DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11715#0086
THE LAND OF THE PHARAOHS.
"Truly our new fikee is a man of unusual judgment," and for a little while he found
that he had raised his reputation by this blunder.
The profusion of bird-life on the Nile is one of its most striking features. Myriads
of storks, cranes, geese, wild ducks, pelicans, hawks, pigeons, and herons are seen clus-
tering on the islands in the river, lining its banks, or flying in dense clouds overhead.
To protect the growing crops the fellaheen often construct little stands for boys armed
with slings, who acquire wonderful dexterity in bringing down their feathered game.
In Ancient Egypt birds were as numerous as now. Geese are represented as forming
an important part of every banquet, and they are seldom wanting in the offerings to the
gods. Fowling was a favorite amusement. Visitors to the British Museum are familiar
with the tablet which represents the flocks of geese possessed by a large landed proprie-
tor. In another the sportsman is seen catching water-fowl in a thicket of papyrus and
lotus-lilies on the river-bank ; a decoy duck stands on the prow of his boat, and a cat is
trained to act as a retriever.1 These countless flocks of birds may serve to illustrate the
dream of Pharaoh's chief baker. " I
had three white baskets on my head:
and in the uppermost basket there
was of all manner of bakemeats for
Pharaoh ; and the birds did eat them
out of the basket upon my
head."2
Quadrupeds much are less numer-
ous. As in all Oriental countries,
homeless, masterless does roam
round the villages, and act as scav-
engers. Among the swamps of the
Delta wild boars are common.
Jackals and foxes may be met with
everywhere. In the neighborhood
of Luxor and Karnak a hyaena is
often seen, with its heavy, clumsy
form and slouching gait, prowling
amongst the ruins. The crocodile has
almost disappeared from Lower Egypt. Notwithstanding its impenetrable coat of mail and
its terrible jaws, it is a shy, timid creature, and is said to have been driven away by the
paddle-wheels of the steamboats. Formerly they might occasionly be seen sunning
themselves on the mud and sandbanks between Keneh and Assouan, but they have not
been seen between these points now for a number of years past. It is only as we enter
Nubia that they are found in considerable numbers.
The flora of Egypt is not very remarkable. Excepting palms, the trees are few and
unimportant. A few fine sycamores may be seen, generally in the neighborhood of a
mosque, or shadowing a santon s tomb. Midway between Cairo and the First Cataract
the Doum palm makes its appearance. It differs greatly from the ordinary date palm.
1 An English nobleman who visited ihe Nile fir purposes of sport, published on his return, an account of his prowess. He shot,
within two months, 9 pelicans ; 1514 geese ; 328 wild d cks ; 47 widgeon ; 5 teal ; 66 pintails ; 47 flamingoes (!) ; 37 curlews ;
112 herons ; 2 qua Is ; 9 partridges ; 3,283 pigeons ; and 117 miscellaneous. Total 5,576 head. Even persons who are not scrupu-
lous in the mailer must concur in reprobating this wholesale and useless slaughter. 2 Genesis xl. 16, 17.
82
EGYPTIAN FOWLER.
[From the British Museum.)
"Truly our new fikee is a man of unusual judgment," and for a little while he found
that he had raised his reputation by this blunder.
The profusion of bird-life on the Nile is one of its most striking features. Myriads
of storks, cranes, geese, wild ducks, pelicans, hawks, pigeons, and herons are seen clus-
tering on the islands in the river, lining its banks, or flying in dense clouds overhead.
To protect the growing crops the fellaheen often construct little stands for boys armed
with slings, who acquire wonderful dexterity in bringing down their feathered game.
In Ancient Egypt birds were as numerous as now. Geese are represented as forming
an important part of every banquet, and they are seldom wanting in the offerings to the
gods. Fowling was a favorite amusement. Visitors to the British Museum are familiar
with the tablet which represents the flocks of geese possessed by a large landed proprie-
tor. In another the sportsman is seen catching water-fowl in a thicket of papyrus and
lotus-lilies on the river-bank ; a decoy duck stands on the prow of his boat, and a cat is
trained to act as a retriever.1 These countless flocks of birds may serve to illustrate the
dream of Pharaoh's chief baker. " I
had three white baskets on my head:
and in the uppermost basket there
was of all manner of bakemeats for
Pharaoh ; and the birds did eat them
out of the basket upon my
head."2
Quadrupeds much are less numer-
ous. As in all Oriental countries,
homeless, masterless does roam
round the villages, and act as scav-
engers. Among the swamps of the
Delta wild boars are common.
Jackals and foxes may be met with
everywhere. In the neighborhood
of Luxor and Karnak a hyaena is
often seen, with its heavy, clumsy
form and slouching gait, prowling
amongst the ruins. The crocodile has
almost disappeared from Lower Egypt. Notwithstanding its impenetrable coat of mail and
its terrible jaws, it is a shy, timid creature, and is said to have been driven away by the
paddle-wheels of the steamboats. Formerly they might occasionly be seen sunning
themselves on the mud and sandbanks between Keneh and Assouan, but they have not
been seen between these points now for a number of years past. It is only as we enter
Nubia that they are found in considerable numbers.
The flora of Egypt is not very remarkable. Excepting palms, the trees are few and
unimportant. A few fine sycamores may be seen, generally in the neighborhood of a
mosque, or shadowing a santon s tomb. Midway between Cairo and the First Cataract
the Doum palm makes its appearance. It differs greatly from the ordinary date palm.
1 An English nobleman who visited ihe Nile fir purposes of sport, published on his return, an account of his prowess. He shot,
within two months, 9 pelicans ; 1514 geese ; 328 wild d cks ; 47 widgeon ; 5 teal ; 66 pintails ; 47 flamingoes (!) ; 37 curlews ;
112 herons ; 2 qua Is ; 9 partridges ; 3,283 pigeons ; and 117 miscellaneous. Total 5,576 head. Even persons who are not scrupu-
lous in the mailer must concur in reprobating this wholesale and useless slaughter. 2 Genesis xl. 16, 17.
82
EGYPTIAN FOWLER.
[From the British Museum.)