ornamented at the top by a flower or some other ornament. On the
later bas-reliefs, a long piece of embroidered linen or silk falling
from one side like a curtain, appears to screen the king completely
from the sun. The parasol was reserved exclusively for the monarch,
and is never represented as borne over any other person."

In Egypt again, the Parasol is found in various shapes. In some
instances it is depicted as a _flabellum_, a fan of palm-leaves
or coloured feathers fixed on a long handle, resembling those now
carried behind the Pope in processions. Sir Gardner Wilkinson, in his
work on Egypt, has, an engraving of an Ethiopian princess travelling
through Upper Egypt in a chariot; a kind of Umbrella fastened to a
stout pole rises in the centre, bearing a close affinity to what are
now termed chaise Umbrellas. To judge from Wilkinson's account, the
Umbrella was generally used throughout Egypt, partly as a mark of
distinction, but more on account of its useful than its ornamental
qualities.

The same author is rather doubtful whether, in the picture given by
him of a military chief in his chariot, the frame which an attendant
holds up behind the rider is a shield or a screen, but the latter is
the more probable supposition, as it has all the appearance of an
Umbrella without the usual handle. In some paintings on a temple
wall, an Umbrella is held over the figure of a god carried in
procession, and altogether we may, perhaps, consider it decided,
beyond dispute, that the Umbrella in its modern shape was used in
Egypt. [Footnote: To silence captious critics, who may find fault with
the designs of our artist, we may once for all remark that an idealised
conception of the figures only is given. The style of the ancient
draughtsmen was by no means so perfect that we, who live in a more