92 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIV. 



themselves upon it ; going in procession through 

 the towns and country, with the distinguishing 

 mark of their occupation, as if they were par- 

 takers of the highest honours of the Gods. And 

 being known by a peculiar emblem belonging 

 to each, the people perceive, on their approach, 

 of what animal they have the care, and show 

 them respect by bowing to the ground, and by 

 other marks of honour." 



'* When parents, living in towns, perform vows for 

 the recovery of their children's health*, they offer 

 prayers to the Deity to whom the animal is sacred, 

 and then shaving a portion, or half, or the whole, 

 of the child's head, they put the hair into one scale 

 of the balance and money into the other, until the 

 latter outweighs the former ; they then give it to 

 the person who takes care of the animal, to buy 

 fish (or other food)." 



It was not, however, on accidental bounty that 

 the nourishment of these creatures depended. The 

 value of a whole head of child's hair, even when 

 they paid its weight in gold, or any other gift, 

 depending upon accidental vows (frequently per- 

 formed after a long interval), would be a preca- 

 rious means of support for the unremitting appetite 

 of the. Divine beasts ; it was, therefore, wisely ma- 

 naged, that a fixed revenue should be provided for 

 the purpose ; and each had apiece of land belong- 

 ing to it, the produce of which was sold for its 

 maintenance, and sufficed for the payment of the 

 curators, t 



* Herodot. and Diodor. loc. cit. f Diodor. i. 83. 



