ITALIANS IN EGYPT. 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 well known, for one to desire the presence of any of this most ungrateful and faithless people.

Next to them the Italians are the most numerous, and their language is the prevailing one all over the Levant. But Italy seems in truth to have opened her brothels and houses 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 the most of them have been cast oft' 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 unfortunately express our conviction, that they are as false, cunning, 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 they are sure to introduce discord Avherever they are sutl'ered to interfere. Their grudges and hatred tliey will keep concealed for many a year, leign friendship towards those whose ruin they have sworn, until the hour of revenge has come, and they find themselves certain of success. All means are right to tliem, horrible or faithless as they niay be, if they only lead to their aim. One can never be enongii on his guard with them; a siuizle word, rashly spoken, is enougli for tlieni, 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 tiling, and turn it, as far as they can, to the speaker's detriment.

Tliey are generally most moderate in their potations, chiefly from tlieir inborn stinginess, whicli 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 >i 3