70 TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
The eyes and fingers are the only parts of a woman that are 
vifible in public. In general, the women of Kahira are not 
tall, but well formed. The upper ranks tolerably fair, in 
which and in fatnefs, confift the chief praifes of beauty in the 
Egyptian climate. They marry at fourteen or fifteen, and at 
twenty are palled their prime. For what reafon the natives of 
hot climates ordinarily prefer women of large perfons, I have 
not been able to difcover. Neverthelefs, the Coptic women 
have interefting features, large black eyes, and a genteel 
form. 
The population of Kahira confifts, i. of the Arabs, or 
lower clafs of Mohammedans, who form the body of the 
people, and Vv^ho pride themfelves in the name of ibn Arab, 
fon of an Arabian. 2. Of the Coptic Chriftians, who form a 
confiderable number, here and in Upper Egypt ; in the Delta 
they are rare. 3. Mamluks. I was affured that, during the 
laft eleven years, not fewer than fixteen thoufand white flaves, 
of both fexes, have been imported into Egypt. A plague had 
carried off a thoufand Mamluks, and other caufes had re- 
duced their number to about eight thoufand, fo that there 
was a great demand for the article. Still I cannot venture 
to eftlmate the number of Mamluks at more than ten or 
twelve thoufand. 4. Greeks, Syrians, and Armenians ; Mug- 
grebins, from Tripoli, Tunis, and Morocco, who have a 
quarter to themfelves, are remarkable for induftry and fru- 
gality, and are attraded hither by the great profits of trade. 
Other Mohammedans from Arabia Proper, and yet farther 
Eaft. There are very few Turks eftablilhed in Egypt, but 
many 
