EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 85 
the peculiar motions and arts for which Martial has remarked 
the Egyptians as celebrated, 
Nequitias Tellus fcit dare nulla magis. 
Their forms are elegant, their faces rather expreflive than 
beautiful. 
The following amufements are chiefly exhibited during the 
Ramadan : 
After breaking the faft by fome refrefhments, the prayer 
commences, which is a long one. The principal meal then 
has place, and then the arrival of ftrangers to pay their refpeds 
to the Bey, or to tranfadl bufmefs, occupies fome time. The 
amufements then commence. The Gerid and various other 
exercifes are pradifed by day-light, but at night wreftling is 
commonly the firft. In this the lower clafs of people in Egypt 
fhew confiderable vigour and adivity at leaft, though perhaps 
not confummate fkill. When the Bey and his company are 
tired of thefe exercifes, fmgers (male) appear. The plaintive 
vocal mufic of Kahira, and the agreeable fenfations occafioned 
by it, have been the fubjed of remark to many who have de- 
fcribed Egypt. Then appear the ftory-tellers, who with won- 
derful readinefs and rapidity of utterance go through the roman- 
tic adventures refembling the 'Thoufcmd and One Nights^ of which 
the varieties are innumerable. Thefe are fucceeded by wits, 
who with droll and unexpeded fimilies often fet the company 
in fits of laughter. The adverfary brings fome fmiilitude equally 
unexpeded. — Whoever holds out the longeft is rewarded as 
conqueror. — " Methel Sire" — Let us wreflle in fimilies the 
other anfwers, " Ma Methel-lak" — " What is your fimilitude ?" 
" You 
