214 



of animal food, whilst the Egyptians drank water princi- 

 pally, and iised a milk and vegetable diet, eating very 

 sparingly of animal food. 



Herodotus, who flourished about 550 B.C., thus writes. 

 Lib. 2, c. 77. " They (the Egyptians) purge themselves 

 every month, three days successively, seeking to preserve 

 health by emetics and clysters, for they suppose that all 

 diseases to which men are subject proceed from the food 

 they use. And, indeed, in ether respects the Egyptians, 

 next to the Libyans, are the most healthy people in the 

 world, as I think, on account of the seasons." He then 

 describes their mode of living, and states that " they use 

 wine made of barley, for they have no vines in that 

 country." He then adds the precautions used to avoid 

 excess, precautions which were not always effectual even 

 with the fairer sex, as may be seen in the numerous paint- 

 ings in the tombs, &c. At Beni Hassan, the effects of too 

 much wine on men are fully represented, and at Thebes 

 on Egyptian ladies. On the whole, however, the ancient 

 Egyptians were remarkably temperate, both in food and 

 drink, and to this cause, with salubrious climate. Prosper 

 Alpinus, as mil be shewn afterwards, mainly attributes 

 their great longevity. 



This statement of Herodotus, that " that they have no 

 vines in that country" (Egypt), can only apply, as has been 

 judiciously observed by the Rev. Dawson Turner, in his 

 admirable " Notes on Herodotus,'' to that part of Egypt 

 marked out for the cultivation of corn. " For though the 

 juice of the grape came far more into use after the 

 reign of Psammetichus, yet it is evident that the ancient 

 Egyptians were neither unacquainted with the vine, nor 

 with the T\^ne made from it, as this passage and Book II. 

 c.60. (and more wine is consumed at this festival, i.e. that 

 of Badista, than in all the rest of the year,) shew, as well 

 as the testimonials ol Strabo and Diod, sic. 1. 36." That 



