SOCIAL USAGES. 355 



alphabet. But if they are now Arabs in religion and speech, the Egyptians have 

 become Turks in their political organisation, administration, and absence of a 

 hereditary aristocracy. 



Social Usages, 



In their social institutions they have also to a large extent assimilated them- 

 selves to their Arab and Turkish rulers. More readily even than by the Turks 

 polygamy has been adopted, especially amongst the governing classes ; while mono- 

 gamy is still universal among the peasantry. Divorce is more generally practised 

 than in any other Mussulman country, and nearly half of the marriages are said 

 to be followed sooner or later by repudiation. In certain Coptic circles it is 

 customary to contract temporary alliances even for so short a period as a few 

 weeks. Yet the priests bless these unions with the same solemnity as those of a 

 permanent character. At the same time such temporary marriages may be 

 made binding, shoidd the contracting parties so desire. Cousins are frequently 

 betrothed from the cradle, and marry on arriving at the age of puberty. Adul- 

 tery is of rare occurrence in the Egyptian family. 



A curious account is given by Mr. Lawrence Oliphant of a Coptic wedding 

 witnessed by him. " The ecclesiastic who performed the ceremony occupied 

 evidently a very subordinate position in the Church, and his principe object 

 seemed to be to finish the operation as speedily as possible, and get paid for it. 

 He seated himself on a low chair in front of the happy couple, pulled a Coptic 

 prayer-book out of his breast, and gave the signal to his attendants to commence 

 operations, on which a man squatting on his heels behind the chair clashed a huge 

 pair of cymbals, and half-a-dozen others in a like attitude set up a lugubrious 

 chant in a loud nasal voice. "Whenever they paused the women ranged on the 

 benches burst forth in a shrill scream, with a quaver or idulation resembling the 

 note of the screech-owl. It had a wild barbaric effect, as from time to time it 

 broke in upon the uncouth chanting and clanging cymbals of the choir. Then 

 the priest took up his part and read the service at a racing speed. All this time 

 the men were talking and laughing loudh% babies were crying, and every now and 

 then the priest would stop, apparently to hold a little conversation with those 

 nearest to him on the topics of the day. Anything more irreverent or less like a 

 religious ceremony it would be difficult to imagine. In the midst of it all the 

 priest seized the bridegroom's left hand and put a ring on his little finger. After 

 some more chanting, reading, screeching, and general conversation he took a phial, 

 which I presumed contained holy water, and crossed the foreheads of the bride 

 and bridegroom with its contents. Again after an interval he produced a black 

 cord which he bound round the body of the bridegroom under his outer garment, 

 and tied a piece of scarlet thread round his head, and did the same to the bride, 

 who must long since have been nearly stifled. In spite of the rapidity with which 

 the service was read, what with chanting and talking at least an hour elapsed 

 before the priest seized the heads of the bride and bridegroom, pressing them 



