/ 



AND LOWER EGYPT. GO3 



fflictuating history of man in society. There is not 

 a more strikinc: exam!)le of a thorough chancre in 

 the character of nations than that which the Egyp- 

 tians have undergone. Slavery, and stupidity, its 

 inevitable consequence, have filled the place of 

 power and grandeur. Superstitious ignorance has 

 succeeded to the love of the sciences, to the exercise 

 of the arts ; and perfect civilization has disappeared 

 to-make way for brutality and savagencss of man* 

 ncrs. 



It is Impossible to depict the customs of a de- 

 graded people, of svhom barbarism has taken entire 

 possession, without the interference of ideas so dis- 

 honourable to humanity, ideas of crimes and rob- 

 beries, which blend in the picture, and constitute 

 the greatest part o( it. The vices of the present 

 race of Egyptians have been already represented 

 more than once in this work. It will be sufficient ; 

 to add, that the men of Thebais, still grosser than 

 those of Lower Egypt, present an assemblage more 

 odious; and I shall confine myself to speak of 

 some customs peculiar to that country. 



In proportion as you go up the Nile, that is fo 

 say, as you advance towards the equinoctial line, 

 the skin of the natives colours, or rather grows 

 dusky. In the most southern cantons the Egyptian 

 women have a tawny complexion and a thick skin. 



Excepting 



