w, you Greek fellow, don't
fancy that all Egypt belongs to you, because Amasis allows you to live
on the shores of the sacred river!" "Shameless set, these Greeks, down
with them!" shouted a priest, and the cry was at once echoed from many
mouths. "Down with the eaters of swine's flesh and despisers of the
gods!"

[The Egyptians, like the Jews, were forbidden to eat swine's flesh.
This prohibition is mentioned in the Ritual of the Dead, found in a
grave in Abd-el-Qurnah, and also in other places. Porphyr de
Abstin. IV. The swine was considered an especially unclean animal
pertaining to Typhon (Egyptian, Set) as the boar to Ares, and
swineherds were an especially despised race. Animals with bristles
were only sacrificed at the feasts of Osiris and Eileithyia. Herod.
I. 2. 47. It is probable that Moses borrowed his prohibition of
swine's flesh from the Egyptian laws with regard to unclean
animals.]

From words they were proceeding to deeds, but the police were not to be
trifled with, and by a vigorous use of their staves, the tumult was
soon stilled. The large, gay sails, easily to be distinguished among
the brown, white and blue ones of the smaller Nile-boats which swarmed
around them, came nearer and nearer to the expectant throng. Then at
last the crown-prince and the dignitaries arose from their seats. The
royal band of trumpeters blew a shrill and piercing blast of welcome,
and the first of the expected boats stopped at the landing-place.

It was a rather long, richly-gilded vessel, and bore a silver
sparrow-hawk as figure-head. In its midst rose a golden canopy with a
purple covering, beneath which cushions were conveniently arranged. On
each deck in the forepart of the ship sat twelve rowers, their aprons
attached by costly fastenings.

[Splendid Nile-boats were possessed, in greater or less numbers, by
all the men of high rank. Even in the tomb of Ti at Sakkara, which
dates from the time of the Pyramids, we meet with a chief overseer
of the vessels belonging to a wealthy Egyptian.]

Beneath the canopy lay six fine-looking men in glorious apparel; and
before the ship had touched the shore the youngest of these, a beautiful
fair-haired youth, sprang on to the steps.

Many an Egyptian girl's mouth uttered a lengthened "Ah" at this glorious
sight, and even the grave faces of some of the dignitaries brightened
into a friendly smile.

The name of this much-admired youth