CHAP. xr. MANUFACTURES. 19 



The examination of the astronomical subjects 

 in the tombs of the Kings and on other monu- 

 ments may, perliaps some day tend to decide 

 this question, when the complete interpretation 

 of hieroglyphics does away with the necessity of 

 conjecture ; in the mean time, I feel less regret in 

 abstaining from the mention of many arguments 

 which might be adduced to maintain the antiquity 

 of the intercalation of the quarter day, as the 

 learned M. Letronne has already prepared an 

 elaborate essay on the subject, and is supported in 

 his opinion by the authority of a Greek papyrus 

 in the collection of the Louvre. And whilst men- 

 tioning this, I must not omit my tribute of praise 

 to another excellent work, in which this question 

 is treated with great candour and learnuig; many 

 valuable remarks being embodied in Mr. Mure's 

 " Calendar and Zodiac of Ancient Egypt." 



I have also introduced some remarks on the 

 adoption of the Sothic year, in another part of this 

 work, extracted from a previous publication in the 

 year 1828.* 



The pursuits of agriculture did not prevent the 

 Egyptians from arriving at a remarkable pre-emi- 

 nence as a manufacturing nation ; nor did they 

 tend to discourage the skill of the grazier and 

 the shepherd ; though the office of these last was 

 looked down upon with contempt, and the occupa- 

 tion of persons engaged in manufactures and all 

 handicraft employments was, to the soldier at least, 



* Vide infra, Chap, xiii., on the Goddess Isis. 



c 2 



