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civilised appearance argues against this opinion. They were also at one time allies of the Pharaohs, and assisted them in their long wars against the Rebo.

Another people, whose name is lost*, were distinguished by a costume of a very oriental character, consisting of a high fur cap, not unlike one worn by the ancient Persians, and that of the modern Tartars and Dellee Turks; a tight dress, with the usual girdle; and a short kelt, common to many Asiatic nations, which, apparently divided, and folding over in front, was tied at the bottom with strings. Round their neck, and falling upon the breast, was a large round amulet†, very similar to those of agate worn by the dervishes of the east, in which they resembled the Assyrian captives of Tirhakah, represented on the walls of Medeenet Haboo. Their features were remarkable; and though in the sculptures they occasionally vary in appearance, from the presence or the absence of a beard, the strongly defined contour of the face and the high bridge of their prominent nose sufficiently distinguish them from other people, and show that the artist has intended to convey a notion of these peculiar characteristics.

Their arms consisted of two javelins, a club, and falchion, and a shield like that of the Egyptians, with a round summit. They were on terms of friendship with the third Remeses, and assisted him in

It begins with the letters Sha. + Vide wood-cut, No. 62. fig. 3. a. Vide wood-cut, No. 66. fig. 1.

Vide wood-cut. No. 62. fig. 3.

his wars against the Rebo; and though they occur among the foreigners who had been conquered by the arms of Egypt, the same feeling of inveterate enmity, resulting from a repeated succession of conflicts, did not exist towards them as towards many other Asiatic tribes. The same remark applies to another people, represented at Medeenet Haboo*, as allies of the Egyptians, whose name has been unfortunately lost they were clad in a short tight dress, and carried a shield, like the former, with a bow and a heavy club; but of their features we have little or no knowledge, owing to the imperfect state of the sculptures.

One of the most formidable Asiatic enemies encountered by the Egyptians were the Rebot, —a fact attested by the frequent representations of severe contests; the large masses of troops they brought into the field; the great duration of a war which, commencing at a very remote era, continued long after the accession of the nineteenth dynasty; and by their having been selected in the Egyptian paintings ‡ as the type of Asia, or the representation, par excellence, of the nations of the East.

One of the principal military events in the glorious reign of the great Remeses was his success against these powerful enemies; and three victories over the Rebo, won with great slaughter, by Remeses III. about a century later, added a far

* Vide the allies, in wood-cut, No. 11. fig. 3.

+ Vide wood-cut, No. 62. fig. 4.

As in the procession of figures-emblematic of the four quarters of the world, north, east, south, and west - in Belzoni's tomb.

brighter lustre to his name, than the numerous defeats of other Asiatic people, though they enriched him with immense booty, and considerably increased the extent of the Egyptian conquests. In these encounters several thousand of the enemy were killed, as reported in the Egyptian returns ; and the obstinacy of the fight, and the firm resistance they opposed to the highly disciplined and numerous forces of their antagonists, distinctly prove them to have been a nation both powerful and skilled in the art of war. They were defeated, but not conquered; nor would any portion of them submit to become allies of the Egyptians: and from the long duration of the war, the repeated attempts made by the Pharaohs to subjugate their country, their marked hatred of them, and their eagerness to commemorate each victory, we may conclude the Egyptians had also suffered during these campaigns; and though, as might be expected, the sculptured history in the Theban temples merely relates the victories of the Pharaohs, the Rebo themselves had probably reason to record their own successful resistance, and sometimes even the defeat of the invaders.

From the style of their costume, and the lightness of their complexion, it is evident they inhabited a northern* as well as an Asiatic country, very dis

* Besides colour, we have always a distinguishing mark in the termination of the bands that secure the prisoners; which have an entire edged flower, supposed to be the papyrus, to denote those nations living to the north of Egypt, and the three-leaved flower of another water plant, to point out the African or southern tribes, as may be seen in the woodcut, No. 69. fig. 6. of the Asmaor, and fig. 10. of a black captive from

tant from Egypt, and of a far more temperate climate. Their dress consisted of an under garment, with the usual short kelt, and a long outer robe, highly coloured, and frequently ornamented with fancy devices, or a broad rich border, which descended to the ankles, and was fastened at the neck with a large bow, or by a strap over the shoulder, the lower part being open in front. It was not bound by a girdle: this was worn beneath it; though the Egyptian artists occasionally represent it as if worn above, or seen through the transparent robe: but the substance of the latter was generally too thick to admit of this, being sometimes of bulls' hide or leather, and sometimes of a woollen stuff. Their girdle was highly ornamented, and the extremity falling down in front terminated in a large tassel*; and so fond were they of decorating their persons, that besides earrings, necklaces, and trinkets, common to Asiatic and other tribes, the chiefs decked their heads with feathers, and some painted or tattooed their arms and legs.

If the costumes of several foreign nations met with in the Egyptian sculptures call to mind those of Persia and Parthia, none perhaps resemble them more than that of the Rebo, or of the Rot-ǹ-no, whom I shall presently describe. The hair of the Rebo was not less singular than their dress: it was

Africa. These two plants, in like manner, are chosen as emblems of the lower or northern, and upper or southern, divisions of Egypt. . Very like that of a Persepolitan figure in wood-cut, No. 64. fig. 3.

divided into separate parts, one of which fell in ringlets over the forehead, and the other over the back of the head; and a plaited lock of great length, passing nearly over the ear, descended to the breast, and terminated in a curled point. In feature they were as remarkable as in costume; and the Egyptians have not failed to indicate their most striking peculiarities, as blue eyes, aquiline nose, and small red beards. Their arms consisted principally of the bow, and a long straight sword with an exceedingly sharp point; and it is probable that to their skill in the use of the former we may attribute their effectual resistance to the repeated invasions of the Egyptians.

Another Eastern nation, with whom the Egyptians were already at war in the remote age of Amun-m-gori II.*, or about 1680 years before our era, was the Pountt ; who were subsequently com. pelled to pay tribute to Egypt in the reign of the third Thothmes. Proud of their liberty, they neglected no opportunity to throw off the yoke, and the records of the repeated invasion of their country by successive Pharaohs prove their independent spirit, and their courage in expelling the invaders.

Their features were less marked than those of many Oriental people represented in the sculptures: they shaved their beards, and wore their hair enveloped in a large cap, bound with a fillet,

* Mentioned on a stone found by Mr. Butron in the desert of the Red Sea; where I met with the small temple and station of Wadee Gasoos, mentioned in my Egypt and Thebes, p. 364.

+ Or, Pouônt. Vide wood-cut, No. 62. fig. 5.

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