CHAP. XIII. FETE OF BUI3ASTIS. ^79 



they are frequently of a late date, and tlie attii- 

 butes they present are less to be depended upon 

 than the sculptures of the ancient monuments. 



One of the principal festivals of the Egyptians 

 was held at Bubastis in honour of Pasht ; and He- 

 rodotus* considers that they took a greater interest 

 in it than in any of the numerous fetes annually 

 celebrated in Egypt. " This," says the historian, 

 "is the nature of the ceremony on the way to 

 Bubastis. They go by water, and numerous boats 

 are crowded with persons of both sexes. During 

 the voyage, several women strike the crotala t, 

 while some menplaythe flute; the rest, both men 

 and women, singing and clapping their hands. As 

 they pass near a town, they bring the boat close 

 to the bank. Some of the women continue to sino- 

 and play the crotala; others cry out as long as they 

 can, and utter reproaches against the people of the 

 town, who begin to dance, while the former pull 

 up their clothes before them in a scoffing manner. 

 The same is repeated at every town they pass u})on 

 the river. Arrived at Bubastis, they celebrate the 

 festival of Diana, sacrificing a great number of 

 victims ; and on that occasion, a greater consump- 

 tion of wine takes place than during the whole of 

 the year ; for, according to the accounts of the 

 })eoj)le themselves, no less than 7^f>>0*^0 persons of 

 both sexes are present, besides children." 



* Heroilot. ii. 59, GO. 



-f- Vklf supra, Vol. II. p. 'Ml, .'JlH. The crotala were cither cymbals, 

 or a sort of clap|)cr of wood or metal. Perhaps tiie same as the cylin- 

 drical maces meiuioiied in Vol. IF. p. "2.37. Coiif. Propcrt. iv. Eleg. i.\. l.'j. 

 " Nile, tuns tibicen erat crotalistria Phillis." 



