CHAPTER IV, 



EGYPTIAN FOWLING. 



" I scorn tb' Egyptian fen wliicli Alexandria shows, 

 Proud Mareotis, should thy miglitiness oppose, 

 Or Scythia, on whose face the sun doth hardly shine, 

 Should her Meotis think to match with this of mine." 



Drayton. 



The history of the Eg-yptians, with their manners, customs, arts, 

 sciences, and recreations, is contained in ilhxstrative lig-ures and 

 monuments rather than in written record ; and probably no more faith- 

 ful source could be resorted to, for the purpose of acquh-ing a know- 

 ledge or familiarity with the habits of that people, and more espe- 

 cially with their remarkable methods of fowling-, than by closely look- 

 ing* into those graphical and valuable delineations of art and science, 

 each one of which is a study in itself. So exquisite are many of these 

 fig-urative representations of the art of fowling, that it is one of the 

 recreations of that ancient people which can be as correctly relied on, 

 traced, and described as any branch of their pursuits. All classes of 

 the ancient Egyptians delig"hted in the sj^orts of the field ;* and in 

 none have they left more satisfactory record than in this, which was 

 one of their favourite diversions. 



The valley of the Nile, with its extensive and luxuriant resources, 

 has always been a favourite resort of water-fowl ; affording" endless 

 diversion to the sportsman, and handsome remuneration to those who 

 pursued the avocation of fowling- as a means of livelihood. 



The bow and arrow appear to have been the primitive instruments 

 employed by the ancient Eg-yptian fowler for the purpose of taking- 

 wild-fowl ; the arrows chiefly in use for such purpose being- armed 



* Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyjitians, by Sir John Gardner Wil- 

 kinson, F.R.S., &c., vol. iii. cap. 8. 



