The principal and best fruits of Egypt are dates, grapes, oranges and citrons of various kinds, common figs, sycamore-figs, prickly pears, pomegranates, bananas, and a great variety of melons. From this enumeration, it appears that there are not many good fruits in this country. Footnote 259: Or, “El-hamdu li-lláhi rabbi-l-’álameen” (Praise be to God, the Lord of all creatures). Footnote 260: It is deemed highly improper to rise during a meal, even from respect to a superior who may approach. It has been mentioned before, that the Prophet forbade his followers to rise while eating, or when about to eat, even if the time of prayer arrived. Footnote 261: The ancient Egyptians used drinking-cups of brass. (Herodotus, lib. ii. cap. 37.) Footnote 262: “Amyris kafal” of Forskal. An Arabian tree. Footnote 263: Baron Hammer-Purgstall has remarked, that two other vessels should have been mentioned here (in the first edition of this work), more especially because their names have been adopted in European languages: they are the “garrah” or “jarrah,” a water-jar or pitcher, and the “demigán” or “demiján,” a large bottle, “la dame-jeanne.” Footnote 264: “Allah yehenneek” (for “yuhenneek”). Footnote 265: “Nebeed” (more properly, “nebeedh”), or “mudám.” Footnote 266: Called simply “sharbát,” or “sharbát sukkar,” or only “sukkar.” Footnote 267: “Leymoonáteh,” or “sharáb el-leymoon.” Footnote 268: Called “zebeeb.” This name is also given to an intoxicating conserve. Footnote 269: A description of the shops, and a further account of the tradesmen of Cairo, will be given in another chapter, on Industry. Footnote 270: “Námooseeyeh.” It is composed of muslin, or linen of an open texture, or crape, and forms a close canopy. Footnote 271: In the Introduction to this work. Footnote 272: “The habit of irregular remuneration, in lieu of fixed, invariable, and _actionable_ wages, produces a difference of mental habits, as regards servants and masters, that I am sure is not to be understood through description; and yet every day you see Europeans, those men who affect such comprehensive views and such powers of logic, reviling the habit of giving presents, not perceiving that this practice leads to the preservation of those interesting domestic relations which I conceive to be the greatest lesson, political and moral, that is presented to us by the Eastern world.”—Urquhart’s Spirit of the East, vol. ii. p. 402. Footnote 273: See Exodus, xxii. 26, 27. ---------------------------- CHAPTER VI. DOMESTIC LIFE—_continued_. Quitting the lower apartments, where we have been long detained, I must enter upon a more presumptuous office than I have yet undertaken, which is that of a guide to the “Hareem:”[274] but first I must give some account of marriage, and the marriage-ceremonies.