278 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XV. 



some points of resemblance with the one before us, 

 I here transcribe. 



" In the solemn pomps of Egypt the Singer 

 usually goes first, bearing one of the symbols of 

 music. They say it is his duty to carry two of the 

 books of Hermes; one of which contains hymns of 

 the Gods, the other precepts relating to the life of 

 the king. The Singer is followed by the Horos- 

 copus, bearing in his hand the measure of time 

 (hour-glass) and the palm* (branch), the symbols 

 of astrology (astronomy), whose duty it is to be 

 versed in (or recite) the four books of Hermes, 

 which treat of that science. Of these one describes 

 the position of the fixed stars, another the conjunc- 

 tions (eclipses) and illuminations of the Sun and 

 Moon, and the others their risings. Next comes 

 the Hierogrammat (or sacred scribe), having 

 feathers t on his head, and in his hands a book 

 (papyrus), with a ruler 1: (palette) in which is ink, 

 and a reed for writing. It is his duty to under- 

 stand what are called hieroglyphics, the descrip- 

 tion of the world, geography, the course of the 

 Sun, Moon, and planets, the condition of the land 

 of Egypt and the Nile, the nature of the instru- 

 ments or sacred ornaments, and the places ap- 

 pointed for them, as well as weiglits and measures, 

 and the things used in holy rites. Then follows the 



* 'VoiviKci. It is a question wlicthcr this should be translated the 

 palm or the piiojnix. Vide siijira, Vol.1. {2d Series) p. .'i05. 



\ Vide sii]»'fi, p. 205. 217. Tin; ftatiicrs are of" the ostrich, not of the 

 hawk, as already observed. 



If. The usual palette represented intlie hands of scribes. Vide Pliitc 4:5. 

 figs. 1, 2. and 4. &c. 



