58 TRAVELS TO THEEAST. 
thirty camels laden with prefents. On fuch occa- 
fions, all thofe that depend on him mull Ihew their 
duty with fome prefents, which confift in camels, 
ffeep, oxen, or fomething of the kind that belongs 
to their eflate. 
About noon on the 2 2d of June, appeared fome 
Egyptian dancers under the windows of the French 
houfe, where I had an opportunity of feeing them. 
Each.country hath its peculiar pleafures, which from 
times immemorial have been adapted to the people’s 
difpofitions. The Egyptians, inclined to a loofe life, 
are pleafed with the tricks and inventions of thefe 
common dancers, as they are entirely adapted to ex- 
cite fenfual deCres. It is furprifing, that in a country 
where all other women are locked up and guarded, 
thefe fhould be permitted by the government, not 
only to Ihew themfelves to the people, but even to 
appear in the commoneft, and, as we Europeans 
fhould think, mod unbecoming habits and gellures. 
Thofe that follow this practice, and by it acquire 
money, are young country laffes, and fometimes 
married women, all dark-brown, and little better 
than naked, being dreffed in a blue linnen garment 
adorned with different kinds of bells, together with 
a parcel of hollow filver machines which ring when 
they move themfelves, and make part of the mufic 
that ferves them in their folly. They were veiled 
according to the cuftom of the country, with a cover- 
ing which only left an opening for the eyes, and 
hang loofe over the face, which they adorned with 
all forts of tinkling pieces of brafs, filver, and even 
gold if they could afford it. They feldom appeared 
barefaced, but made no fcruple to difclofe thofe 
parts which our European ladies never expofe to 
public view, though they Ihew their faces without 
bluffing. It is a cuftom introduced in later times, 
which 
