CHAP. XI. PLOUGH AND HOE. 45 



in the Arabic luirtj which has the same import ; and 

 the Greek a/jrjxpov, and Roman (natrum, appear to 

 indicate, like the apoypa, an Egyptian origin. 



The hoe was of wood, and in form not unlike our 

 letter A, with one limb shorter than the other, and 

 curving inwards : the longer limb, or handle, being 

 of uniform thickness, round, and smooth ; and the 

 lower extremity of the other, or the blade, being of 

 increased breadth, and either terminated by a sharp 

 point, or rounded at the end. The blade was fre- 

 quently inserted into the handle *, and they were 

 bound together, about the centre, with a twisted 

 rope. They are frequently represented in the 

 sculptures ; and several, which have been found in 

 the tombs of Thebes, are preserved in the museums 

 of Europe, t 



The figure of the hoe in hieroglyphics is well 

 known : its alphabetic force is an M, though the 

 name of this instrument was in Egyptian, as in 

 Arabic, Tore. It forms the commencement of 

 the word Mai., *' beloved^'' and enters into numerous 

 other combinations. 



I hav^e found no instance of hoes with metal blades; 

 nor is there evidence of the ploughshare having 

 been sheathed with metal ; though, as I have already 

 observed, probability suggests that on some occa- 

 sions the Egyptians may have adopted this simple 

 improvement in their implements of husbandry. 



The axe had a metal blade, either bronze or 

 iron ; and the peasants are sometimes represented 



* Vklc woodcut, No. 424. f Vide supra. Vol. III. p. 248. 



