EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 429 
The diftinilive chara£ler of a nation is not to be fought in 
great cities. The manners of thefe reciprocally approximate. 
In that part of Egypt where the character of women is unfo- 
phifticated by mixture, however ftrong their pafTions, they are 
not unchafte. This perhaps proceeds more from the influence 
of public opinion, than the fandions of municipal law. 
Among the people, as they are to take part in domeftic 
duties, their education is bounded by the ufeful. Among the 
opulent it extends to the ornamental, and many females in 
Kahira are taught to read and write. Inftead of complaining 
of their feclufion as an injury, they may fometimes be ob- 
ferved tenacious of it as a mark of refpe£t. That feclufion, 
though originating in the real or fuppofed licentioufnefs of the 
fex, is, at this time, far from being the efFed: of individual 
jealoufy, but by long adoption, become a part of bien-feance. 
** I confented to become your wife," faid a woman to her 
hufband, in my hearing, " that I might be veiled or private, 
mqflure^ and remain tranquil in my family ; not to be fent to 
the market, to meet the eyes of chalk-illah^ all the world." 
This feclufion of women has an important effect in fociety ; 
and the Orientals are accordingly, as has often been remarked, 
in a great degree ftrangers to the paffion of love. It is thought 
indecent in company to fpeak much of women, and no man 
would venture to declare, that he had a preference for a parti- 
cular woman, or intended to marry her. 
Social 
