TUKKISII ETIQUETTE. IGl as well as their younger bi-otlnr, Edris Wood Adlan, after Aburow the most powerful ruler in the peninsula, must sit on the ground till it pleases the large and fat Nasru to assign them better places.

There is much ceremony, too, about seats and sitting. No captain ever sits before the Pascha, and he even lets most respectable Coptish writers, who hold high civil posts, remain standing in his presence. In the room of any one of higher rank, seats are not taken at pleasure, nor wlien sitting, is any posture to be assumed at will ; the inferior sits in a most uncomfortable and wearying posture, his legs turned back below hiia till he receives permission to assume a more agreeable posture. No captain dare sit down before his major, till he has been expressly asked to do so by him, and then he must select a mat or carpet on tlie ground. A sign of salutation is only, in general, made after tlie superior has set tlie example, and no one speaks, not even the higlier officers, till they have been addressed by the great man. The Turkish language is the prevailing one, and Turks speak only Turkish, even to Franks, although these may only understand Arabic. Thus Turkish is the fashionable language. Old Mehemet Ali, who Avell understands Arabic, from having been so long in those lands, acts as if he knew not a word of it ; all must be translated by an intei'preter, nay, it is said, he has I'orbidden his children to learn it. But it is inconceivable why the educated part of Egypt's people, Copts and others, do not understand Turkish, since, for centuries, they have been in close intercourse with the Turks. Among many thousands of the country people, liardly one understands Turkish. It were, indeed, a most easy matter for the Coptish writers to learn Turkish; but their laziness and indilference to all that concerns their race, and their ignorance of all they are not compelled to know, easily explain tiieir not picking up tluU langiuige. However, there may also be many, especially among the Copts, who knowing i: would not venture to speak it before the Turks, from fear, tliat thev not being Turks, would pay dear lor having learnt the ruler's language, and as the Turks would ])r()])ably imagine that by knowing it they had learnt and would betray their secrets.

From the preponderance of Turkish influence in all things, many evils arise, especially among the military. 'Hie higher of-X 2