In Egypt and the East 249 



making, " the white is made of gypsum, mixed with albu- 

 men and honey," and also that the smallest of the perfume 

 vases ''were not intended for liquids, but for pomades, 

 medicinal ointments, and salves made with honey," which, 

 in conjunction with the perfumed pills that we learn were 

 made in part of honey and " when chewed by women 

 made the breath of their mouth sweet," gives us an in- 

 sight into the manners of the Egyptian ladies somewhat 

 at variance with the non-frivolous impression they create 

 by their unsmiling visages cut in stone or painted on their 

 tombs. 



Piercing as best we can the dim vistas of the past into 

 the ancient life of Egypt, we find the bee, so surrounded by 

 the mysteries and the silences of that strange world that we 

 are puzzled to know all that it stood for in the minds of 

 the people. 



It is not here the frank symbol of the sun and the moon 

 so charmingly expressed by the ancient Hindus, and yet 

 there are hints, dim and vague, of a similar meaning 

 accorded to it. 



Virgil refers the story of the generation of bees from the 

 body of the sacrificial bull to Egypt. This story is very 

 wide-spread and no doubt is symbolical of the resurrection 

 of the soul after the death of the body. In his fourth 

 " Georgic," Virgil thus describes the generation of bees 

 from the dead animal : — 



" But if the whole stock should suddenly fail any one, 

 and he should have no means to recover a new breed, it 

 is time both to unfold the memorable invention of the 

 Arcadian master, and how the tainted gore of bullocks 

 slain has often produced bees. I will disclose the whole 

 tradition, tracing it high from its first source ; for where the 

 happy nation of Pelkiean Canopus inhal)it the banks of the 

 Nile, floating the plains with his overflowing river, and sail 



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