The animals of Egypt are little different from those of other countries in a similar situation. The native horses are well made, and by proper care might be rendered highly valuable; but they are rather neglected for the Arabian horses, which the Turks prefer on ac count of their fleetness and spirit. Upon the rich pas tures of the Delta, the ox, the cow, and the buffalo are found in perfection. Sheep and goats have also their proper pasture, and are found in numbers. Bees, in sects, and reptiles, are also abundant; and the lakes, as well as the sea and the river, abound with fish. In this country the ass is of considerable beauty, as well as strength, and is employed for riding and various use. ful purposes. The ibis, so much revered in Egypt foi merly, is not to be found in that count!v at preset,: ; but from the bodies which were so careful:). preserve I by the ancient Egyptians, it appears to be a curlew, an I not a species of the stork.
Few countries abound so much with ruins as Eget, does, which not only she WS its former importance ati glory, but is a sad memorial of the reverses alit', &gr.. dations to which human affairs are constantly l'N d The situation of Canopus and %antis, with other pla t of note, may be sought for in the Delta ; but the pi in• cipal memorials of ancient times are to be found in the more early inhabited places of the country. The re mains of Denderah, anciently Tentyris, indicate a great er variety of ruins and wrecks of former arts than any other place of Egypt. Though it does not appear to have been the capital of any district, yet it must have been a highly favoured residence, and under the special protection of the kings and nobles of the country. But the ruins of Thebes are peculiarly the objects of our attention, as deriving a higher degree of interest from the antiquity of the city, and the rank which it held as the scat of royalty and science.
Yet even here one might be astonished to find such scanty remains of a city, so great and so famous ; but ancient towns and even the most celebrated cities of remote times, contained few buildings which were cal culated to stand the ravages of time. Excepting temples, palaces, and other public edifices, the other buildings were composed of mud or some perishable materials, which were easily swept away by the current of events. And this may be assigned as the reason why cities, like the far-famed Troy, have been entirely destroyed, and the place where they once stood scarcely ascertain ed. The situation of Thebes is sufficiently known, but little more of it remains than the ruins of its public buildings, its vaulted receptacles for the dead, and some huge specimens of statuary, which command our ad miration. The colossal statue of Osymandius, with the two figures, one on each side, which are supposed to represent his wife and daughter, arc still seen, and have often been described. Near the same city, an enormous figure, 75 feet high, is described as the celebrated statue of 'Memnon. Though all these representations arc only
founded on conjecture, of one thing we are certain, that whomsoever this and the preceding statues represent, they belong to ancient times, and are memorials of the progress which in those days had been made in the fine arts. The excess which their proportions bear to the productions of nature, is a proof of rudeness of concep tion, and a deficiency in taste and imitation. Still, how ever, in the remotest times, Egypt was eminent for its knowledge and acquirements.
The paintings in the tomb of Thebes have wonder fully preserved their colours, and are specimens of Egyptian ingenuity. They have also a tendency to exhibit the fashions and designs of furniture which were known in those early times. Since the French and British expeditions, we have imitations of Egyptian vases and carpets, chairs and couches, as well as other articles of Eastern production. The ruins of the temple at Carnak, and the magnificent remains of Luxor, are curious and astonishing : but they are neither so chaste nor elegant as the at Esnah, Etfu, or Tentyra.
Though all the Egyptian relics are ancient, yet there is a difference in their style, and an evident progress from the. more rude to the more refined. Girgeh, which is now the capital of Upper Egypt, is comparatively a modern town, and not productive of antiquities ; but it ck rived its name from a monastery dedicated to St George, more ancient than the town, and built in an early part of the Christian era. The Isle of Philoe, at the entrance of the Nile into Egypt, is interesting for manv ancient remains, which have been well exhibited by M. Denon, in his splendid and satisfactory account of many striking remains and appearances of Egypt ; and Elephantina cannot be passed over without notice.
Memphis has suffered so completely in the lapse of ages, that, like many other ancient cities, it is a question of some curiosity where it was situated. It is most probable, that it stood between the pyramids of Giza and Saccara ; and as it was of great extent, its suburbs may have stretched themselves toward both these places, and comprehended within its bounds Mohannon and INIetrahenny. Upon this supposition, those ancient de positories of the dead, which are found at the pyramids of Giza and Saccara, may have been the burying-places of the dead ; without the walls of the city, according to the practice of ancient times, and in this situation, there have been discovered vast excavations and numerous mummies. In the article of antiquities, we speak not of Damietta and Rosetta, though they were ancient sta tions upon the branches of the Nile ; but they were rather the resort of sea-faring men, than the abodes of literature or science, and consequently afforded few works of splendour or art to be handed down to suc ceeding times.