X. Magical Papyri.—The widespread use of magic in Egypt in all ages suggests that the magical literature of Egypt must have been very large. Much of it was incorporated at a very early period into the Religious Literature of the country, and was used for legitimate purposes, in fact for the working of what we call "white magic." The Egyptian saw no wrong in the working of magic, and it was only condemned by him when the magician wished to produce evil results. The gods themselves were supposed to use spells and incantations, and every traveller by land or water carried with him magical formulæ which he recited when he was in danger from the wild beasts of the desert or the crocodile of the river and its canals. Specimens of these will be found in the famous magical papyri in the British Museum, e.g. the Salt Papyrus, the Rhind Papyrus, and the Harris Papyrus. Under this heading may be mentioned Papyrus Sallier IV in the British Museum, which contains a list of lucky and unlucky days. Here is a specimen of its contents:
1st day of Hathor. The whole day is lucky. There is festival in heaven with Rā and Hathor.
2nd day of Hathor. The whole day is lucky. The gods go out. The goddess Uatchet comes from Tep to the gods who are in the shrine of the bull, in order to protect the divine members.
3rd day of Hathor. The whole day is lucky.
4th day of Hathor. The whole day is unlucky. The house of the man who goes on a voyage on that day comes to ruin.
6th day of Hathor. The whole day is unlucky. Do not light a fire in thy house on this day, and do not look at one.
18th day of Pharmuthi. The whole day is unlucky. Do not bathe on this day.
20th day of Pharmuthi. The whole day is unlucky. Do not work on this day.
22nd day of Pharmuthi. The whole day is unlucky. He who is born on this day will die on this day.
23rd day of Pharmuthi. The first two-thirds of the day are unlucky, and the last third lucky.