Common in Kitchens.

517

Chap. 6.]

jecture may be correct, but it does not derive much support from theuae of those instruments figured at No. 235 ; for unless there was somecontrivance to prevent the ends of the siphons from going too near thebottom of the jars, scarcely any thing would more effectually disturb anddraw off the Sediment with the water. The tubes were obviously ofsome flexible material, and from the manner in which they are held, itwould be impossible for the person using them to regulate by hand thedepth to which the short legs were immersed. Moreover, another indi-vidual (omitted in our illustration) is represented pouring a liquid intoone of the jars, an Operation that would effectually disturb the Sediment.

Instead of water, jars so small probably contained wines, and the artistdesigned to exhibit the mode of mixing them ; a common practice of old,and one referred to in several parts of the scriptures. The Egyptianswere much given to luxurious living, and especially with regard to wine,a fact which the sculptures corroborate, for scenes of gross excess, and infemales too, are portrayed. The Jews we know carried with them intoPalestine not only the arts but many of the worst habits of the Egyptians,and the excessive indulgence of mixed wines was one. “ Woe unto themthat are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strongdrink.” Isaiah v, 22. “ She hath mingled her wine, she hath also furnishedher table.” Prov. ix, 2. “ They that tarry long at the wine, they that

go to seek mixed wine.” Ibid xxiii, 30.

Gther examples of the early use of siphons are met with. In the tombof Remeses III. who flourished 1235 B. C., is a representation of anEgyptian kitchen, with the various operations of slaying animals, cuttingup the joints and preparing them for cooking—kneading dough with thefeet, and paste with the hands—making cakes and confectionary, &c.—Of kitchen furniture, there are tables, jars, plates, cauldrons, bellows,ovens, molds, pestle and mortar, knives, baskets, &c., and suspendedon ropes or rods, a nwmber of siphons; showing evidently that thoseinstruments were in constant requisition. See No. 236. These wereprobably adapted for jars of certain deptbs, unlike those in the precedingfigure, which seem to have been appropriated to different sized vessels,and their shape altered as occasions might require.

How singulär that these philosophical instruments should have beenmore common before the siege of Troy than at the present day! Andhow precious are those monumental records that have preserved this andother facts of the kind !

«The circumstance of siphons having been used in Egypt at so early aperiod may be deemed conclusive that other nations were not ignorant ofthem. With Egypt , all the famous people of antiquity maintained anintercourse ; and enterprising men flocked from all parts to acquire aknowledge of the arts and Sciences that were cultivated on the banks ofthe Nile. Their neighbours, the Jews , as a matter of course, were ac-quainted with siphons, and there is probably a reference to them in Johnli. “ Jesus saith unto them, fill the water pots with water. And theyfilled them to the brim. And he said unto them, draw out now and bearunto the governor of the feast, and they bare it.” How did they drawthis liquid 1 Certainly not by inclining the jars and pouring it out; noryet does it appear to have been done by dipping: for as the large potswere filled to the very brim, this would have caused the liquid to Over-flow. It is more reasonable to suppose that small siphons were used onthe occasion, and that they were eharged by sucking, as represented inNo. 235. This and this only clearly accounts for the fact that those whodrew the liquid were first aware, as they must have been, of the change it