AND LOWER EGYPT. 63 



the tour of the circle and of wrists, each one re- 

 ceived what he conceived to be the most convin- 

 cing proof of my incomparable skill. The admira- 

 tion which it excited was unanimous. Every fist, 

 shut and closely clenched, by a little perpendicu- 

 lar motion put forward from the body, the sign of 

 applause among the Turks, testified the general 

 approbation ; and eulogiums, short among a 

 people frugal of their words, but very expressive, 

 were repeated by turns. A success so brilliant 

 had greaily enhanred my medical reputation, and 

 spread the tame of my wonderful knowledge all 

 over Shut and its environs. 



Not that there were in Egypt no natives of the 

 country who dealt in empiricism, but they were 

 held in very little estimation, and their destitute 

 condition demonstrated sut^ciently that they exer- 

 cised a bad trade. When I made my appearance 

 any where, the persuasion that a stranger must 

 possess greater talents than them, very soon set 

 them at distance, and their patients abandoned 

 them to resort to my superior illumination. But 

 I must say, to the honour of the physicians of all 

 nations, that there is one country where jealousy 

 never takes possession of their souls, and where 

 the success of another is only a source of satisfac- 

 tion and of confidence. Not only did the Egyp- 

 tian physicians feel no envy from the splendour of 



my 



