192 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

served as sucli, and seem to have behaved -well. From them, too, they received many ameliorations of tlieir lot, and they have ever since shoAvn themselves Avell and gratefully inclined to that nation. But that the European poviers have never, as yet, done anything towards the alleviation of their lot — no very difficult task for the former,— that this Christian race has been left to be tyrannised over by the Mussulmen as rayah, — in one Avord, that they are not declared free, and a consul allowed them, is a crying injustice ; and, Avere this done, it would be seen that this race, naturally gifted with good abilities, would display many good and beautiful features. At present, they seek comfort in the belief that, as they in former days have been a great people, and ruled over Egypt, a time will come, their present slavery over, Avhen they will no longer be oppressed, but again become a great nation.

So it is VNritten in their old books of prophecy ; but much blood must yet be shed, and many more martyrs sacrificed to their reliunon, ere then. Similar prophecies of great wars and much bloodshed have the Turks also ; and, as far as I recollect, these are looked for in 1257 or 1258 of their calendar.

As far as the persons and faces of the present Copts are concerned, most travellers describe them as very ugly, and with a sulky cast of countenance ; and it is true, that many fearfully ugly faces may be found among them, principally from their diseased and lachrymose eyes : but, if we reflect on the oppressions and constant cruelties of all kinds to which they are ever exposed from the Mussulman ; on the Avretched manner of life they are compelled to lead, condemned as they are to sit hunched up all day in dark places, without fresh air day or night, ever Avriting— contined to the most Avretched nourishment, Avhich their miserable Avages alone alloAV them to buy — and, finally, their despair at their contemptible position, which leads them to niglitly debauches on the most injurious brandy — we will see that all this is not peculiarly adapted to ennoble or beautify any human race.

However, one noAv and then meets among these Copts, especially among those Avho are less exposed to misery, truly antique handsome manly countenances ; and their Avonicn have also much beauty among them. In general, the Co})ts have i-ather round than long faces, black hair, black curled Ijeards