they rowed across the lake in the baris, or death-boat, the priest announcing to Osiris and the unearthly assessors the good deeds of the deceased. Arriving on the opposite shore, the procession walked in solemn silence, and the mummy was then deposited in its final resting-place--the catacombs. [Sidenote: Ceremonies, creeds, oracles, prophecy.] From this it may be gathered that the Egyptian religion did not remain a mere speculative subject, but was enforced on the people by the most solemn ceremonies. Moreover, in the great temples, grand processional services were celebrated, the precursors of some that still endure. There were sacrifices of meat-offerings, libations, incense. The national double creed, adapted in one branch to the vulgar, in the other to the learned, necessarily implied mysteries; some of these were avowedly transported to Greece. The machinery of oracles was resorted to. The Greek oracles were of Egyptian origin. So profound was the respect paid to their commands that even the sovereigns were obliged to obey them. It was thus that a warning from the oracle of Amun caused Necho to stop the construction of his canal. For the determination of future events, omens were studied, entrails inspected, and nativities were cast. CHAPTER IV. GREEK AGE OF INQUIRY. RISE AND DECLINE OF PHYSICAL SPECULATION. IONIAN PHILOSOPHY, _commencing from Egyptian Ideas, identifies in Water, or Air, or Fire, the First Principle.--Emerging from the Stage of Sorcery, it founds Psychology, Biology, Cosmogony, Astronomy, and ends in doubting whether there is any Criterion of Truth._ ITALIAN PHILOSOPHY _depends on Numbers and Harmonies.--It reproduces the Egyptian and Hindu Doctrine of Transmigration._ ELEATIC PHILOSOPHY _presents a great Advance, indicating a rapid Approach to Oriental Ideas.--It assumes a Pantheistic Aspect._ RISE OF PHILOSOPHY IN EUROPEAN GREECE.--_Relations and Influence of the Mediterranean Commercial and Colonial System.--Athens attains to commercial Supremacy.--Her vast Progress in Intelligence and Art.--Her Demoralization.--She becomes the Intellectual Centre of the Mediterranean._ _Commencement of the Athenian higher Analysis.--It is conducted by_ THE SOPHISTS, _who reject Philosophy, Religion, and even Morality, and end in Atheism._ _Political Dangers of the higher Analysis.--Illustration from the Middle Ages._ [Sidenote: Origin of Greek philosophy.] In Chapter II. I have described the origin and decline of Greek Mythology; in this, I am to relate the first European attempt at philosophizing. The Ionian systems spring directly out of the contemporary religious opinions, and appear as a phase in Greek comparative theology. [Sidenote: Its imperfections.]