CHAPTER XII. 



EGYPT. 



EFORE the form of the earth was known to be that of a globe, 

 every nation thought that their country occupied the centre of the 

 world, and a mere child could point out the precise spot — lake» 

 mountain, or temple — which was supposed to be the middle of the 

 earth. But the exploration of our planet has proved that on the 

 circuit of the globe, no less than in infinite space, " the centre is everywhere and 

 the circumference nowhere." 



Nevertheless, if the surface of the globe is studied according to the disposition 

 of the continents, Egypt, the Misr of the natives, more than any other region may 

 certainly be considered as occupying the veritable centre. From a geometrical 

 point of view, Asia Minor, Palestine, and Mesopotamia might have as much right 

 as the plains of the Lower Nile to claim a central position in the group of the 

 three continents of the old world. But Egypt has the advantage over them of 

 offering an easy passage from one marine basin to the other. Here cross each 

 other the two great diagonal lines of the world, that of the overland routes 

 between Asia and Africa and the ocean highways between Europe and India. 

 The very opening of the Suez Canal has placed Egypt midway between America 

 and Australia. The ancient Egyptians were quite justified in giving their country 

 the position of the heart in the terrestrial globe, and one of the etymological 

 renderings of its ancient name of Memphis gives it the sense of " The Middle of 

 the World." 



Historic Retrospect. 



The people Avho dwell on the banks of the Lower Nile played a part in history 

 corresponding with the geographical position of the land. Egypt is the first 

 region of which there is any record in the annals of human culture. It already 

 existed as a civilised power conscious of its own greatness at a period antecedent 

 to the foundation of Babylon and Nineveh, and when the whole of Europe was 

 still overrun by savage tribes that have left no record behind them. 



The inhabitants of Asia Minor and Hellas, who were destined to become the 

 teachers of the nations succeeding them, were still cavemen and denizens of the 



