File:The world's inhabitants; or, Mankind, animals, and plants; being a popular account of the races and nations of mankind, past and present, and the animals and plants inhabiting the great continents and (14598181439).jpg

Identifier: worldsinhabitant00bett (find matches)
Title: The world's inhabitants; or, Mankind, animals, and plants; being a popular account of the races and nations of mankind, past and present, and the animals and plants inhabiting the great continents and principal islands
Year: 1888 (1880s)
Authors: Bettany, G. T. (George Thomas), 1850-1891
Subjects: Civilization Culture
Publisher: London Ward, Lock
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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T)lv distinct religions—the Mahometans and the CopticThe fellahs. . . Christians. The Mahometans constitute seven-eighths of the population; and i^^ is astonishing how considerably they resemble theancient Egyptians, in spite of the repeated introduction of Arabs andSemites of other types. And, following the best opinion, we must regardthe mass of the Egyptians as representing the ancient people, with adash of negro and a considerable mixture of Arab blood. The trueEgyptians are the fellaheen, or peasants. They are of medium height,inclining to talhiess, robust and well-made, slim and lithe, capable ofgreat endurance. They have oval faces, broad brows, brown com-plexions, and brilliant black eyes, often kept half-closed in the brilliantsunhght; a well-formed mouth, with rather full lips and beautiful teeth ;and a straight nose with rather wide nostrils. The head is usually.shaved, except a tuft on the top. The moustache and beard, thoughunshaven, do not grow long. THE EGYPTIANS. 537
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EGYPTIAN LADY ON A JOURNEY. I 538 THE INHABITANTS OF AFRICA. Egyptian women mature early, and many girls are mothers atfourteen; but they have a correspondingly early decline into ugliness.Egyptian The complexions of the women are not so dark as those of thewomen, men, owing to their less exposure to the sun and the extent towhich they go veiled. The ej^es, says Mr. Lane (Modern Egyptians),with very few exceptions are black, large, and of a long almond form,with long beautiful lashes, and an exquisitely soft bewitching expression—eyes more beautiful can hardly be conceived. Few lovelier women,says Mr. Stanley Lane-Poole, can be seen than the Egyptian peasant-giri of sixteen returning from her usual errand of fetching water fromthe river or the village well; her lithe form suffers no ungainly strainfrom the weight of the great Avater-jar she carries on her head,—^balancedso securely that it scarcely needs the steadying of the shapely brown arm,—and she walks erect with anoble car

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