Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 7.djvu/747

MODERN INHABITANTS.] E G Y P T 723 to the bank of the river, or the shore of a sacred lake, which was to be crossed in order to reach the place of burial. A sacred boat carrying the mummy, attended by mourners, was towed by another boat, and followed by others contain ing mourners, offerings, and all things necessary for the occasion (Anc. Eg., pi. 83-86). On reaching the tomb the sarcophagus was placed in a sepulchral chamber, usually at the bottom of a pit, and offerings for the welfare of the deceased were made in a chapel in the upper part of the tomb. One tomb sufficed for each family, and sometimes for some generations ; and in the case of the less wealthy, many were buried in the sepulchral chambers of a single pit, above which was no structure or grotto. It ha3 been already noticed that, according to Diodorus, every one was judged by a legal tribunal before the right of burial was permitted, and of this there may be a survival in the practice of the modern Egyptians, which prescribes that a witness muyt answer for the good character of the deceased before his burial (Modern Egyptians, ch. xxviii.). After the burial, offerings were made at stated times each year by the family, and the chief in scription begged the passer-by to say a prayer for the good of the inhabitant of the tomb. These customs led to many abuses. The maintenance of the costly prescribed offerings laust have been most inconvenient, and for this and other purposes the burial-grounds were peopled by a tribe of hungry professional embalmers and lower priests, who made their living not only by their profession but also by fraud and even theft. Yet we must admire the generosity with which the Egyptians lavished their riches upon the most tender form of affection. They were repaid not merely by a natural satisfaction, but also by the wholesome recognition that there are unselfish and unproductive uses for wealth. MODERN INHABITANTS. [Mr Lane in 1834 estimated the population of Egypt at less than 2,000,000, and gave the following numbers p.s nearly those of the several classes of which it is mainly composed : Muslim Egyptians (fellaheen or peasants, and towns people) 1,750,000 Christian Egyptians (Copts) 150,800 Osmanlees, or Turks 10, 000 Syrians 5,000 Greeks 5.000 Armenian s 2,000 Jews 5,000 the remainder, exclusive of the Arabs of the desert, num bering about 70,000 (Mod. Eg., Introduction). The last official return (1876) estimates the population of the various provinces as follows : Egypt Proper (Upper, Middle, nnd Lower 1 ) 5,252,000 Nl >t>ia ; 1,000,000 Ethiopia 5,000,000 Darfoor, &c 5,700,000 Of the present population of Egypt, the Muslims con stitute seven-eighths, and nearly four-fifths of that of the metropolis ; and to this class, and more particularly to the people of Cairo, the following sketch of personal characteristics and customs will relate, save in some few cases, which will be distinguished from the rest. In describing the personal characteristics of this remark able people, Mr Lane, in the first chapter of The Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians (which was written just before European influence was felt in the country, and still deservedly ranks as the only book of authority on the subject), says : " In general the Muslim Egyptians attain the height of about 5 feet 8 or 5 feet 9 inches. Most of the children under 9 or 10 years of age have spare limbs and a distended abdomen; but as they grow up their forms rapidly improve. In mature age most of them are remarkably well-proportioned; the men muscular and robust; the women very beautifully formed, and plump; and neither sex is too fat. I have nevei seen corpulent persons among them, except ing a few in the metropolis and other towns, rendered so by a life of inactivity. In Cairo, and throughout the northern provinces, those who have not been much exposed to the sun Lave a yellowish but very clear complexion, and soft skin; the rest are of a Consider ably darker and coarser complexion. The people of Middle Egypt are of a more tawny colour, and those of the more southern pro vinces are of a deep bronze, or brown complexion darkest towards Kubia, where the climate is hottest. In general the countenance of the Muslim Egyptians (I here speak of the men) is of a line oval form: the forehead of moderate size, seldom high, but generally prominent; the eyes are deep sunk, black and brilliant; the nose is straight, but rather thick; the mouth well-formed; the lips are rather full than otherwise; the teeth particularly beautiful; the beard is commonly black and curly, but scanty. 1 have seen very few individuals of this race with grey eyes; or rather, few persons supposed to be of this race; for I am inclined to think them the offspring of Arab women by Turks, or other foreigners. The Fellaheen, from constant exposure to the sun, have a habit of half- shutting their eyes; this is also characteristic of the Bedawees. Great numbers of the Egyptians are blind in one or both eyes. They generally sliave that part of the cheek which is above the lower jaw, and likewise a small space under the lower lip, leaving, however, the hairs which grow in the middle under the, mouth; or, instead of shaving these parts, they pluck out the hair. They also shave a part of the beard under the chin. Very few shave the rest of their beards, and none their moustache. The former they suffer to grow to the length of about a hand s-breadth below the chin (such at least is the general rule, and such was the custom of the Prophet), and their moustache they do not allow to become so long as to incommode them in eating and drinking. The practice of dyeing the beard is not common; for a grey beard is much respected. The Egyptians shave all the rest of the hair, or leave only a small tuft (called shooslieh ) upon the crown of the bead From the age of about 14 to that of 18 or 20 [the women], are generally models of beauty in body and limbs; and in countenance most of them are pleasing, and many exceedingly lovely; but soon after they have attained their perfect growth, they rapidly decline." The relaxing nature of the climate, and other predisposing causes, contribute to render many of them absolutely ugly at the age of 40. "In the Egyptian females the forms of womanhood begin to develop themselves about the ninth and tenth year: at the age of 15 or 16 they generally attain their highest degree of perfection. With regard to their complexions, the same remarks apply to tbem as to the men, with only this difference, that their faces, being gene rally veiled when they go abroad, are not quite so much tanned as those of the men. They are characterized, like the men, by a fine oval countenance, though in some instances it is rather broad. The eyes, with very few exceptions, are black, large, and of a long almond-form, with long and beautiful lashes, and an exquisitely soft, bewitching expression eyes more beautiful can hardly bo conceived: their charming effect is much heightened by the con cealment of the other features (however pleasing the latter may be), and is rendered still more striking by a practice universal among the females of the higher and middle classes, and very common among those of the lower orders, which is that of blackening the edge of the eyelids both above and below the eye, with a black powder called kohl. " Both sexes, but especially the women, tattoo several parts of the person, and the latter stain their hands and feet with the red dye of the hinne. The dress of the men of the upper and middle classes consists of cotton drawers, and a cotton or silk shirt with very wide sleeves. Above these are generally worn a waistcoat without sleeves, and a long vest of silk, called kaftan, which has hanging sleeves, and reaches nearly to the ankles. The kaftan is confined by the girdle, which is a silk scarf, or cashmere or other woollen shawl. Over all is worn a long cloth robe, the gibbeh (or jubbeh) somewhat resembling the kaftan in shape, but having shorter sleeves, and being open in front. The dress of the lower orders is the shirt and drawers, and waistcoat, with an outer shirt of blue cotton or brown woollen stuff ; some wear a kaftan. The head-dress of all is the turban w r ound round a skull cap. This cap is usually the red cloth fez, or tarboosh, but the very poor wear one of coarse brown felt, and are often without the turban. Many professions and religions, &c., are distinguished by the shape and colour of the turban, and various classes, and particularly servants, are

marked by the form and colour of their shoes ; but the poor