An Account of the Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians, Volume 2; Written in Egypt During the Years 1833, -34, And-35, Partly from Notes Made During a Previous Visit to That Country in the Years 1825, -26, -27, And-28 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1836 Excerpt: ...muslin bound obliquely across the front. The horse upon which he rode was one of moderate height and weight; my reason for mentioning this will presently be seen. The sheykh entered the BirMcet El-Ezbekee'yeh preceded by a very numerous procession of the durwee'shes of whom he is the chief. In the way through this place, the procession stopped at a short distance before the house of the Sheykh El-Bek'ree. Here, a considerable number of the durwee'shes and others (I am sure that there were more than sixty, but I could not count their number) laid themselves down upon the ground, side by side, as close as possible to each other, having their backs upwards, their legs extended, and their arms placed together beneath their foreheads. They incessantly muttered the word Al'lah About twelve or more durwee'shes, most without their shoes, then ran over the backs of their prostrate companions; some, beating ba'zes, or little drums, of a hemispherical form, held in the left hand; and exclaiming Al'lah and then the sheykh approached: his horse hesitated, for several minutes, to step upon the back of the first of the prostrate men; but being pulled, and urged on behind, he at length stepped upon him; and then, without apparent fear, ambled, with a high pace, over them all, led by two persons, who ran over the prostrate men; one sometimes treading on the feet; and the other, on the heads. The spectators immediately raised a long cry of "Al'la'h la' la' la' la' la'h " Not one of the men thus trampled upon by the horse seemed to be hurt; but each, the moment that the animal had passed over him, I believe there were double this number: for I think I may safely say that I saw as many as double on a subsequent occasion, at the festival of the Meara'g, which will h...