CHAPTER IV. 



EGYPTIAN FOWLING. 



" I scorn th' Egyptian fen which Alexandria shows, 

 Proud Mareotis, should thy mightiness oppose, 

 Or Scythia, on whose face the sun doth hardly shine, 

 Should her Meotis think to match with this of mine." 



DRAYTON. 



THE history of the Egyptians, with their manners, customs, arts, 

 sciences, and recreations, is contained in illustrative figures and 

 monuments rather than in written record ; and prohably no more faith- 

 ful source could be resorted to, for the purpose of acquiring a know- 

 ledge or familiarity with the habits of that people, and more espe- 

 cially with their remarkable methods of fowling, than by closely look- 

 ing into those graphical and valuable delineations of art and science, 

 each one of which is a study in itself. So exquisite are many of these 

 figurative representations of the art of fowling, that it is one of the 

 recreations of that ancient people which can be as correctly relied on, 

 traced, and described as any branch of their pursuits. All classes of 

 the ancient Egyptians delighted in the sports of the field ;* and in 

 none have they left more satisfactory record than in this, which was 

 one of their favourite diversions. 



The valley of the Nile, with its extensive and luxuriant resources, 

 has always been a favourite resort of water-fowl ; affording endless 

 diversion to the sportsman, and handsome remuneration to those who 

 pursued the avocation of fowling as a means of livelihood. 



The bow and arrow appear to have been the primitive instruments 

 employed by the ancient Egyptian fowler for the purpose of taking 

 wild-fowl ; the arrows chiefly in use for such purpose being armed 



* Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians, by Sir John Gardner Wil- 

 kinson, F.R.S., &c., vol. iii. cap. 8. 



