than the Egyptians; and to judge from the tribute they brought to the Pharaohs, they were a rich people, and, like the Rot-n-no, far advanced in the arts and customs of civilised life. This tribute, which is shown to have been paid to the Egyptians as early as the reign of Thothmes III., consisted almost entirely of gold and silver, in rings and bars, and vases of the same metals. Many of the latter were silver, inlaid with gold, tastefully ornamented, of elegant form, and similar to many already in use among the Egyptians; and from the almost exclusive introduction of the precious metals, and the absence of animals, woods, and such productions as were brought to Egypt by other people, we may suppose the artist intended to convey a notion of the great mineral riches of their country: and they are occasionally represented carrying knives or daggers, beads, a small quantity of ivory, leathern bottles, and a few bronze and porcelain cups. Their dress was a simple kelt, richly worked and of varied colour, folding over in front, and fastened with a girdle; and their sandals, which, being closed like boots, differed entirely from those of the Egyptians, appear to have been of cloth or leather, highly ornamented, and reaching considerably above the ankle. Their long hair hung loosely in tresses, reaching more than half way down the back; and from the top of the head projected three or four curls, either of real or artificial hair.

The Kheta or Sheta were a warlike, people

* Kheta, Sheta, Getæ, or Skeetha (okva), Scythians, are the same name. Kh and Sh were sometimes used synonymously by the Egyptians.

of Asia, who had made considerable progress in military tactics, both with regard to manœuvres in the field, and the art of fortifying towns, some of which they surrounded with a double fosse. It is worthy of remark, that in these cases the approach to the place led over a bridge; and the sculptures acquainting us with the fact are highly interesting, as they offer the earliest indication of its use, having been executed in the reign of the great Remeses, about 1350 years before our era. But whether the bridges were supported on arches, or simply of wooden rafters resting on piers of the same materials, we are unable to decide, since the view is given as seen from above, and is therefore confined to the level upper surface. Their troops appear to have been disciplined; and the close array of their phalanxes of infantry, the style of their chariots, and the arms they used, indicate a great superiority in military tactics, compared with other Eastern nations of that early period. The wars waged against the Sheta by the Egyptians, and the victories obtained over them by the great Remeses, are pictured on the walls of his palace at Thebes †, and are again alluded to in the sculptures of Remeses III., at Medeenet Haboo, where this people occurs in the list of nations conquered by the Pharaohs. Their arms were the bow, sword, and spear; and their principal defence was a wicker shield, either rectangular or

* Wood-cut, No. 68. figs. 2 and 3.
+ Usually called the Memnonium.

No. 68. Phalanx of the Sheta, drawn up as a corps de reserve, with the fortified town, surrounded by double ditches, over which are bridges (figs. 2 and S). Thebes.

concave at the sides, and convex at each end, approaching in form the Theban buckler.

Their dress consisted of a long robe, reaching to the ankles, with short sleeves, open, or folding over in front, and secured by a girdle round the waist; but though frequently made of a very thick stuff, and perhaps even quilted, it was by no means

an effectual substitute for armour, nor could it resist the spear or the metal-pointed arrow. They either wore a close or a full cap; and their arms. were occasionally decked with bracelets, as their dresses with brilliant colours. Their cars were drawn by two horses, like those of Egypt, but they each contained three men, and some had wheels with four instead of six spokes; in both which respects they differed from those of their opponents. They had some cavalry: but large masses of infantry, with a formidable body of chariots, constituted the principal force of their numerous and well appointed army; and if, from the manner in which they posted their corps de reserve, we may infer them to have been a people skilled in war, some idea may also be formed of the strength of their army from the numbers composing that division, which amounted to 24,000 men drawn up in three close phalanxes, consisting each

of 8000.

The nation of Sheta seems to have been composed of two distinct tribes t, both comprehended under the same name, uniting in one common cause, and probably subject to the same government. They differed in their costume and general appearance; one having a large cap, and the long loose robe, with open sleeves or capes covering the shoulders, worn by many Asiatic people already mentioned, a square or oblong shield ‡, and sometimes a

At the Memnonium. Vide my Egypt and Thebes, p. 19.
Vide wood-cut, No. 69. figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5.

The Persian shield was square or oblong, or of the form of a diamond, called yɛppov by the Greeks. Strabo, xv.

large beard; the other the dress and shield before described, and no beard. They both fought in cars and used the same weapons; and we even find they lived together, or garrisoned the same

towns.

Whether or no they were Scythians, or a nation inhabiting the banks of the Euphrates, I do not yet pretend to decide: the name strongly argues in favour of the former opinion, which is that of the much regretted Champollion; and if any confirmation can be obtained from the sculptures of the accounts given by Herodotus, Diodorus, Tacitus, and other historians, relating to the march of Sesostris or Rhamses *, it is certainly to be looked for in those of the second and third Remeses; and the possibility of such extended conquests is not inconsistent with the known power and resources of ancient Egypt.

Several other nations and tribes, who inhabited parts of Asia, are shown by the monuments† to have been invaded and reduced to subjection by the arms of the Pharaohs; and in the names of some we recognise towns or districts of Syria, as in Asmaori, Lemanon §, Kanana, and Ascalon.

Taci

* Vide my Egypt and Thebes, p. 22., and the Introduction. tus says, the Egyptians "over-ran all Libya and Ethiopia, and subdued the Medes and Persians, the Bactrians and Scythians, with the extensive regions inhabited by the Syrians, the Armenians, and the Cappadocians; and by this conquest a tract of country, extending from Bithynia on the Pontic Sea, to the coast of Lycia on the Mediterranean, was reduced to subjection." Ann. ii. 60.

+ Vide wood-cut, No. 69. opposite page.

Vide wood-cut, No. 69. figs. 6, 7, and 8.

I have noticed the frequent use of M for B in Coptic and other languages. Vide Egypt and Thebes, p. 192. note 3.