and temples and houses. They knew how to write, and covered the walls
of their houses with writing. Their letters were not like ours, but
were pictures of the things they were writing about. They also built
huge stone tombs for their kings to be buried in, and these were
called "pyramids." The kings of Egypt were called "Pharaohs." When the
old Egyptians wrote books, instead of paper they used the dried leaves
of a reed called "papyrus," which grows in the Nile. Several leaves
were fastened together to make a book. These old writings on reeds
and on the walls have been found after lying buried in the sand, which
has covered so much of old Egypt. The hot sand has kept them dry, and
prevented them being destroyed during hundreds of years. By reading
these writings we are able to find out how these people lived so long
ago. They had also a wonderful way of taking the waters of the Nile
in ditches over the whole land. There is hardly any rain in Egypt,
and this Nile water prevented the country becoming so sandy and dry.
In those days Egypt was well-known for its wonderful harvests and
stores of food.

But though these people were wise in many ways, yet they were proud
and cruel to their enemies. In the Bible we read how they treated the
Children of Israel in the time of Moses. Perhaps this was because
they did not know God our Father, but worshipped many gods, whose
pictures and images were like animals. Many of the great temples they
built for these gods are still standing, and when we see pictures of
them, we wonder at the skill of these people who lived so long ago.
Egypt was one of the first great countries to become Christian, and
many of the old heathen temples were turned into churches. But at
last the Arabs, who were Mohammedans, conquered Egypt, and forced most
of the people to become Mohammedans too. But some remained faithful
in spite of all, and these to-day are called "Copts," from the old