The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-01-30
AN EGYPTIAN NUNNERY.
secrecy Surrounding the Observation-Disclosures
Superior Who Smokes Cigarettes.

1t has often been asserted says The
st. James Gazette, that there are no
institutions as nunneries in Egypt. If
Lrue, the circumstance would be very
remarkable, in the land to which we
owe the foundation of the monastic
life of Christendom. Egypt was the
first to witness in Christian guise that
strange conception of the duties and
responsibilities of life which had long
been familiar to the east, and which
afterward made so important a factor
in the history of the western church.
In the tombs which Pharoah and his
servants had followed out for the
preservation of their bodies, the first
eremites of Christendom found fit
ting place for the attainment of their
newly found ideal of the contempla-
tive life; and from such tombs they is
sued forth now and again to spread
the knowledge of the new way of holi-
ness. Egyptian monks introduced the
monastic ''rule" into Ireland; and it is
asserted that, until the coming of Au-
gustine, the Egyptian rule was the on
ly one that obtained in these islands.
1t would have been strange if the her.
mits of Egypt, who had discovered for
| themselves a mode of escape from the
snares of the world and the flesh, had
not bethought them of similar expe-
dient for the chief enemies of their re-
pose; and we can not doubt that con-
vents for women formed part of the
old monastic institutions of Egypt.
But, to set all uncertainties at rest,
there are at present three converts in
or about Cairo itself, where Coptic
maidens are subjected to rule of life,
similar to that adopted by their broth
ers, the Coptic monks. Very few yis-
itors to Cairo are aware of this, and it
takes some perseverance to discover
their whereabouts; but Mr.. A. j. But
Ter, the author of the account of ''The
Ancient Coptic Churches of Egypt"
was successful in gaining admission to
one of these establishments, of which
he has given so interesting and pleas
ing an account that it deserves spec
ia1 mention; all the more, since his ex-
perience is such as few travellers have
enjoyed. The Convent of the Maid
ens," Deyr el-Be,aat, forms part of the
group of the monastic institutions in
cluded in the boundaries of Deyr Abb
s-Seyfeyn, among the rubbish mounds
that lie between Cairo and Fostat. No
more suitable sight could be imagined
for a nunnery. There is never a sound
of wheels or sound of the busy life
that goes on in the neighboring capi-
tai. All is tranquility and stiffness.
At the end of a dark passage stands the
well-barred door of the convent, where
knock will bring the FORTRESS to open
it; and there she will stand slyly,
with the corner of her vail drawn over
her mouth, while you present your
recommendations from the Coptic au-
thorities, Passing by the well and the
water-pitcher that lie round it, you
shaded by tall nabk tree, and mount
the two steps that lead to the manda-
rah or reception-room, with its large
wooden window screen and the usual
furniture of divans and carpets, and
the un-Arab addition of pictures of
the Virgin and Child hung round the
walls. ''Here the pleasant-spoken
mother superior invited us to take
coffee" writes Mr.. Butler. "a nun
hands us each tiny china cup resting |
in brass zarf, or holder We drink, |
making many salams to the mother |
superior, who did not disdain the for
mality of cigarette, though the nuns
are apparently not given to the prac-
tice of smoking. Against the wall OPP
posite is a large and beautiful old
bench. On this three or four damsels
are sitting or squatting, with modest
eyes downcast on their embroidery.
They are clad in the ordinary black
Arab dresses, but wear no wells. Their
wrists are circled with bangles or
bracelets of solid silver, and they wear
also necklets of silver or gold. beads
,r brass, and earrings and anklets.
Their quiet, shy, incurious manner,
md the tranquil smile about their
ips, denote admirably the peaceful
lnchorite retirement of their lives.
Under the bench lie scattered about
rocks and pitchers and millstones.
)lose by is an old brass mortar, and
lear the door an exquisitely designed
title brazier of an octagon shape, with
egs and pinnacles, its sides are finely
hased and engraved with Arabic
haracters. Charcoal embers are glow
ng in it, and on them a coffee-pot is
and one of the maidens,
neeling, fans the fire with fan Of fal-
on feathers. High over all, the nabk
rec is lazily waving its branches, {
cross which the sun is striking, and, ,
ne blue above seems deeper and !
lore dazzling than ever as the eye fol-
'ws up the somber colors of the wall. g
ut the scene varies from day to day. q
ometimes the maidens are busy with +
eedle-work, sometimes. tidying or h
leaning the house or the vessels, and q
mother time one may see group sit t
ng in the middle Of the courtyard n
fling and winnowing the corn, while s
ose by crone is grinding beans, q
rning the handle of the milestone (,
ith her left and feeding the mill con- s,
nually with her right hand. The ii
geons know when it is corn-day, ft
i'd their ceaseless cooling as they 81
'rch about the mills, and the noise d
their beating wings as they sweep N
'wn and up again, add not little to d
@ charm of the scene" ~
Soma Natural HicfOpv -