ITALIANS IX EGYrT. 147 That this debased race can bring little advantage to any land is too true ; and the base character, especially of these Levant Greeks, is too Avell known, for one to desire the presence of any of this most ungrateful and faithless people.

Next to them the Italians ai-e the most numerous, and their languae:e is the prevailing one all over the Levant. But Italy seems in truth to have opened her brothels and liouses of correction, and to have set her galley-slaves at liberty, to aid in rendering Egypt's people still more rascally and corrupted. Only very few among the Italians can be counted on as honest men ; tlie most of them have been cast oif by their country, or compelled to fly from it for their crimes. We had many opportunities of knowing well these Italians, as we were compelled to live, for a considerable time, in close intercourse with many of them, and must unibrtunately express our conviction, that they are as false, CUD fling, and overbearing, where they dare show it, as they are obsequious and profuse of their friendships where this will gain them their ends. They seem unable to live without intrigue, and thev are sure to introduce discord Avherever they are sulfered to interfere. Their grudges and hatred they will keep concealed for many a year, feign friendship towards those whose ruin they have sworn, until the hour of revenge has come, and they find themsidves certain of success. All means are right to them, horrible or faithless as they may be, if they only lead to their aim. One can never be enough on his guard with them; a single word, rashly spoken, is enough for them, as from their own great cunning, and tlieir ever being on the look-out to cause the ruin of others, they, agreeably to their innate characters, put the worst construction on every thing, and turn it, as far as they can, to the speaker's detriment.

They are generally most moderate in their potations, chielly from their inborn stinginess, which often goes the length of miserliness ; but in eating, especially when they can feast at another's expense, they prove themselves real gluttons. Of the paste they call maccaroni they never tire or can devour enough, and will gulp it down in quantities that a German stomach, which is in general no very delicate one, would turn away from in 31 3