The female children are very seldom taught to read or write; and not many of them, even among the higher orders, learn to say their prayers. Some of the rich engage a “sheykhah” (or learned woman) to visit the hareem daily; to teach their daughters and female slaves to say their prayers, and to recite a few chapters of the Kur-án; and sometimes to instruct them in reading and writing; but these are very rare accomplishments for females, even of the highest class in Egypt.[95] There are many schools in which girls are taught plain needlework, embroidery, etc. In families in easy circumstances a “m’allimeh,” or female teacher of such kinds of work, is often engaged to attend the girls at their own home. ----- Footnote 78: Literally, “the son of his paternal uncle.” Footnote 79: In Cairo, it is the fashion to change the first five female names here mentioned, and the last, into Khaddoogeh, ’Eiyoosheh, Ammooneh, Fattoomeh, Zennoobeh, and Neffooseh; and some other names are changed to the same “measure” as these; which measure implies, in these cases, a superior degree of dignity. Footnote 80: On an improper use of this kind of surname, see a note towards the close of Chapter IV. Footnote 81: It is customary among the peasants throughout a great part of Egypt, on the first occasion of shaving a child’s head, to slay a victim, generally a goat, at the tomb of some saint in or near their village, and to make a feast with the meat, of which their friends, and any other persons who please, partake. This is most common in Upper Egypt, and among the tribes not very long established on the banks of the Nile. Their Pagan ancestors in Arabia observed this custom, and usually gave, as alms to the poor, the weight of the hair in silver or gold. The victim is called “’akeekah,” and is offered as a ransom for the child from hell. The custom of shaving one part of a child’s head and leaving another was forbidden by the Prophet. Footnote 82: See Isaiah xlix. 22. Footnote 83: It is mentioned by Diodorus Siculus (lib. i., cap. 20), that the ancient Egyptians clothed and reared their children at a very trifling expense. Footnote 84: “The structure of Eastern government is but the enlargement of the paternal roof.” (Urquhart’s Spirit of the East, vol ii., p. 249.) Footnote 85: Among the peasants, not unfrequently at the age of twelve, thirteen, or fourteen years. Footnote 86: For a description of the ornaments here mentioned see the Appendix: the kurs and safa are also represented in a preceding engraving, page 36. Footnote 87: