116 TRANSFER OF THE CHAP. iff. 



family had begun to change for a stationary 

 residence, which is one step towards civil and 

 social life. 



In the next generation of this family, we find 

 Jacob, thechief of it, was in possession of sufficient 

 of the precious metals to send to Egypt, and to 

 make purchases of corn for his famishing house- 

 hold ; and when they emigrated to that country, 

 it is highly probable that, besides their flocks and 

 herds, they carried with them also an accumu- 

 lated stock of that compendious wealth, their 

 gold and silver. 



Notwithstanding the darkness in which the 

 history of Egypt is involved, we are enabled to 

 obtain some glimpses of the state of society in 

 that country at the time when the Hebrews 

 were residents in it. It seems clear that the 

 institution of castes, similar to that which exists 

 in India, prevailed there ; an institution which, 

 though it tends to advance mankind to a certain 

 stage of civilization, acts as an impediment to 

 any considerable farther progress. The culti- 

 vators of the soil were the lowest of the castes. 

 The sons of the husbandman were bound to 

 follow the profession of the father ; and this, 

 combined with a fertility which depended on the 

 casual elevation of the river, more than on the 

 science or skill of the workmen, prevented the 

 Egyptians from making much progress in agri- 

 culture. The Israelites, when settled among 



