IG-k AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

often have to serve it to the superiors, fill their pipes, and perform many such unbecoming and degrading offices.

As far as mind and abilities are concerned, we have from experience fully convinced ourselves that the Egyptian or Arab, in general, far exceeds the Turk ; and he is the one to be employed in all labour, mental or bodily, provided the stick is at hand,—this remedium omnipotens for all these races. He more readily comprehends everything, and knows how to execute it ; i. e., if he is under the eve of another whom he fears. To execute and labour, or work by and of himself, he has not the power, as, if not watched, he falls back into his laziness and for niente, and lets matters go as they will: "Allah kerim" (God is merciful) answers for all. This is visible in all Mehemet Ali's new institutions and arrangements, that cost him so much money. The manufactories Avhile under the charge of Franks brought some profit, and tiie valuable machinery was, then at least, kept in order, and in some cases even improved on. But now, when the direction is left to Arabs, the gains have become much less, and every day the machinery is becoming more broken and useless ; for they seldom know how, and when they do never think it necessary, to perform any repairs on it, till at last all goes to wreck and ruin, and restoration or repair is impossible. It is the hereditary fault of Turk and Arab to put off every tiling till the last instant, and often the slightest effort of activity is refused when it would avert some serious mischance ; and so it is with government— only when tlie accident has occurred, come orders for the future, and these are no sooner given than they are again forgotten. The greatest injury, however, to all the factories arises from the dust, which is so fine and penetrating, that it finds its way into the most delicate parts of all machineiy, even into pocket watches, and ruins everything. Up to the present time, though a high reward has been offered, no one has succeeded in remedying or preventing this migiity evil, and the best fitting double windows have j)roved as useless, as all other defences attempted against the subtle enemy.

As the learning and understanding of the Turks is far less than that of the Egyptians, either because they want the natural power or from their pride and laziness, the teacher of the school (mektab) has three times as much trouble with them as