Even at the present day, the fellah does not pay his contributions except under protest and by compulsion, but the determination not to meet obligations except beneath the stick, was proverbial from ancient times: whoever paid his dues before he had received a merciless beating would be overwhelmed with reproaches by his family, and jeered at without pity by his neighbours. The time when the tax fell due, came upon the nomes as a terrible crisis which affected the whole population. For several days there was nothing to be heard but protestations, threats, beating, cries of pain from the tax-payers, and piercing lamentations from women and children. The performance over, calm was re-established, and the good people, binding up their wounds, resumed their round of daily life until the next tax-gathering. The towns of this period presented nearly the same confined and mysterious appearance as those of the present day.* * I have had occasion to make “soundings” or excavations at various points in very ancient towns and villages, at Thebes, Abydos and Mataniyeh, and I give here a _résumé_ of my observations. Professor Petrie has brought to light and regularly explored several cities of the XIIth and XVIIIth dynasties, situated at the entrance to the Fayûm. I have borrowed many points in my description from the various works which he has published on the subject, _Kahun, Gurob and Hawara,_ 1890; and _Illahun, Kahun and Gurob_, 1891. [Illustration: 103.jpg THE HOUSE OF A GREAT EGYPTIAN LORD] Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a water-colour by Boussac, _Le Tombeau d’Anna_ in the _Mémoires de la Mission Française_. The house was situated at Thebes, and belonged to the XVIIIth dynasty. The remains of the houses brought to light by Mariette at Abydos belong to the same type, and date back to the XIIth dynasty. By means of these, Mariette was enabled to reconstruct an ancient Egyptian house at the Paris Exhibition of 1877. The picture of the tomb of Anna reproduces in most respects, we may therefore assume, the appearance of a nobleman’s dwelling at all periods. At the side of the main building we see two corn granaries with conical roofs, and a great storehouse for provisions. They were grouped around one or more temples, each of which was surrounded by its own brick enclosing wall, with its enormous gateways: the gods dwelt there in real castles, or, if this word appears too ambitious, redouts, in which the population could take refuge in cases of sudden attack, and where they could be in safety. [Illustration: 104.jpg PLAN OF A PART OF THE ANCIENT TOWN OF KAHUN] From a plan made and published by Professor Flinders Petrie, _Illahun, Kahun and Gurob_, pl. xiv.