2G STATE OF female SOCIETY IN EGYPT. 
much as the dogs can do for to draw the sledge up empty. After a 
deep snow, before it has been hardened by a frost, there is no travel- 
ling with dogs, till a road be made, which is effected by a man going 
before upon snow-shoes, whom they call brodor-skika. 
The snow-shoes are made of two thin boards separated at the mid- 
dle, bound together at the ends, and with the fore parts bent a little 
upwards. The brodor-skika having one of these shoes upon each foot, 
leaves the dogs and sledge, and going on, clears part of the road, then 
returning, leads forwsirds the dogs and sledge as far as the road is 
made ; this he must continue till he comes to some dwelling house. 
This is very laborious, and it happens so often, that no driver ever sets 
out without his snow-shoes. When a storm of driven snow surprises 
them, they seek the shelter of some wood, and stay as long as the 
tempest lasts, which is sometimes a week. If they are a large com- 
pany, they dig a place for themselves under the snow, and cover the 
entry with wood or brambles. Sometimes they hide themselves in 
caves or holes in the earth, wrapping themselves in their furs, and 
when thus covered they lie as warm as in their huts ; they only 
require a breathing place, but their clothes must not be tight girt 
about them, for then the cold is insufferable. Another danger is, 
that in the severest frost several rivers are not frozen over; and as the 
roads for the most part lie close upon the rivers, the banks being 
very steep, scarce a year passes without many being drowned. A 
disagreeable circumstance also, to those who travel in those parts, is, 
their having to pass through copses, when they run the risk of having 
their eyes scratched out, or their limbs broken ; for the dogs always 
run most violently in the worst roads, and, to free themselves, very 
often overturn their drivers. The best travelling is in March or April, 
when the snow is become hard at the top ; however, there is still this 
inconvenience attending it, that sometimes travellers are obliged to 
lodge two or three nights in desert places ; and it is difficult to pre- 
vail upon the Kamtschatkans to make a fire, either for warming them- 
selves or dressing their victuals, as they and their dogs eat dried fish, 
and find themselves so warm wrapped in their furs, that they need 
no other heat; nay, all the people of this climate bear cold so well, 
that they sleep in the open air as warm as others in a soft bed, and 
awake next morning perfectly refreshed and alert. 
State of Female Society in Egypt. 
From Mrs. Belzoni' s Account of the Women of Egypt ^ Nubia, and Syria. 
** Having heard so much of Turks and Arabs, I took the oppor- 
tunity while in Egypt, to observe the manners of the women in that 
country. On our arrival at Assouan, I went to visit the w'omen of 
the aga of that place. I was met at the door by himself, his wife, his 
sister, her husband, two young children, three old women uglier than 
Macbeth’s witches, and an old negro slave. 1 entered into a small 
yard, and a deal chair was brought me. The aga w'ent out, and the 
women then stood round me, while the husband of the aga’s sister 
made coffee and prepared a pipe, which he presented me, not allowing 
