it will be seen how matters, on this occasion, were probably arranged. A small table was appropriated, either to each guest singly, or to each couple of them.

RICHARDSON.SC.N.Y.

Egyptians

at meal.

The customs of Persia, at this day, illustrate this. The dishes are not brought in successively during the course of an

entertainment, but are placed at once upon the table, or rather floor. A tray containing a variety of dishes is placed between every two, or at most three guests, from which they help themselves, without attending in any degree, to the party at

the next tray.

Another peculiarity here meets us.

"" sat before him."

Joseph's brethren

The usual custom of the ancients was to eat in a reclining position: but not so among the Egyptians. They had couches for sleeping; but sat at their meals. Sometimes they sat upon a stool or chair. We subjoin a cut from Wilkinson; and Rosellini furnishes a painting of similar character, in which the guests summoned to a feast are represented as occupying each a chair.

Indeed, among all the relics of domestic life yet found in Egypt, none are more striking or beautiful than their chairs. In variety of form and gracefulness of outline, they are not surpassed by any similar article of modern construction.

Benjamin's mess, we read, was "five times so much as any of theirs." The quantity of food placed before any guest, was the usual mode of expressing the approbation in which he was held by the host. Five or six different dishes or bowls for a guest, afford evidence of a liberal hospitality; but in Persia, now, when the guest is a person of consideration, other dishes are introduced, until at last there may be fifteen or more upon the same tray. Herodotus tells us that in the public banquets in Egypt, twice as much was placed before the king as before any one else. If a double quantity was a king's measure, Benjamin was here very greatly honored.

13. Joseph sent for his father.

Here "wagons" are introduced to our notice as vehicles

for conveying his father and household. The original word, in the Hebrew, may fairly be rendered "wagons." With some small exception, it may be

said, that wheel-carriages are

not now employed in Western
Asia, or Africa; but the ancient
Egyptians used them, and they
were also used in what is now
Turkey in Asia.
The war-
chariot was very common in
Egypt. But the monuments
show also, a species of light-
covered cart or wagon, which
it is supposed were not of
Egyptian origin, but taken from
some nomade people who fled
before them in war. With
these, probably, Joseph was fur-
nished. They seem not to have
been used by the inhabitants
of Palestine, and yet to have
been known to them as a con-
venience resorted to in Egypt;
for when Jacob saw those which
Joseph sent, he knew, at once,
that they must have come from
Egypt; and they furnished to
him confirmation of the story
of his sons.

Carts from Egyptian sculptures.

14. The arrival of the father and brethren of Joseph in Egypt, and their settlement in Goshen.

In one of the tombs at Beni Hassan, there is a representa

tion of an interesting nature, which by some has been, too hastily we think, considered as a sculptured story of the arrival of Jacob and his household, and their presentation to Pharaoh. We subjoin a copy of it in part, and remark that