An Account of the Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1837 edition. Excerpt: ... 305 Chapter X. Superstitions. The Arabs are a very superstitious people; and none of them are more so than those of Egypt. Many of their superstitions form a part of their religion; being sanctioned by the Ckoor-a'n; and the most prominent of these is the belief in Ginn, or Genii--in the singular, Gin'nee. The Ginn are said to be of praeadamite origin, an intermediate class of beings between angels and men, created of fire, and capable of assuming the forms and material fabric of men, brutes, and monsters, and of becoming invisible at pleasure. They eat and drink, propagate their species (like, or in conjunction with, human beings), and are subject to death; though they generally live many centuries. Their principal abode is in the chain of mountains called Ckatf, which are believed to encompass the whole earth; as mentioned at the close of the preceding chapter. Some are believers in El-Isla m others are infidels. Of both these classes, the Arabs stand in great awe; and for the former, they entertain a high degree of respect. It is a common custom of this people, on pouring water, &c. on the ground, to exclaim, or mutter, destodr; that is, to ask the permission, or crave the pardon, of any gin'nee that may chance to be there: for the ginn are supposed to pervade both the solid matter of the earth and the firmament. They are also believed to inhabit rivers, ruined houses, wells, baths, ovens, and even the latrina: hence, persons, when they entsr the latter place, and when they let down a bucket into a well, or light a fire, and on other occasions, say, " Permission ' or " Permission ye blessed* "; which words, in the case of entering the latrina, they sometimes preface with a prayer for God's protection against all evil...