NOTES ON LITERATURE IN EGYPT IN THE TIME OF MOSES. 177 



qualities of many remedies whicli still maintain an honourable 

 place in modern medical practice. 



In mathematics the Egyptians never advanced beyond the 

 rudiments. Their methods were original and primitive. In 

 geometry they could not grapple with serious problems ; and 

 in the most simple problems they were able to reach but 

 approximate results. They seem never to have dreamed ot 

 investigations conducted merely for mental discipline or the 

 acquisition of knowledge. They were not devoted to truth 

 for its own sake. They advanced only so far in mathe- 

 matical science as availed for the solution of the problems 

 presented in every day business life, and even in these 

 problems, accuracy was not reached. 



But if in mathematics the Egyptians never emerged from 

 their infancy, in the department of literature their achieve- 

 ments are witnesses to matured powers. Fairy tales and 

 stories of travel were always peculiarly attractive to them. 

 A distinguished courtier of King Amenemhert I, of the twelfth 

 dynasty, has left a record of his adventures. While travelling 

 among the Syrian Bedouin he lost his way, and was sur- 

 rounded by enemies ; his carriage broke down ; he was 

 reduced to starvation ; thieves stole his coat while he was 

 asleep ; he met with a love episode ; but all ended well at 

 last. The story furnishes a most interesting portrayal of 

 Palestine in these early times. Another story relates how 

 a poor shepherd fell in love with a goddess. It is said that 

 " he had never spoken to her, but her power pursued his 

 body." He resorted to magi(;, and early one morning, while 

 standing by the lake, she came to him with all the appear- 

 ance of being drawn to him by love ; but, just as we are 

 listening to hear her words, the tale closes in a way most 

 exasperating. The owner of the manusciipt, probably a 

 crabbed old bachelor, has rubbed off the text. One of the 

 sons of Kliufu, the builder of the great pyramid, relates this 

 story of a celebrated magician : '' He is a young man of 

 110 years, and eats 500 cakes of bread together Avith a 

 joint of beef, and drinks 100 jugs of beer, even at the 

 present day. He knows how to set on a head that has 

 been cut off, and he can cause the lions of the desert to 

 walk behind him." This " young man " with a good ap- 

 petite was called to the king, who proposed to cut off the 

 head of a prisoner and see him stick it on again. He begged 

 to be excused from this ; and suggested that a goose would 

 do as well. " Then they brought a goose and cut off its 



