alphabet.

_Untutored_, ignorant, unlearned.


Were not the Egyptians quite early acquainted with this art?

Yes, they were acquainted with two or three kinds of writing, as well
as the one in which symbolical characters were employed, which was not
used for common purposes. On the contrary, such symbols had something
of a sacred character about them, being unknown to the common people,
and only to be deciphered by the priests. Obelisks and pyramids were
the great national records; and on these the hieroglyphics were
constantly used, because unintelligible to the people, until expounded
by those who had the exclusive office of explaining them.

_Symbolical_, having the nature of signs or symbols--that
is, representations of different things.

_Deciphered_, read, understood, made out.

_Unintelligible_, that cannot be understood.

_Expounded_, explained, interpreted.


Were Hieroglyphics employed before or after Alphabetic Writing?

They were undoubtedly employed at first from necessity, not from
choice or refinement; and would never have been thought of, if