Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 05.djvu/456

COPSE. 394 COPTS. COPSE, or COPPICE ( OF. copeh, from coper, Yt. vou/jtr, to cut. I'ruiii OF. coup, cmip, cop, colp, Fr. coup, from ML. colpus, blow, from Lat. colnphux, Gk. iciXo^os, holaplios, butl'et. from KoMirretv, hohrplciii, to strike). A name given in England and elsewhere to a natural wood or plantation in which tlie trees are periodically cut before being allowed to attain the size of timber- trees, and where new shoots are permitted to grow from their roots or stumi)s. Some kinds of trees refuse to send up new shoots : but many — as the oak, birch^ chestnut, ash, elm, maple, aider, hazel, and willow — very readilj' do so, especially when not allowed to attain too con- siderable a size before being cut over. Copse ■woods are sometimes planted to vary and teautify the landscape', but more generally -ivith a view to profit, either owing to a great local demand for their produce, or to peculiarities of soil and situation. It often happens that, owing to scantiness of soil or to unfavorable subsoil, oaks and other trees, after growing vigorously for a number of years, are arrest- ed, and remain almost stationary in their growth. In such circumstances, it is advanta- geous to cut them over early, and to treat the plantation as a copse, the former vigor being again manifested in the yoing shoots, and the land yielding in this vay a greater return to its owner. Oak and birch are much planted as copse wood, in consequence of the demand for their bark : the trees are cut over everj- twelve to twenty-five years, dependent upon the char- acter of the soil, climate, etc. The largest pieces of the wood are used for making wheel-spokes and for other purposes of timber; the smaller portions are used for making charcoal and fire- wood. Ash is sometimes planted as copse, with a view to the employment of the wood for han- dles of implements, hurdles, hoops, etc., the wood of the ash, even when very young, being highly -alued for strength and elasticity. Chestnut copses are planted in England to supply hop-poles. Hazel is a very common copse wood, being in _great demand for making crates, etc. Besides the cultivation of difl'crent kinds of willow or osier for basket-making, in which they are cut over annually, some of the species are cultivated as copse, and cut every five, six. or seven years, for hoops, crates, etc., the species which is deemed most suitable being Salix cuprea. Salix alba is also commonly employed in copse plantations for larger willow wood. In some countries copse -ood is particularly valued for the regular sup- ply of fuel which it affords. In cutting copse wood, care is taken to dress the stumps so that water may not lodge in them and cause them to rot. The size to which the stems are allowed to attain before being cut, and the frequency of cutting, differ according to the different kinds and the uses intended. Stems more than four inches thick are generally cut ■with the saw, but smaller stems with a curved hill or axe cutting upward. COP'TIC VERSION. See Bible. COP'TIS (Xeo-Lat.. from Gk. Klnrreiv, koptein, "tn cut; referring to its divided leaves), or Gold- thread. A genus of plants of the natural order Ranunculaceap. Coptis trifoJiata, the best-known species, is a native of the north of Europe, Si- beria. Greenland, Iceland, and Xorth America. It grows in swamps, and derives its popular name from the golden-vellow color of its long, thread-like rhizomes. The rootstocks are very bitter, and have some reputation as a tonic. They also contain a yellow dye. The leaves of this plant have three wedge-shaped leaflets, and its leartess stems bear each a solitary, rather pretty, white flower, the petal-like sepals of which have yellow bases. COP'TOS. See Koptos. COPTS. The name given to the Christian descendants of the ancient inhabitants of Egi,'pt. The Arabic word Qubt is proliably nothing but a mutilation of Egi/pt (hot of Koptos. or Ja- cohifc). The present numlier of the Copts is estimated as high as 500,000 by some authorities ; other authorities give much lower figures. They are most numerous in the towns of Upper Egypt, south of Assiut. As they usually live in towns and are rarely engaged in agriculture, they pre- sent a certain contrast to the Jlohammedan peasants. They are as a rule of smaller stature than the latter, and of a lighter complexion. Most of the Copts still wear the black coat and black or blue turban which they were forced to assume in the time of the Mohammedan persecution. They are frequently goldsmiths and money-lend- ers, and they are also excellent clerks and ac- covmtants, although few of them attain to the higher governmental positions. Their character is apt to be marked by sullenness, distrust, and avarice. Although the Arabs owed the conquest of Egypt to the assistance of the Copts, they soon began to oppress them cruelly, taxing them to the utmost, hindering their religious worship, and occasionally even branding them. These persecutions reduced the numbers of the Copts very considerably. A few of them are at present adherents of the Roman Catholic Church ; still fewer of the Greek Church. The majority ad- here to the old Xational Church, which originat- ed in a schism after the rejection by the Council of Chalcedon (a.d. 451) of the monophysitic doctrine, the Egyptians not accepting the deci- sion of the council. A long and bitter struggle against the orthodox Byzantine Government arose, lasting until this was replaced by the Arab invasion. The Coptic sect is also called Jacobite, after a prominent teacher of the fifth century. The highest ecclesiastical dignitary of the !Monophysitic Church is the Patriarch of Alexandria, who at present, however, resides at Cairo. This patriarch is always chosen from the monks of the Convent of Saint Anthony. By him the iletropolitan of Abyssinia is nominated. The rest of the clergy represent orders similar to those of the Roman Catholic Church. They have twelve bishops. The monks and nuns were once very numerous, but they have in the course of time greatly diminished in number. The elaborate rites of the Church present some rather curious features — e.g. the celebration of the Lord's Supper with unleavened bread dipped in wine, and the strict division of the sanctuary or chancel from the body of the church. The Copts practice circumcision and baptize by immersion. The feasts and fasts, which are very strictly observed, are numerous. Owing to the extreme length of the service and the absence of seats, many worshipers lean on crutches which they bring with them. The Copts are very bigoted, and are especially fanatical against other Christian denominations. Of late, however, the American Presb^-terian mission has worked among them with success. At Qus it