232 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



or artisans ; and the numerous Arabic nomadic tribes, or Bedouins, rove 

 through the wide expanse of the desert. They were formerly dangerous 

 robbers in the peopled districts of Egypt, but have at present been made 

 nearly harmless by the ruler of the countr3^ 



There may still live scattered through the whole country about 150,000 

 Copts. They are of medium size ; stout ; of dusky yellowish-brown com- 

 plexion ; with black hair, depressed nose, thick lips, and black, prominent, 

 but dull eyes. They have a language of their own, but usually speak the 

 Arabic ; they are sensible, prudent, grave, persevering, and are employed 

 by the Turks as writers, tax collectors, day laborers, &c. Copts live also 

 in Nubia, Abyssinia, and Cyprus, &c. Their religion is the Greek Catholic, 

 according to the principles of Eutychius. The Moslems constitute the 

 majority of the inhabitants of Egypt. They are descendants of various 

 Arabic tribes and families, who have established themselves at different 

 periods in this country ; but through intermixture with Copts and other 

 stocks, as w^ell as by reason of the manners prevailing in Egypt, the Arabic 

 character has been in a great measure obliterated. They are of medium 

 size, and mostly well proportioned ; the men muscular and strong, the 

 women beautifully formed. The skin is of a very clear yellow, and soft. 

 Among the inhabitants of Central Egypt, however, it is of a more brownish 

 yellow ; in the southern provinces dusky bronze-colored, or brown ; and 

 towards Nubia, even almost black. The face is mostly handsome, oval, 

 moderately large, yet prominent ; the black, brilliant eyes lie deep in their 

 sockets ; the nose is straight and somewhat thick ; the mouth well formed, 

 with rather thick lips ; the teeth exquisitely beautiful ; the beard usually 

 black, curly, but rather thin. The dress is that ordinarily worn by Moham- 

 medans. Men who do not belong to the poorest classes wear long trowsers, 

 and a long, full coat (shirt) of linen, calico, or woollen fabric, mostly blue 

 or brown, which is open from the throat to the middle of the body, ana 

 sometimes fastened by a white or red woollen girdle. The turban is mostly 

 a white, red, or yellow shawl, or a piece of coarse calico or muslin, wound 

 around a white or red felt cap. The trowsers are wide. Many Egyptians 

 are so poor, however, that they only wear a blue or brown coat, and 

 neither trowsers nor turban. In cold weather cloaks are worn. The shoes 

 are of red or yellow leather, or sheepskin. All Egyptians shave off the 

 hair of the head, with the exception of a small tuft upon the crown. The 

 women of the low^er classes w^ear long trowsers, and over these a white or 

 blue chemise with long wide sleeves, a simple handkerchief being the only 

 head-dress. They wear their hair in pendent braids, ornamented with 

 common metal, and pierce the lobes of their ears, and sometimes their noses, 

 to admit rings. They envelope themselves in a large veil, covering the 

 figure and face, except the eyes and a small portion of the forehead, which 

 is much disfigured by black and blue markings. Among females of distinc- 

 tion the style of dress much resembles that of the men, only it is much finer 

 and more showy, and over the chemise a light satin garment is worn. 

 When going abroad, a cloak and a long black silk veil are thrown over 

 them ; the head-dress is varied. 

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