CHAP. XI. FETES OF THE HUSBANDMEN. V23 



games were celebrated in some of the principal 

 towns, in which the competitors contended for 

 prizes of cattle, skins, and other things suited to 

 the taste or wants of the peasant, and some amused 

 tliemselves with wrestling-matches, bull-fights, and 

 gymnastic exercises ; which, while they suited the 

 habits of an active and robust people, contributed 

 to invigorate them, and to prevent the baneful 

 effects of indolence during a period of repose from 

 the labours of the field. According to JuUus 

 Pollux *, the Song of Maneros was among those 

 adopted by the Egyptian peasant ; and this fabled 

 personage was celebrated as the inventor of hus- 

 bandry, — an lionour generally given to the still 

 more fabulous Osiris. It is probable that many 

 songs and games were appropriated to certain 

 festivals; and this adaptation of peculiar ceremo- 

 nies to particular occasions, and the aversion of 

 the Egyptians for any change in the cnstoms of 

 their ancestors, are remarked by several ancient 

 writers.! 



They had many festivals connected with agri- 

 culture and the produce of the soil, which happened 

 at different periods of the year. In the month 

 Mesore, they offered the firstfruits of their lentils 

 to the God Harpocrates, " calling out at the same 

 time, * The tongue is Fortune, the tongue is GodI ;" 

 and the allegorical festival of " the delivery of 

 Isis was celebrated immediately after the Vernal 



* Jul. Poll. iv. 7 (KJft-a Mg \iyv7rro)v, " yi(a>t(>wt; .... Mai'ifnui; 



yto>pyi((c ivpi-)]r, 'S\fairHi)v fia9i]Tt]s." 



f Fid£ Hcrodot. ii. 79. t Plut. de Is. s. 68. 



