170 THE SACRED IBIS. 



pearance on the banks of the river Nile, at a season 

 reminding them of the approach of those abundant 

 crops produced by the inundations of their sacred 

 river, we can easily see the reason why the priests 

 of the country held it up to the ignorant people as a 

 bird sent from heaven, and therefore to be wor- 

 shipped in life, and honoured in death. 



