The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-21

that is, they have the right to sleep, as
they sit, when studying, on piece OF
mating on the floor. Their few belong
ings are slowed away in m-eaten cup
boards in the walls, each of whichis num-
bered and provided with a key. The five
daily additions prescribed by the koran
are performed at an enormous clStern.
The scene presented by the university
when teachers and pupils are absorbed in
their tasks is strange indeed. The varl-
Gus classes are composed of singularly in
cOngruous elements, for childhood and
old age, beardless youths and mature men
sit side by side and learn and recite the
same lessons, all sIaying two and fro as
necessarily as the pendulum of a clock
These motions are sometimes of a wild
and cOnvulsive character, painful TO wit
ness, and bear strong resemblance to
the ecstatic contortions and twitchings of
the deryishes. The majority of the schol-
ars, too whether old or young, are not
pleasing to look upon. for the Egyptians
are a far less handsome and less
ceanly race than the otter Arabs of
Northern Africa, nor are their costumes
nearly as picturesque. Each class con-
sists of about a dozen members, who form
a circle around the sheik or professor, by
whom they are initiated into the mystic
ries OF the alphabet or made acquitted
with page of the koran, as the case may
be- The voices are harsh and discordant,
so that lesson in progress sounds like a
dispute. The teacher tests the knowl-
edge of the pupils by questions, and they
in turn question him. These much
revered sheiks continue to teach when
aged and decrepit, though mainly as a
labor OF love, so small is the pay they re-
ceive, not from the government, but from
the grateful scholars. The blind stu
dents, who constitute large portion
OF the attendants, are taught by
sheiks suffering from a like infirm-
ity and welding a stick, with which
they occasionally belabor unsatisfactory
pupils. The fame of the university is
such as to attract students from the most
distant parts of the Mohammedan world
and with the natural result that classes
often consist of a single nationality.
Relatives and friends come to chat with
the students, and blacll-gowned and blue
yelled women wander about in search of
children of tender years who have been
lntrusted to the care of the older brother
or sister. The lessons and lectures,
which last from one and half to two
hours, 90 on all day, with intervals for
study, prayer and recreation.
Chemistry, astronomy, astrology and
the higher mathema tics, once considered
indispensable requirements for a scholar,
have for many centuries been laid aside,
ana importance Is attached only to the
study of the koran, including knowledge
of rhetoric and logic. This rotelike sys-
TEN of education naturally represses all
originality of thought. Besides the koran
a few primers and readers are in use as
text books, and states and blackboards are
employed as in other schools. Even less
reading than writing is taught, a certain
facility in learning by heart alone being
considered imperative. The study of
grammar begins the regular academic
course; then follows a course in religion
and one in the science of law. There are
three grades of sheiks, the last being sell
dom attained. Up to the year 1871 any
student who had committed the whole of
book TO memory was dignifed with the
title of sheik, and enjoyed the privilege,
accorded to the instructors only, of lean
ing againsta pillar. Since that time a
formal examination has been required
and six sheiks belonging TO different
sects Judge of the fitness of the COMPETE
tors for the position. The largest
attendance at the university was in 1876,
when the scholars numbered over II 600
and the professors 1926; yet only one year
later the number OF pupils had decreased
by more than 5000, and that of the sheiks
by near 100. The extraordinary decline
decline still continuing to be ascribed
to the ravages of war among the Moham-
medans and to the civilizing influence
brought to bear upon the Egyptians by
the English government, which is doing
much for their enl1ghtment.