Letters from Egypt. 07 



«onfiderabie. man in the village. We willied this young 

 man's fon to breakfaft with us, and we defired him to place 

 himfelf at table; but he blufhed as if we had afkeu him to 

 commit a crime. His father told us that his child would 

 never be prevailed on to fit down where his grandfather fat, 

 and above all to cat in his prefence : that the profound re- 

 fpecl he entertained for his grandfather, made him impofe 

 this on himfelf as a law. We then invited the fon to fit 

 down ; but he made the fame obfervations in regard to him- 

 felf, and with a religious folemnity which furprifed us. Ge- 

 neral Menou requefted the grandfather to order his children 

 and grand-children to partake in the entertainment ; and af- 

 ter fome hesitation he agreed, faying, that it was contrary to 

 cuftom, but that it gave pleafure to his paternal heart, The 

 children obeyed ; but they had an air of referve and timi- 

 dity during the whole time they were eating. They made 

 hafte to finifh their meal, and retired fpeedily according to 

 the cuftom of the country, which requires thofe who have 

 no appetite to depart. 



After General Menou and his company had finiftied their 

 repaft, the foldiers came, in their turn, to feed upon what 

 we had left. The firft, and this fecond company, who con- 

 fifted of jolly fellows of a keen appetite, ate at moft two 

 thirds of what had been ferved up, after which the poor of 

 the village were invited. Thefe regaled thcmfelves with 

 what remained. They entirely emptied the difhes, for Which 

 \hcy contended, and which they tore from each other in a 

 manner that afforded us much amufement. 



Thefe Chciks behaved with fo much liberality only be- 

 caufe they are authorifed by the laws of the country, when a. 

 commander in chief takes a repaft with them, to reimburfe 

 themfelves for the expence they have been at, by an impoll 

 which they levy immediately; and as it is therefore the vil- 

 lage which treats, the inhabitants have a right to partake in 

 the feaft, and to eat up what remains on the table of their 

 lord, iiut thole who actually pay do not participate in the 

 G 4 enter- 



