«6 



Ijasturnge ■was protected, and their habitations were com- 

 fortable. 



Again, they had regular courts of justice, and distinct pro- 

 perties in land. The lives of men were well protected against 

 each other, and several of their subordinate political institu- 

 tions were admirable. It was to observe these that the an- 

 cient Sages of Greece travelled into Egypt. 



But to counterballance these advantages, the government 

 was monarchical, and the monarch despotic, as appears in 

 many instances. The father of Sesostris, it is said, caused 

 all the male infants born the same day with -his son to be 

 brought to court. Cheops, another of their sovereigns, shut 

 up all the temples, and forbid all to offer sacrifices, and yet 

 the priests formed the most powerful class in Egypt. Nay, 

 he compelled his subjects to build the principal JPyramid. 

 His successor, Chephron was equally tyrannical, and op- 

 pressed his subjects by every possible n*eans.* 'f'! 'lotflm Ji 



Again, the rights of women were essentially injured ; they 

 were often foreibl.y torn from their families, and if mar- 

 ried, their husbands put to death, a fate which Abraham 

 dreaded. Polygamy, without any limitation, was permitted.'f' 

 Their wives were so slfict'ly confined, that they were not pcr- 



ogir.ijj- 



• Herodot, lib. 2, Chip. 2* and 27. 

 i Diodor. Lib. 1. p. SI. folio Wesscl. Edit. 



