52 



THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XI. 



which only stood in need of proper irrigation to 

 become highly productive, had the advantage of in- 

 creasing considerably the extent of the arable land 

 of Egypt. In many places, we still find evidence of 

 its having been tilled by the ancient inhabitants, 

 even to the late time of the Roman empire ; and in 

 some parts of the Fyoom, the vestiges of beds and 

 channels for irrigation, as well as the roots of vines, 

 are found in sites lying far above the level of the 

 rest of the country. 



The occupation of the husbandman depended 



