addresses the sovereign (fig. t). Exactly the same attitude is observed in the sculptures at Thebes, where one person, among several (in various pos tures of respect) who appear before the scribes to he registered, has his hand placed thus submis sively upon his mouth (fig. 2).
It appears from I Sam. x. r, r Kings xix. 18, Ps. ii. 12, that there was a peculiar kiss of homage, the character of which is not indicated. It was probably that kiss upon the forehead expressive of high respect which was formerly, if not now, in use among the Bedouins (Anton ii. 119).
BOWING.—In the Scriptures there are different words descriptive of various postures of respectful bowing ; as -rip to incline or bow dawn the head, 3)-1 to bend down the body very low, 1-1.2 to bend the knee, also to bless. These terms indicate a conformity with the existing usages of the East, in which the modes of bowing are equally diversified, and, in all likelihood, the same. These are — 2. placing the right hand upon the breast, with or without an inclination of the head or of the body ; 1. touching the lips (is this the kissing of the hand noticed above?) and the forehead with the right hand, with or without an inclination of the head or of the body, and with or without previously touching the ground ; 3. bending the body very low,
with folded arms ; 4. bending the body and resting the hands on the knees : this is one of the postures of prayer, and is indicative of the highest respect in the presence of kings and princes. In the Egyptian paintings we see persons drop their arms towards the ground while bowing to a superior, or standing respectfully with the right hand resting on the left shoulder.
We know also that the person who gave the bless ing laid his hands upon the head of the person blessed (Gen. xlviii. 14). This is exactly the case at the present day in the East, and a picture of the existing custom would furnish a perfect illus tration of the patriarchal form of blessing. This may be perceived from the annexed engraving, which, with some of the other attitudes given in this article, is from Lane's Translation of the Ara bian Nights Entertainments—a work which, in its notes and pictorial illustrations, affords a more com plete picture of the persons, manners, and habits of the people of south-western Asia and of Egypt, than all the books of travels put together.—J. K.