CUSTOMS AND MANNERS. 



391 



regular. In general the cheek-bones are high, the cheeks broad and 

 flabby, the mouth large, the nose short, thick, and flat, though in 

 some it is prominent ; the eyes black, but wanting animation. The bad 

 appearance of the eyes is in some measure owing to disease. The skin 

 is of a disagreeable Mulatto colour. The hair, which is commonly black 

 is matted, and often smeared with a stinking ointment. It is formed 

 in two or three divisions, and suffered to hang down the back. At a 

 distance, howev^er, the long flowing robe which covers them to the heels, 

 though it may conceal deformity, seems, by the easiness of its drapery, 

 to heighten their stature, and even to render their air Graceful. In- 

 deed I have never seen any women who have displayed so much 

 easiness of manner, or so fine a carriage, being superior in this re- 

 spect even to the women of Circassia. Probably the elegance and 

 dignity of their gait may depend upon the habit of carrying every 

 thing on their heads. They are taller in general than our European 

 women. From ignorance of their language I could form no opinion 

 of their conversation, yet from their numerous and graceful gestures 

 I supposed it might be pleasing in spite of the shrillness of their 

 voices. As the army was passing through the villages they momited 

 upon the house tops, and made a confused noise like the cackling 

 of cranes, which was interpreted to us as indicating wishes for our 

 success. 



The Ethiopian women brought to Egypt for sale though black, are 

 exceedingly beautiful : their features are regular, their eyes full of 

 expression. A great number of them had been purchased by the 

 French during their stay in Egypt, who were anxious to dispose of 

 them previously to their leaving the country, and it was the custom 

 to bring them to the common market place in the camp, sometimes 

 in boys' clothes, at other times in the gaudiest female dress of the 

 French fashion. The neck was in general naked, and the petticoat 

 on one side tucked up to the knee, to show the elegant form of the 

 limb. The price of these women was from sixty to an hundred dol- 

 lars ; while Arab women might be purchased at so low a price as ten. 



The Circassian women, who are brought to Egypt in great num- 



