Social Life in Egypt
A description of the country and its people
Picturesque Palestine, Sinai and Egypt: social life in Egypt; a description of the country and its people
Major-General Sir Charles William Wilson, (14 March 1836 – 25 October 1905) was a British Army officer, geographer, and archaeologist.
Excerpt:
the bridegroom's house, the bride goes to the public bath, accompanied by a number of her female relations and friends. The procession generally pursues a circuitous route, for the sake of a greater display, and on leaving the house, turns to the right.
In Cairo, the bride walks under a canopy of silk, borne by four men, with one of her near female relations on each side of her. Young unmarried girls walk before her; these are preceded by the married ladies, and the procession is headed and closed by a few musicians with drums and hautboys. The bride wears a kind of pasteboard crown or cap and is completely veiled from the view of spectators.
Some Contents:
CHAPTER I.
THE TOWNSFOLK
THE TOWNSFOLK
The conservatism of the Egyptian Middle Classes. — The Cairo Tradesman.— Shops.— Streets.— By-lanes. Houses.
Courts.— Rooms.— Daily Life.— Visiting.— Hartm.— Feminine Beauty.— Position of Women in Mohammadan
Countries.— Meals. — Feasting in the Middle Ages — Use of Wine.— Poetry and Music— Hammam the Poet.
Ibrahim El-Mi5sily. — Mukhirik. — Music in the Present Day. — Modern Festivities. — Marriage. Public
Festivals. — Moharram. — Ashflra. — The Return of the Pilgrims. — The M61id En-Neby. — The Hasaneyn.
Bazaars on the Great Night of the Hasaneyn.— Other Feasts.— The Holy Carpet.— The Mahmal.— The Night
of the Drop. — Character of Egyptian Amusements.
of the Drop. — Character of Egyptian Amusements.
CHAPTER II
THE COUNTRYFOLK
THE COUNTRYFOLK
Egypt is an Agricultural Country. — Conditions of Cultivation. — The Annual Inundation.— Canals.— Corvee Labour.—
Water-engines. — Shadiifs, Sdkiyehs, and Steam pumps. — The Indebtedness of the Fellahin. — An Egyptian
Calendar. — Character of the Peasant. — Villages.— Peasants' Huts. — The Village Saint. — ^A Country Town. —
Courts of "Justice." — The Copts.— A Coptic Wedding. — Industries. — Daily Life of the Peasants.— The Life
of the Women in the Country.— The Bedawis. — The Ababdeh. — Their Dress, Tents, Food, Employment, and
Character.
Water-engines. — Shadiifs, Sdkiyehs, and Steam pumps. — The Indebtedness of the Fellahin. — An Egyptian
Calendar. — Character of the Peasant. — Villages.— Peasants' Huts. — The Village Saint. — ^A Country Town. —
Courts of "Justice." — The Copts.— A Coptic Wedding. — Industries. — Daily Life of the Peasants.— The Life
of the Women in the Country.— The Bedawis. — The Ababdeh. — Their Dress, Tents, Food, Employment, and
Character.
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