28 VARIETIES OF THE HUMAN SPECIES. 



former greatly predominates in the Egyptian sculpture, and is possibly character- 

 istic of the Egyptians as a race. The nose was rather long, and joined the head 

 much in the Grecian manner ; the eye was elongated and rather oblique ; the lips 

 were well formed, the chin rounded and moderately full, and the whole expression 

 mild and pleasing. It may be added that the Egyptian ear is said to have been 

 placed higher than in the Caucasian; but on this point I cannot speak from 

 observation. It is curious, however, that the same remark has been made in 

 reference to the Hindoos of Malabar.* 



As to the complexion of these people, history is strangely silent ; but judging 

 from the paintings which have been copied by Belzoni, ChampoUion and others, 

 their prevalent color appears to have been swarthy or brown, with a tinge of red. 

 It is certain, however, that there was a difference in color in the different castes, 

 as in the modern Hindoos, presenting every shade from nearly white to a very 

 dark brown, or even black. Their hair was long, straight, and generally black, 

 although in the mummies it has a brownish color, which has been attributed to 

 the process of embalming.f 



The antiquity of the Egyptian nation, and their skill in the arts and sciences, 

 have been proverbial in all ages. " It is a remarkable fact," says Mr. Wilkinson, 

 "that the first glimpse we obtain of the history and manners of the Egyptians, 

 shows a nation already advanced in the arts of civilised life ; and the same customs 

 and inventions that prevailed in the Augustan era of that people, after the 

 accession of the eighteenth dynasty, are found in the remote age of Osirtasen, the 

 contemporary of Joseph. "J 



In illustration of the antiquity and the " learning of the Egyptians," we may 

 briefly notice a few facts in connection with the received chronology : thus, they 

 had completed the pyramids of Memphis within three hundred years after the era 

 assigned to the deluge ; — they wrote their hieroglyphic characters on papyrus as 

 early as the age of Cheops, two thousand years before Christ ; — they discovered 

 and constructed the arch at least three thousand four hundred years ago ; — the 

 Greek Scroll is common in the tombs of the Pharoahs ; — and the so called Doric 

 column and entablature ornamented the porticos of Beni-Hassan before sculpture 

 was an art in Greece. § Hence the observation of a late writer, that "this 



* ViREY, Diet. d'Hist. Nat. Art. L'Homme. 



t The Egyptians kept their heads shaved excepting a lock on the crown, and their head-dresses 

 were as varied as the capitals of their columns. 



X Ancient Egypt, III, p. 260. § Ancient Egypt, II, p. 117 —III, p. 150, 261, 318. 



