fumigating, leaving the windows open, that the air may freely circulate, and burning all the effects of the peftiferous. Not fo the Armenians and Turks; they neither burn nor purify. The Jews purchase, at a low. price, the goods and wares which remain when the greatest part of the family are deceased, and ftore them up; which, when the plague is over, they fell at a dear rate to thofe who will purchase, and thus propagate the peftilential poison (g); again it kindles, and presently caufes new deftruction. Thus this opprobrious nation, preferring gold to life, fell the plague to Muffulmen, who purchafe it without fear, and fleep with it till: the time that, revived itfelf, it hurries them to the grave.

The European ftands aghaft with fear at the calamities it produces in Grand Cairo. According to the commiflioners of the cuftoms, this city contains from eight to nine hundred thousand inhabitants. They are fo crouded that two hundred citizens here, occupy lefs fpace than thirty at Paris. The

(s) The laft plague at Mofcow carried off two hundred thoufand people, and was brought by infected merchandize from the ftorchoufes of the Jews. 4

ftreets

freets are very narrow, and always full of people, who croud and joftle each other; and the paffenger is, fometimes, obliged to wait feveral minutes before he can make his way. One perfon with the plague will communicate it to a hundred; its progrefs is rapid, and fpreads with the violence of a conflagration, while the wind augments its flames. The Mahometans die in their houses, public fquares, and ftreets, without one of them endeavouring to fave himself. Ellmoukaddar, fay they. It is fate; yet have they the example of the Europeans, who, alone, escape the general disaster.

When the disease breaks out, the French shut up their district, and intercept all communication with the city. Arab servants,. who live without, every day bring them fuch provisions as they want, and, except bread, which does not communicate the infection, they throw what they bring through an aperture, cut in each door, into a tub of water, by which it is purified, and used without fear. These precautions give health and life to the French merchants, while furrounded with all the horrors of death. Burials, funeral proceffions, and tears, are in every ftreet;

ftreet; for when the Egyptians bury their relations and friends, there are hired mourners. who make the air refound with their lamenta

tions (b), and defolate mothers, who, groaning, cover their faces with duft, rend their cloaths, attending to the grave the child they have nurtured, and whom they foon after follow; for the Eaftern people, more pious than we are, never forfake their infected relations, but aflift them to the last moment, though almost certain their affection will be fatal. Thefe cries of defpair, and funeral pomp, fpread a general confternation, and the French tremble in their afylums. Who, indeed, could fee unmoved, or unterrified, humanity fuffering under a fuffering under a vifitation fo fearful?

All do not die who are attacked; but, I have been affured, the plague fometimes car

() It was the fame in the time of Herodotus. "When

a perfon of family dies, all the women relations bemire "their faces, and run through the city with their hair "difhevelled, their bofoms bare, and their garments tucked up; beating their breafts, and uttering loud cries." Euterpe.

The inlanders of the South Sea carry filial piety and maternal tenderness farther; deeply wounding themfelves in the face, at the death of their relations, and teftifying their grief by ftreains of blood.

ries off three hundred thousand people from Grand Cairo, Could you suppose, Sir, the example of the French, who, when the contagion is past, all leave their houses safe, and in health, would not induce the Turks to ufe like precautions? Could you imagine that, throughout the whole Ottoman empire, quarantine is not performed at one fingle port; or merits a nation like this to inhabit the country of the ancient Greeks, and Egyptians? The Turks have destroyed arts, commerce, and liberty; and fuffer, for want of laws, their wretched flaves to perish. They perpetuate the moft dreadful fcourge known to humanity, and change famous iflands, flourishing cities, and kingdoms, into de

ferts.

I have the honor to be, &c.

VOL. II.

LETTER

LETTER XIV.

ON THE VARIOUS INHABITANTS OF

EGYPT.

The Copts, the defcendants of the Egyptians, have loft the genius and fcience of their anceflors. The Arabs are the next oldest inhabitants of the country, where they have twice reigned. Those who, fubject to the Beys, cultivate their lands, have loft the good faith natural to their nation. Thofe who live under their Sheiks have preferved their honefly and virtue. The Bedouins, inhabiting the deferts, at open war with all caravans; but generous, hofpitable, and faithful to their oaths. Mechanic arts exercifed by the Chriftians of Syria, Greeks and Jews; and few real Turks in Egypt.

To M. L. M.

Grand Cairo.

I HAVE only flightly noticed the various

nations who inhabit Egypt; and it is proper, Sir, to defcribe their characters, customs,

and