AND LOWER EGYPT. 323 



proper conception of the respect in which we are 

 held in this part of the world. 



It is not only unlawful either to eat or drink 

 during the month which the Ramadan lasts, from 

 the rising to the setting of the sun, but it is as 

 strictly forbidden to chew or even to smoke to- 

 bacco. The labouring man, overcome by fatigue 

 and bv the heat, parched with thirst, is yet farther 

 reduced by emptiness. But the severity of a long 

 fast has nothing oppressive to the man of wealth ; 

 he can in every place elude liie laws; the poor 

 man a'onc is oppressed to the full extent of their 

 execution. If the Ramadan is a period of fasting 

 very difRcult to be borne by him who is supported 

 by his labour, it is an era of pleasure to the opu- 

 lent ; they make a lent and a carnival of it at one 

 and the same time. As soon as the sun is set, 

 feasting, dancing, music, spectacles throughout 

 the streets succeed to the ricrid abstinence of the 

 day. The jdle and useless man thus passes the 

 night amidst diversions, and sleep prevents hioi 

 from perceiving the lapse of time. 



After having: rested a few days at Rossetta I re- 

 turned to Alexandria, where I resumed my ordi- 

 nary clothing, to which it was same time before 

 I could again accustom myself. A vessel of the 

 number of those appropriated to supply caravans, 



or 



