EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 73 
The Copts are an acute and ingenious people. They are 
generally writers and accomptants. In bufinefs they accu- 
mulate money fteadily, without fhew ; long experience having 
taught them, what the other Chriftians have yet to learn, that, 
under an arbitrary government, obfcurity is fafety. Melancholic 
in their temperament, but when called into adion, induftrious 
and laborious. Otherwife, fond of their diftilled liquor, and 
rather licentious in their amours. The Copts are zealous in 
their faith, and their ecclefiaftics are numerous. 
It is remarkable, that in Egypt the children of Europeans 
feldom furvive their fecond or third year. This proceeds, it is 
likely, from the improper warmth of place and clothing, in 
which they are kept by the injudicious fondnefs of their pa- 
rents, while the children of the natives run about almoft naked, 
and enjoy a conftitution firm and vigorous. 
