198t AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

gies in Halfaia, Schcndy, Ellefun, &c. ; the Mograbins, Bischari, Schukurie, Batahanie, the tribe of Abu Ginn in Atisch, of the Dabaina, Homrahn, Baghara, Fungh, Hammech, and others. And how many secretaries and clerks has the Pascha for all this ? In all five ! Mallem Challill, with two copyists ; Sheik EfFendi, as journal keeper ; and Mustapha EfFendi, as conductor of the Turkish correspondence ; and even these have at times an idle day. Much simplified, certainly, is the writing ; inasmuch as the Pascha only gives out dictatorial orders, that must be obeyed without any further remonstrance or petitioning ; and the military and civil rule are united in one person, and not so divided and subdivided as in more civilised states. He alone issues orders,, passes all great sentences, and declares war or concludes peace ;.

thus all is shortened and simplified, and needs not the result of twenty different departments, and as many colleges or offices.

As to the religious ceremonies and usages of the Copts, whici, such as they are, are closely observed by them, — they am bigots to their own faith, and hate (independent of the feelings of slavery) all Mussulmen bitterly, as also all other Christians who hold not the same opinions with themselves ; know to a nicety all saints in their calendar, strictly keep the fast days, of which they have many ; submit to, and inflict faithfully on themselves, the penances laid on them by their father confessors, even though these extend to the leaving oft" of their favourite dramdrinkingS4 most regularly attend the churches on the Sundays, and are on these occasions more cleanly in their dresses than usual. The women sit in church in balconies with blinds. The Copts marry in their own sect, and are only allowed one wife many of them certainly keep slaves or concubines, but the children of such are not looked on as legitimate— a custom that has crept in with Islam. On the inner flat of the right Avrist each Copt has a cross (salib), which is usually cut into the flesh when he is a boy, and is ineffiiceable ; the women generally have the same on the hollow of the chin. With these marks they are sure of kind reception and hospitality in all places where Copts dwell. Many Coptish families in I'gypt have still i)rivate property, but keep it as secret as jjossible, for were the Turks to get scent of it,, they would most certainly ere long find means to deprive them of