[165] Kheraha was on the site of old Cairo, known to the classical authors as Babylon. The cave mentioned is not now known.
[166] On, Heliopolis. Here was a sacred well of water ("The Cool Pool"), supposed to spring from Nu, the primeval waters in heaven and earth, and not to be derived from Hapi or the Nile. Tradition relates that it was at this same well, still pointed out at Matariyeh, that the Blessed Virgin washed the Child on her arrival in Egypt.
[167] Or "mishaps." This seems to have been a sort of Te Deum.
[168] The Benben was a pyramidal stone, sacred to Ra or representing him. It was shaped like the top of an obelisk.
[169] The boats in which the Sun god traversed the heavens during forenoon and afternoon respectively.
[170] I. e., the King.
[171] Or "very early."
[172] Athribis.
[173] The land was divided among kings, nomarchs, and, apparently, Libyan chiefs entitled to wear a feather. The kings had their viziers; the nomarchs and chiefs had their subordinate chiefs, etc. "Royal acquaintances" were persons related to the royal families.
[174] I. e. the linen was of various degrees of fineness, or as we also say technically, of various "counts"; meaning that there are so many threads more or less in any given square of stuff.