he boiling caldrons with a spoon; and a third pounded
salt, pepper, and other ingredients in a large mortar. Bakers and
confectioners made light bread and pastry; the former being made in
the form of rolls, sprinkled at the top with carraway and other seeds.
The confectionary was made of fruit and other ingredients mixed with
dough, and this was formed by a skillful workman into various artistic
shapes, such as recumbent oxen, vases, temples, and other forms.
Besides the meats there was an abundance of all the most delicate
kinds of fish.

When the hour of noon approached Ameres and Amense took their seats on
two chairs at the upper end of the chief apartment, and as the guests
arrived each came up to them to receive their welcome. When all had
arrived the women took their places on chairs at the one side of the
hall, the men on the other. Then servants brought in tables, piled up
with dishes containing the viands, and in some cases filled with
fruits and decorated with flowers, and ranged them down the center of
the room.

Cups of wine were then handed round to the guests, lotus flowers
presented to them to hold in their hands, and garlands of flowers
placed round their necks. Stands, each containing a number of jars of
wine, stoppered with heads of wheat and decked with garlands, were
ranged about the room. Many small tables were now brought in, and
round these the guests took their seats upon low stools and
chairs--the women occupying those on one side of the room, the men
those on the other.

The servants now placed the dishes on the small tables, male
attendants waiting on the men, while the women were served by females.
Egyptians were unacquainted with the use of knives and forks, the
joints being cut up by the attendants into small pieces, and the
guests helping themselves from the dishes with the aid of pieces of
bread held between the fingers. Vegetables formed a large part of the
meal, the meats being mixed with them to serve as flavoring; for in so
hot a climate a vegetable diet is far more healthy than one composed
principally of meat. While the meal was proceeding a party of female
musicians, seated on the ground in one corner of the room, played and
sang.

The banquet lasted for a long time, the number of dishes served being
very large. When it was half over the figure of a mummy, of about
three feet in length, was brought round and presented to each guest in
succession, as a reminder of the uncertai