122 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XI. 



several watercourses and canals, with the roots 

 of vines and other trees, which are distant more 

 than twelve miles from the nearest irrigated land. 

 I do not pretend to affirm that these are actually 

 of the early time of the Pharaohs; but they doubt- 

 less owe their origin to the system of cultivating 

 the Jiciger adopted by the ancient Egyptians, and 

 this extensive culture of the vine is at least prior 

 to the Arab invasion. Indeed, by the universal 

 confession of the inhabitants themselves, no canals 

 or cultivation have been maintained in this spot 

 within the period of Moslem records ; and tradi- 

 tion asserts that the province of Fyoom> which now 

 contains about eighty villages, had once more than 

 four times that number, in the Hourishing periods of 

 the Pharaonic Kings. 



FESTIVALS OF THE PEASANTRY. 



During the inundation, when the Nile had been 

 admitted by the canals into the interior, and the 

 fields were subjected to the fertilising influence of 

 its waters, the peasantry indulged in various amuse- 

 ments which this leisure period gave them time to 

 enjoy.* Their cattle were housed, and supplied 

 with dry food, which had been previously prepared 

 for the purpose ; the tillage of the land and all 

 agricultural occupations were suspended ; and this 

 season was celebrated as a harvest home, with 

 games and recreations of every kind. They in- 

 dulged in feasting and the luxuries of the table ; 



* Diodor. i. 36. 



