284 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XV. 



sepulchres of the Great Oasis, I can attest that such 

 is the case, and that numerous inscriptions headed 

 by the tau are preserved to the present day on early 

 Christian monuments. 



The triumph of the king was a grand solemnity. 

 Flattering to the national pride of the Egyptians, 

 it awakened those feelings of enthusiasm which 

 the celebration of victory naturally inspires, and 

 led them to commemorate it with the greatest 

 pomp. When the victorious monarch, returning 

 to Egypt after a glorious campaign, approached the 

 cities which lay on his way, from the confines of 

 the country to the capital, the inhabitants flocked to 

 meet him, and with welcome acclamations greeted 

 his arrival and the success of his arms. The priests 

 and chief people of each place advanced with gar- 

 lands and bouquets of flowers ; the principal person 

 present addressed him in an appropriate speech ; 

 and as the troops defiled through the streets, or 

 passed without the walls, the people followed with 

 acclamations, uttering earnest thanksgivings to the 

 Gods, the protectors of Egypt, and praying them 

 for ever to continue the same marks of favour to 

 their monarch and their nation. 



Arrived at the capital, they went immediately 

 to the temple, where they returned thanks to the 

 Gods, and performed the customary sacrifices on 

 this important occasion. The v» liole army at- 

 tended, and the order of march continued the 

 same as on entering the city. A corps of Egyp- 

 tians, consisting of chariots and infantry, led the 

 van in close column, followed by the allies of 



