an account of egypt(埃及记)-第12章
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the balance against silver； and whatever it weighs； this the man gives to
the person who provides for the animals； and she cuts up fish of equal
value and gives it for food to the animals。 Thus food for their support has
been appointed and if any one kill any of these animals； the penalty； if he
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do it with his own will； is death； and if against his will； such penalty as the
priests may appoint： but whosoever shall kill an ibis or a hawk； whether it
be with his will or against his will； must die。 Of the animals that live with
men there are great numbers； and would be many more but for the
accidents which befall the cats。 For when the females have produced
young they are no longer in the habit of going to the males； and these
seeking to be united with them are not able。 To this end then they contrive
as follows；they either take away by force or remove secretly the young
from the females and kill them （but after killing they do not eat them）； and
the females being deprived of their young and desiring more； therefore
come to the males； for it is a creature that is fond of its young。 Moreover
when a fire occurs； the cats seem to be divinely possessed； for while the
Egyptians stand at intervals and look after the cats； not taking any care to
extinguish the fire； the cats slipping through or leaping over the men； jump
into the fire； and when this happens； great mourning comes upon the
Egyptians。 And in whatever houses a cat has died by a natural death； all
those who dwell in this house shave their eyebrows only； but those in
which a dog has died shave their whole body and also their head。 The cats
when they are dead are carried away to sacred buildings in the city of
Bubastis； where after being embalmed they are buried； but the dogs they
bury each people in their own city in sacred tombs； and the ichneumons
are buried just in the same way as the dogs。 The shrewmice however and
the hawks they carry away to the city of Buto； and the ibises to
Hermopolis； the bears （which are not commonly seen） and the wolves； not
much larger in size than foxes； they bury on the spot where they are found
lying。
Of the crocodile the nature is as follows：during the four most wintry
months this creature eats nothing： she has four feet and is an animal
belonging to the land and the water both； for she produces and hatches
eggs on the land； and the most part of the day she remains upon dry land；
but the whole of the night in the river； for the water in truth is warmer than
the unclouded open air and the dew。 Of all the mortal creatures of which
we have knowledge this grows to the greatest bulk from the smallest
beginning； for the eggs which she produces are not much larger than those
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of geese and the newly…hatched young one is in proportion to the egg； but
as he grows he becomes as much as seventeen cubits long and sometimes
yet larger。 He has eyes like those of a pig and teeth large and tusky； in
proportion to the size of his body； but unlike all other beasts he grows no
tongue； neither does he move his lower jaw； but brings the upper jaw
towards the lower； being in this too unlike all other beasts。 He has
moreover strong claws and a scaly hide upon his back which cannot be
pierced； and he is blind in the water； but in the air he is of a very keen
sight。 Since he has his living in the water he keeps his mouth all full
within of leeches； and whereas all other birds and beasts fly from him； the
trochilus is a creature which is at peace with him； seeing that from her he
receives benefit； for the crocodile having come out of the water to the land
and then having opened his mouth （this he is wont to do generally towards
the West Wind）； the trochilus upon that enters into his mouth and swallows
down the leeches； and he being benefited is pleased and does no harm to
the trochilus。 Now for some of the Egyptians the crocodiles are sacred
animals； and for others not so； but they treat them on the contrary as
enemies： those however who dwell about Thebes and about the lake of
Moiris hold them to be most sacred； and each of these two peoples keeps
one crocodile selected from the whole number； which has been trained to
tameness； and they put hanging ornaments of molten stone and of gold
into the ears of these and anklets round the front feet； and they give them
food appointed and victims of sacrifices and treat them as well as possible
while they live； and after they are dead they bury them in sacred tombs；
embalming them： but those who dwell about the city of Elephantine even
eat them； not holding them to be sacred。 They are called not crocodiles but
/champsai/； and the Ionians gave them the name of crocodile； comparing
their form to that of the crocodiles （lizards） which appear in their country
in the stone walls。 There are many ways in use of catching them and of
various kinds： I shall describe that which to me seems the most worthy of
being told。 A man puts the back of a pig upon a hook as bait； and lets it go
into the middle of the river； while he himself upon the bank of the river
has a young live pig； which he beats； and the crocodile hearing its cries
makes for the direction of the sound； and when he finds the pig's back he
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swallows it down： then they pull； and when he is drawn out to land； first of
all the hunter forthwith plasters up his eyes with mud； and having done so
he very easily gets the mastery of him； but if he does not do so he has
much trouble。
The river…horse is sacred in the district of Papremis； but for the other
Egyptians he is not sacred； and this is the appearance which he presents：
he is four…footed； cloven…hoofed like an ox； flat…nosed； with a mane like a
horse and showing teeth like tusks； with a tail and voice like a horse and in
size as large as the largest ox； and his hide is so exceedingly thick that
when it has been dried shafts of javelins are made of it。 There are
moreover otters in the river； which they consider to be sacred： and of fish
also they esteem that which is called the /lepidotos/ to be sacred； and also
the eel； and these they say are sacred to the Nile： and of birds the fox…
goose。
There is also another sacred bird called the phoenix which I did not
myself see except in painting； for in truth he comes to them very rarely； at
intervals； as the people of Heliopolis say； of five hundred years； and these
say that he comes regularly when his father dies； and if he be like the
painting he is of this size and nature； that is to say； some of his feathers are
of gold colour and others red； and in outline and size he is as nearly as
possible like an eagle。 This bird they say （but I cannot believe the story）
contrives as follows： setting forth from Arabia he conveys his father；
they say； to the temple of the Sun （Helios） plaste
