Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/425

 bestows on his partner in life. His dwelling is a: mere mud hut, a heap of clods dug out of the neighbouring ditch. His only dress is a pair of drawers, a blue cotton shirt, and the tarbush or felt cap. A few cakes of durrah, to which the wealthy classes add beans, lentils, onions, and dates, suffice to nourish him. Peace

he loves above all things, and in no other country where the conscription has been introduced are cases of voluntary mutilation of such frequent occurrence, the peasantry making themselves cripples, maimed of one hand, or blind of an eye, in order to escape military service.

The Egyptian is generally of a simple, kindly disposition, cheerful, obliging,