PASCnA'S BUREAU. 197 on thoir trade at every street corner. Tliere or any other place where they may be called on to Avrite, they instantly squat down on the ground, and if they are placed on a chair or sofa to write, you see them gradually sliding off it down on to the floor ; to them that is the best and most comfortable place to exercise tlieir calling. In all Egypt they are the sole clerks and secretai-ies ; they seem to be particularly skilled in arithmetic and keeping accounts, and as far as my brother, in his small way, could judgt-, he always I'ound them most rapid and faithful accountants.

In one small room many Coptish clerks are easily lodged, and seldom less than five are reckoning up large sums or drawing up most important reports in a space where no European clerk would find room to perform the most trifling duty. Besides, when one sees how few of these Coptish writers must arrange everything and conduct all state aflairs, which are here pretty extensive and tolerably closely looked after, one must smile at the army of great and small scribes in our state arrangements. As an instance, the Pascha has Avith him on the present expedition some 10,000 soldiers, not reckoning servants, camp and baggage attendants and Ai-ab auxiliary troops, in all not less than 20,000 men. He is not only military but also civil Governor of all Bellad-Sudan ; all business and other state matters, without exception, nuist fall on him, must be cared for by him, and letters and orders sent regarding them. Daily there arrives a dromedary courier (hagahn) with the post (posta), and his jarre (leather sack), is full of letters for the Pascha who reads all of them, and generally answers most ; among them are those from the different ministers in Cairo and Alexandria, which usually require direct answers, or contain certain orders, which again must be promulgated in all the provinces. Then come reports from the extensive province of Kordofan, from the districts of Dongola, Berber, Chartum, Sennaar, Faszogl; from the Kaschefs of Kataref, Sauachinn, Atisch, Karreri, AVoUet Medine, Schendy, Gos Rajeb, Rosseres : then there is the correspondence with the Sheiks of the different Arab tribes who are tributaries, as the Ka])abish .Vi-abs on the left bank of the White Nile, up to Dongola, Kordofan, and Ilassanie, Dongola, Agricultural-Schaigies in Dongola, the AA'ar-Schap 4'