Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1843-03-16
LETTERS FROM EGYPT.

| have had good opportunity to inspect the
people of Cairo, 81 to witness many of their man
ners and customs. They comprise greater va
riety, aud more undefnabe mixture of races than
have found any where else. Every shade of
color is met, from the jet Ethiopian to the fair
Turk and Georgian. The mass of the poorer
classes are thin and muscular, indicating meagre
fare and severe labor. | have seen no man in
toxicnted here, save one outcast European, who
was Keeling upon his donkey as if gloriousy fud-
'dled. | have seen no fighting, but have heard
much fierce wrangling. Very little vice of any
sort is visible The proportion of old grey-head-
ed men is unusually large. Nobody seems to
hurry here. All things move on with tranquil
course. Many lie stretched by the walls in the
highways as if idle, "because no man hath hr-
ed them" The traflickers are innumerabe, &
on petty scale The shops are mostly mere re-
cesses in the wall, opened by day entirely to the
street, and closed at night by folding doors, often
hung horizontally. A happy animated face is
a rare sight among the native population. can
not say that have seen one. OF the women Of
Cairo, have little means Of Judging The bet
ter class carefully conceal their faces with long
narrow piece Of cloth, secured by band around
their head, and a stay passing up over the nose
and forehead. Some of their eyes are bright &
piercing, but dishgured by cooring the eyelashe
black. There is remarkable degree of modes
ty in their department. Their walk is slouchlnG
and inelegant in the extreme. As to their beau
ty. Judging from all the unveiled specimens hav
seen-bless me ! they need TO veil their faces til
they get married; otherwise rney would never b.
taken by any man of taste into his house !
more ugly set of women than those OF Egypt can
} not be found, ] apprehend, among all the daugh
tiers of men, unless it be among the llottentots O
Esuuimaux. have not seen beautiful iemal
in Egypt. The American squaws are OF queenl
beauty compared TO them. But they are mos
prolific and kind mothers. The number OF IN
fants seen in the streets, in the condition OF tn
Youngest child of John Rogers wife, is astonisf
ing The babes are plump, contented, wei
fed community in Cairo for have hardly hear
one cry in the streets, (the old Coptic priest mad
5 them cry in the church with his pap,) nor have
S seen mother Furnishing her child, or exhibltin
: any Impotence towards it. ! have seen no III
governed children. All appear under quie
s firm control. have seen no small child IN I'll
t hands of a man. Woman is degraded low her
very low, in fact The great mass are mlser
C bly, clad in a slight covering of blue cotton. The
i whole dress consists Of one garment, l believ
h besides their veil All the adjoining is on Il
It part of her lord and master. His jacket, YES
Y robe, sash and CATERS, are wrought with embro
II derry and fine needle work. If she is indulge
with fine clothes at all, | apprehend it is gene
&c ally on his account and for lbs pleasure; g. s.
d is, doubtless, thus INDUCED among the rich. II
whole nature is under restraint, save in the ma
t, Hesitation of affection for her offspring. She pc
le forms the vilest drugdery. You see her in 4
r. streets, scraping up with her bare hands the {
re dure of cameIs, horses, cattle and donkeys
lp When baked into cakes by herself, she must CT
f ry the foul load on her own head. She is not a
n mitted into the Mosque to worship She pays
lie devotion to her Maker Her lords table
I'd denied TO her. She ticks or wipes from the dl
i'd of his leaving, How much, o 'ooman, dost tn
he O,oe to Christianity! Women of the U. Stat
he you know not your high privileges and blessn
The mode of carrying babes in the street is
at inform. After they are able TO sit upright, Il
all are placed astride upon the mothers left shou