New-York tribune., 1902-09-07
CMPLAN FARM WHICH


the Moslem conquest. Their name indicates the
antiquity OF their descent For at the beginning
oI the Christian era Greek was the language
SPOKEN IN the country, which was known by the
Hellenic name of "Aiguptios" and to this day
ghubt. that is to say, a corruption of the
Greek rendering Of the word Egypt is used in
Arabic to designate those among the natives
VINO have kept aloof throughout these many
centuries from their Moslem conquerors and
VINO have preserved intact their religion and
thelr nationality. The Coptic tongue itself is
believed to be the original Egyptian language
Written with Greek letters, it is merely used in
divine service, and While it is incouprehensi-
bic to the Coptic Iaymen who content them
serves with Arabic, t is doubtful whether one in
d huhored of the COptic clergy understands
what he is called upon to read or recite in his
liturgy
Stlh further evidence of the descent of the
Copts from the early Egyptians is furnished by
Their peculiar facial characteristics. which are
almost identical with those found in the sculpt
ured relics of the times of the Pharaohs They
4oIhl nowhere compact population. but are
scattered all over the country mostly in small
communities, and are usually found occupying
the place of clerk trader banker or money
lender Indeed, they have a sort of hereditary
taste for calculation, and are famed as race
are concerned. This has always been to such
an extent recognized in Egypt that nowadays,
as IN oden times, the Mahometan Governors
and provincial authorities have nearly always
a Copt in their employ clerk and as cashier
and collector With all that they are not
trusted, and have from time immemoriaI en-
Joyed the reputation of being, a people faith
less and deceitful as well as exceedingly suIlen.
Inc Coptic Church may be said to have been
founded by a Syrian monk known as Jacob
haradaL in the sixth century. 1t is monopoly
site that is to say, it holds that there is only
one nature in Christ. Monophysitism was con-
demned as a heresy by the Council of Chace-
don in 43l, and from that time forth attempts
were made by the byzantine Empire. to which
Egypt was then subject, to suppress it. This
had the effect of exasperatfng the Egyptian
Christians to such extent that they actually
hailed the Moslem conquerors of the Land Of
the Nile as their Hberators, and aided them in
driving out the Byzantine authorities. In recog-
milton Of these services they were treated by the
Arab invaders with liberation and friendness
that have been without parallel in any other
Christian country reduced to Moslem rule. There
is no doubt that the tradition of this peculiar
alliance between the Crescent and the Cross
l2oo years ago has exercised ever since GER
tain degree OF influence the relations be-
tween tHt 'opJS ana tne MtnOmetdn pOpuId-
tion of Egypt.
To this ancient alliance, well to the pc
culiar moral and climatic conditions of the
orient must be asCribcd the numerous customs
and practices which the Copts have in common
with their Moslern fellow citizens Thus total
ab tinence from pork circumcision, the yelling
by the women Of their faces both in public and
at home when male visitors are present are just
strictly enforced among the Copts as among
the Mahometaus. Will" their funeral customs
and many features Of their marriage ceremonies
are Identical with those of the followers of the
Prophet. Their dress, too. is similar. Thus
in Cairo. Alexandria and the more important
towns the Copts wear the fez and the stamboul-
inc while in the more remote districts they
make use Of the turban. which is. however us
uaIly Of Grayish or a light brown color instead
of white Indeed it has dingy appearance that
enviable reputation which the Copts a race
enjoy as foes Of everything that has any bear
ing upon sanitation and cleanliness.
Enthusiastically The CJpts are subject to a pa
trarch, who. although styled "of Alexandria,"
makes his headquarters at Cairo and whose
authority extends over Abyssnia. wher, h" IS
represented 10y a sort OF lrs.tte and metr'I Titan
known as the Abunu. He is invariably IN sen
from among the monks If the monastery Z s.
Anthony. situated in "a remote part of thu EaSt-
ern Desert the existence of which. like that If
several other desert tuptic monasterirs. dates
J,,,.l, tI,. earliest centuries a. the ChrI.t