AND LOWER EGYPT. 121 



of which the most piously observed regulation is 

 to wallow in abundance at the expense of others, 

 and by the abject means of collecting and begging, 

 degraded by their institution, were extracted for 

 the greater part from the lowest and most impure 

 dregs of the people. 



After all, there were no more than three in the 

 Iionse at Echmmnn. What I beheld of their habi- 

 tation gave me a grand idea of it ; I had not seen 

 any thing so beautiful for a long time. Spacious^ 

 and likewise well built, it might have passed for a 

 palace when compared with the houses of the 

 country. The employment of these men, v^'hom 

 Mr. Bruce has represented as being completely 

 destitute of understanding and knowledge *, is the 

 same as in Europe, to make dupes, and to amass 

 riches ; and it is not to be doubted, that the dread 

 of exposing to the clear-sighted view of Europeans, 

 a manner of life which has rendered them con- 

 temptible, was one of their principal motives for 

 the ungracious reception which they gave me. 



There are a considerable number of Catholic 

 Cophts at Rchmimnu I was assured that they form- 

 ed the half of the population of the city. It is by 

 distribuimg to them falsehoods and deceptions, that 

 the mv. nks drain tticm of their money. It was evi- 



* Travels to the Sources of the Nile, 



dent, 



