The Progress and Prospects of Oriental Discovery [pp. 476-493]

480 THE PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS OF [July,
the hymns of the Egyptian Ritual, in which were contained in
substance the entire religion and mythology of Egypt. His
first publication embraced the seventeenth chapter, a kind of
Egyptian catechism, which presented a summary of the Egyptian belief.
In 1867, Egyptologists were cheered by the discovery of a
new bi-lingual monument-the Decree of Canopus. It was a
rare treasure. It contained 37 lines of hieroglyphics, translated
by 66 lines in Greek text, without a break. Its study served to
establish on a solid basis the justice of the method and the
correctness of previous interpretations. The way was thus
prepared to study, with more perfect assurance of success, the
rich materials that had already (1865-6) been collected by
Brugsch and Du~michen, soon to be notably enlarged by the
new discoveries of M. Mariette.
The study of hieroglyphics had offered less difficulties than
that of the demotic writing, and had been more diligently and
successfully pursued. To the latter, Brugsch devoted his
special attention. He was aided in his task by the suggestions
and the criticism of M. de Roug&. He succeeded in elucidating several important monuments of demotic writing, and bringing the grammar of the popular language into harmony with
the demotic system. The work of interpretation remains to
be pushed forward, and important results must follow the comparative study of the hieroglyphic and demotic writing.
But important results have already been reached. Egyptian
history, as a whole, has been reconstructed. We have been
able to distinguish the several dynasties by their achievements
and their monuments. We have recovered remains of Egyptian literature which throw light upon the art and science, the
customs and manners of the people. We have been able to
reproduce a theology and a mythology which will repay close
and patient study. We know the builders of some of the most
memorable monuments of the country, or the dynasties to
which they belong. We may trace more definitely the relations of the Egyptians to neighboring peoples, their careers of
conquest, and the changing fortunes of their empire. We have
discovered their possession at a very early period of a skill and
science that excite our admiration; while the fact, that from
primitive times they asserted a Divine unity, not inconsistent