Page:H. D. Traill - From Cairo to the Soudan Frontier.djvu/115



the splendid pæan of the Book of Exodus over the destruction of the Egyptians in the Red Sea, the overthrow, not only of "Pharaoh's chariots," but of his "horsemen" also, is triumphantly celebrated. If, however, the word "horsemen" here means "knights" or "troopers," and not merely "charioteers," the passage of Scripture is surely the only testimony to the existence of a cavalry arm or even to the practice of the art of equitation among the early Egyptians that ancient records afford. No such evidence seems at any rate to be discoverable in their wall-paintings or mural sculpture. Any number of Egyptian kings may be seen portrayed in the act of shooting at their foes with bow G