Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/153

 ATREKATI, OR OLD CAIRO, AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD. 123 of riclier materials. On each altar arc gencially two braids candlesticks, a taper-stand, incense-box, snnffers, hand-cross, and a few tattered MSS. books written on cotton paper. 2. Hand-crosses in use in the services made of brass or silver. 3. Processional crosses of brass, to which are affixed flags. 4. Censers of brass or silver. Some of these are of fine work and considerable antiquity. In some cases silver bells are attached to the chains. 5. Bronze curonas. 6. Ostrich eggs suspended from the roof as in ]ro]iam- medan mosques. 7. Gospel covers of silvered iron or silver gilt. These cases are sometimes of great magnificence. They are her- metically sealed, and during portions of the services are placed on a chair outside the Iconostasis. Tlieoretically, I believe, they contain the four Gospels, but one obtained by me from Dayr Teodrus, and opened at the British ^Museum, was found to contain only a silk rag and a portion of the Gospel of S. John. 8. Cups, patens, and spoons of silver for the administra- tion of the Eucharist. 9. A curved object of silver in the shape of a cross, used to place over the Consecrated Bread as it lies in the paten, and to support a square cloth of silk or cotton with which the whole is covered. 10. Four-sided wooden boxes to cover the sacred Elements when placed in the altar-groove. 11. Wooden crosses bound with faded garlands of roses. These are buried in the Church on Good Friday and ex- humed at Easter: the rose leaves beino; distributed amoniist the congregation, and by them carried home. Hose leaves are also sometimes seen scattered upon the relics of Saints. 12. Bronze basins and ewers for washing the hands at the Eucharist. These are sometimes elegant specimens of Arab art, and ornamented with enamel. 13. Staves in the form of a Tau cross, used to lean on during long-protracted services. The people thus "worship, leaning on the top of a stafi"." 14. Relics. The relics of the Saints are placed in wooden cases covered with silk or shawls, which exactly resemble very gaudy bolsters. VOL. XXIX. 8