ORIGIN OF EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION—NAVILLE. nigh 
in middle Egypt; but, lately, so-called prehistoric cemeteries have 
been found nearly everywhere above the Delta, so that we have here 
a positive proof of the existence of a people which had not yet adopted 
Egyptian customs, but which occupied the whole of the valley. 
Therefore I can not consider the name “ prehistoric” as being cor- 
rect. No doubt the state of civilization revealed by these tombs is 
that which preceded Menes, the first historical king, but I can not 
admit that it should have ceased when the foreign invaders conquered 
the native race and settled in the valley. Certainly a vase in red pot- 
tery, with black rim, of the kind which is most commonly found in 
those tombs, may be prehistoric, but we have also definite proofs of 
that style of pottery having lasted at least till the twelfth dynasty 
in historic times. Evidently the native stock was very numerous; 
it was the bulk of the population, and its customs changed only by 
degrees. Let us consider what takes place at the present day. In 
the cities like Cairo or Alexandria we find all the refinements of 
civilization. At a few hours’ distance, if we enter the tent of a 
Bedouin of the Delta, except for an old matchlock, what we shall see 
is much more similar to a prehistoric dwelling than to a product of 
the twentieth century. ; 
Therefore I entirely disagree with the chronological classification 
which has been attempted of the so-called prehistoric pottery. I be- 
lieve the true classification should be geographical. We have to 
notice the peculiar taste and style of each locality. Egypt is a very 
conservative country; besides, the fact of its not being concentrated 
around a city, but being a line which extends along the river, makes 
it much more difficult for an influence originating from the capital 
to be felt at the end of the country. Even at the present day tastes 
and fashions differ in the various localities. The pottery, for in- 
stance, is not the same at Sioot as it is at Keneh of Edfoo. It seems 
evident that it was the same in antiquity; besides, there might be 
differences in the degree of development. One locality, under favor- 
able circumstances, may have made a certain progress, while another, 
more remote, without intercourse with its neighbors, may have pre- 
served longer the rude and coarse style of old times. That does not 
mean that the rude and the more perfect vase could not be contem- 
poraneous. 
I should therefore propose that this name “ prehistoric ” should be 
dropped, and should be replaced by that of native, or rather African, 
civilization, for this is the result of the latest excavations. As far 
back as we can go we find in Egypt a native race, with customs and 
culture distinct from that of the later Egyptians, a culture which we 
must call indigenous, since we have no clue whatever to indicate that 
it came from abroad. This race does not seem to have progressed 
41780—08——39 
