the quantity of gold and silver in rings and ingots, the various objects of luxury, vases of porcelain and different

metals, ivory, rare woods, precious stones, horses, dogs, wild animals, trees, seeds, fruits, gums, perfumes, spices, and other foreign productions there described, perfectly accord with the statements of ancient authors. And though they are presented to the king, as chief of the nation, we may conclude they formed part of the public revenue, and were not solely intended for his use; especially in a country where royalty was under the restraint and guidance of salutary laws, and where the welfare of the community was not sacrificed to the caprice of a monarch.

According to Strabo, the taxes, even under Ptolemy Auletes, the father of Cleopatra, the most negligent of monarchs, amounted to 12,500 talents, or between three and four millions sterling†; and the constant influx of specie resulting from commercial intercourse with foreign nations, who purchased the corn‡ and manufactures of Egypt, during the very careful administration of its native sovereigns, necessarily increased the riches of the country, and greatly augmented the revenue at that period.

Among the exports were yarn §, fine linen cloth,

*Tacitus (Ann. ii. 60.) says, "The tribute paid by conquered nations was recorded at Thebes, as well as the specific weight of gold and silver, the quantity of arms, the number of horses, the offerings of ivory and rich perfumes presented to the temples of Egypt, the measures of grain, and the various supplies administered by every nation, making altogether a prodigious revenue."

The present revenue of Egypt has been variously stated: at 2 3, 4, and even near 5 millions sterling.

"All countries came into Egypt to buy corn," in the time of the famine of Joseph. Gen. xli. 57.

§ "Linen yarn out of Egypt." 1 Kings, x. 28.; 2 Chron. i. 16.

and embroidered work, purchased by the Tyrians and Jews; chariots and horsest, bought by the merchants of Judæa in the time of Solomon at 600 and 150 § shekels of silver; and other commodities, produced or manufactured in the country.

The Egyptians also derived important advantages from their intercourse with India and Arabia; and the port of Philoteras, which, there is reason to believe, was constructed at a very remote period II, long before the exodus of the Israelites, was probably the emporium of that trade. It was situated on the eastern coast of the Red Sea, in latitude 26° 9′; and though small, the number of ships its basin would contain sufficed for a constant traffic between Egypt and Arabia, no periodical winds there interfering with the navigation, at any season of the year.

Whether they had a direct communication with India at the same early epoch, or were supplied through Arabia with the merchandise of that country, it is not possible now to determine; but even an indirect trade ¶ was capable of opening to them a source of immense wealth; and that the produc

"Fine linen, with broidered work from Egypt," was purchased by the Tyrians. Ezek. xxvii. 7. That painted or embroidered sail-cloth was used by the Egyptians for their pleasure-boats, at least those belonging to the kings and chief persons of the country, is proved by the sculptures of Thebes.

+2 Chron. i. 16, 17.; and 1 Kings, x. 70%. sterling. § 177. 10s. Already noticed in Chap. II. p. 45. It was previously called Ennum, " oppidum parvum est nnum, pro quo alii Philoteram scribunt." Strabo says it received the name of "Philoteras from the sister of the second Ptolemy." lib. xvii. Plin. vi. 29.

Strabo thinks that in former times a fleet of twenty ships never passed the Straits of Babelmandeb; but the Indian trade might have been carried on through Arabia. Strabo (lib. xvii.) on Alexandria.