on the space above the steps, their faces towards the river.

In front of these statues, on a silver chair, sat Psamtik, the heir to
the throne: He wore a close-fitting garment of many colors, interwoven
with gold, and was surrounded by the most distinguished among the king's
courtiers, chamberlains, counsellors, and friends, all bearing staves
with ostrich feathers and lotus-flowers.

The multitude gave vent to their impatience by shouting, singing, and
quarrelling; but the priests and magnates on the steps preserved a
dignified and solemn silence. Each, with his steady, unmoved gaze, his
stiffly-curled false wig and beard, and his solemn, deliberate manner,
resembled the two huge statues, which, the one precisely similar to the
other, stood also motionless in their respective places, gazing calmly
into the stream.

At last silken sails, chequered with purple and blue, appeared in sight.

The crowd shouted with delight. Cries of, "They are coming! Here they
are!" "Take care, or you'll tread on that kitten," "Nurse, hold the
child higher that she may see something of the sight." "You are pushing
me into the water, Sebak!" "Have a care Phoenician, the boys are
throwing burs into your long beard." "Now, now, 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