tightly to the hips or cut with ample fulness, draped mantles and flowing pelisses.  Side by side with these officials, the laundresses plied their trade, which was an important one among a people devoted to white, and in whose estimation want of cleanliness in dress entailed religious impurity.  Like the fellahin of the present time, they took their linen daily to wash in the river; they rinsed, starched, smoothed, and pleated it without intermission to supply the incessant demands of Pharaoh and his family.*

     * The “royal laundrymen” and their chiefs are mentioned in
     the Conte des deux freres under the XIXth dynasty, as well
     as their laundries on the banks of the Nile.

[Illustration:  051.jpg MEN AND WOMEN SINGERS, FLUTE-PLAYERS, HARPISTS, AND DANCERS, FROM THE TOMB OF TI]

     Drawn by Faucher-Gudin from a squeeze taken at Saqqara in
     1878 by Mariette

The task of those set over the jewels was no easy one, when we consider the enormous variety of necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, and sceptres of rich workmanship which ceremonial costume required for particular times and occasions.  The guardianship of the crowns almost approached to the dignity of the priesthood; for was not the uraeus, which ornamented each one, a living goddess?  The queen required numerous waiting-women, and the same ample number of attendants were to be encountered in the establishments of the other ladies of the harem.  Troops of musicians, singers, dancers, and almehs whiled away the tedious hours, supplemented by buffoons and dwarfs.  The great Egyptian lords evinced a curious liking for these unfortunate beings, and amused themselves by getting together the ugliest and most deformed creatures.  They are often represented on the tombs beside their masters in company with his pet dog, or a gazelle, or with a monkey which they sometimes hold in leash, or sometimes are engaged in teasing.  Sometimes the Pharaoh bestowed his friendship on his dwarfs, and confided to them occupations in his household.  One of them, Khnumhotpu, died superintendent of the royal linen.  The staff of servants required for supplying the table exceeded all the others in number.  It could scarcely be otherwise if we consider that the master had to provide food, not only for his regular servants,* but for all those of his employes and subjects whose business brought them to the royal residence:  even those poor wretches who came to complain to him of some more or less imaginary grievance were fed at his expense while awaiting his judicial verdict.  Head-cooks, butlers, pantlers, pastrycooks, fishmongers, game or fruit dealers—­if all enumerated, would be endless.  The bakers who baked the ordinary bread were not to be confounded with those who manufactured biscuits.  The makers of pancakes and dough-nuts took precedence of the cake-bakers, and those who concocted delicate fruit preserves ranked higher than the common dryer of dates.