EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 295 
individuals of that nation have been known to inflid the laft 
punifhment. A liberty of this kind has no fuch effedt on a 
Furian. 
Befendit numerus, jm6l<zque in umbone phalanges. 
The univerfality of the pradice prevents its being efteemed 
either criminal or fhameful. 
Some of the moft laborious domeftic offices in this country 
are executed by women. They not only prepare the foil and 
fow the corn, but affift in gathering it. They alone too are 
engaged in the bufmefs of grinding and converting it into bread. 
They not only prepare the food, in which (contrary to the 
practice of the Arabs) it is efteemed difgraceful for a man to 
occupy himfelf, but fetch water, wafli the apparel, and cleanfe 
the apartments. Even the clay buildings, which have been 
mentioned, are conftruded chiefly by women. It is not uncom- 
mon to fee a man on a journey, mounted idly on an afs, while 
his wife is pacing many a weary ftep on foot behind him, and 
moreover, perhaps, carrying a fupply of provifions or culinary 
utenfils. Yet it is not to be fuppofed that the man is defpotic 
in his houfe : the voice of the female has its full weight. No 
queftion of domeftic oeconomy is decided without her concur- 
rence, and, far from being wearied with the corporeal exertions 
of the day, by the time the fun declines, her memory of real or 
imaginary injuries affords matter for querulous upbraiding and 
aculeate farcafms. 
Who- 
