16.0 EGYPT. 



times surprises the unwary traveller with his fore paws, or beats him 

 down with his tail. 



This country produces, likewise, great numbers of eagles, hawks, 

 pelicans, and water fowls of all kinds. The ibis, a creature (according 

 to Mr. Norden) somewhat resembling a duck, was deified by the an- 

 cient Egyptians for its destroying serpents and pestiferous insects. 

 They were thought to be peculiar to Egypt, but a species of them is 

 said to have been lately discovered in other parts of Africa. Ostriches 

 are common here, and are so strong, that the Arabs sometimes ride 

 upon their backs. 



The cerastes, or horned viper, inhabits the greater part of the east- 

 ern continent, especially the desert sandy parts of it. It abounds in 

 Syria, in the three Arabias, and in Africa : this is supposed to be the 

 aspic which Cleopatra employed to procure her death. Alexandria, 

 plentifully supplied by water, must then have had fruit of all kinds in 

 its gardens. The baskets of figs must have come from thence, and 

 the aspic, or cerastes, that was hid in them, from, the adjoining desert, 

 where there are plenty to this day. 



Population, inhabitants, manners, customs. ...As the population 

 of Egypt is almost confined to the banks of the Nile, and the rest of 

 the country inhabited by Arabs and other nations, we can say little 

 upon this head with precision. Mr. Browne, who was in Egypt in 

 1792, estimates its whole population at two millions and a half. It 

 seems, however, to be certain, that Egypt is at present not near so 

 populous as formerly, and that its depopulation is owing to the inhabi- 

 tants being slaves to the Turks. They are, however still very nume- 

 rous ; but what has been said of the populousness of Cairo, as if it 

 contained two millions, is a mere fiction. 



The descendants of the original Egyptians are an ill-looking, slo- 

 venly people, immersed in indolence, and are distinguished by the 

 name of Copts ; in their complexions they are rather sun-burnt than 

 •swarthy or black. Their ancestors were once Christians, and, in gene- 

 ral, they still pretend to be of that religion; but Mahommedanism is 

 the prevailing worship among the natives. Those who inhabit the 

 villages and fields, at any considerable distance from the Nile, consist 

 of Arabs, or their descendants, who are of a deep swarthy complexion: 

 •they in general live in tents, tend their flocks, and have no fixed place 

 of abode. The Turks who reside in Egypt, retain all their Ottoman 

 pride and insolence, and the Turkish habit, to distinguish themselves 

 from the Arabs and Copts, who dress very plain, their chief finery 

 being an upper garm°nt of white linen, and linen drawers ; but their 

 ordinary dress is of blue linen, with a long cloth coat, either over or 

 under it. The Christians and Arabs of the meaner kind content 

 themselves with a linen or woollen wrapper, which they fold, blanket- 

 like, round their body. The Jews wear blue leather slippers ; the 

 other natives of the country wear red, and the foreign Christians yel- 

 low. The dress of the women is tawdry and unbecoming ; but their 

 clothes are silk, when they can afford it; and such of them as are not 

 exposed to the sun, have delicate complexions and features. The 

 women are not admitted into the society of men, even at table. When 

 the i-ich are desirous of dining with one of their wives, they give her 

 previous notice, when she accordingly prepares the most delicate 

 dishes, and receives her lord with the greatest attention and respect. 

 The women of the lower class usually remain standing, or seated in a 

 corner of the room, while their husband is at dinner, and present him 



