CHAP. XV. FETE OF SAIS. 309 



connected wirli that Deity, as those of Isis and of 

 the burning lamps at Sais ; which may be ac- 

 counted for by the same reason, — his admission to 

 the mysteries of Osiris. And though it is not pro- 

 bable that a Greek, who had remained so short a 

 time in the country, had advanced beyond the 

 lowest grades in the scale of the initiated, and that 

 too of the lesser mysteries alone, he was probably 

 permitted to attend during the celebration of the 

 rites in honour of that Deity, like the natives of the 

 country. 



The lake of Sais still exists, near the modern 

 town of Sa el Hagar. * The walls and ruins of 

 the town stand high above the level of the plain ; 

 and the site of the temple of Neitli might be 

 ascertained, and the interesting remains of that 

 splendid city might, with careful investigation, 

 and the labour of some weeks' excavation, be yet 

 restored to view. 



There is some resemblance between the fete of 

 Lamps at Sais, and one kept in China, which has 

 been known in that country from the earliest times j 

 and some might even be disposed to trace an ana- 

 logy between it and the custom still prevalent in 

 Switzerland, Ireland, and other countries, of light- 

 ing fires on the summits of the hills, upon the fete 

 of St. John. But such accidental similarities in cus- 

 toms are too often considered of importance, when 

 we ought, on the contrary, to be surprised at so few 

 being similar in different parts of the world. 



Those who went to Heliopolis and to Buto 



* Or " Sa of the Stone," from the ruins there. 



X 3 



