A custom mentioned by Strabo (p. 824), as prevailing among the Egyptians in his time, is still universally practised in every part of Egypt, both by the Muslims and Copts, excepting in Alexandria and perhaps a few other places on the shore of the Mediterranean: it is also common, if not equally prevalent, in Arabia. Reland, who imperfectly describes this custom (De Religione Mohammedica, p. 75, edit. 1717), remarks its being mentioned likewise by Galen. Footnote 88: See the Chapter on music. Footnote 89: This term is a corruption of “fakeeh,” which latter appellation is generally given in Egypt only to a person deeply versed in religion and law; a man who merely recites the Kur-án, etc., professionally, or who teaches others to do so, being commonly called a “fikee.” Footnote 90: Friday, being the sabbath of the Muslims, is a holiday to the school-boys and fikee. Footnote 91: The cubit employed in measuring Egyptian cloths is equal to twenty-two inches and two-thirds. Footnote 92: The usual punishment is beating on the soles of the feet with a palm-stick. Footnote 93: The Arabic letters are often used as numerals. Footnote 94: I have since found an anecdote almost exactly similar to the above in the Cairo edition of the “Thousand and One Nights:” therefore either my informant’s account is not strictly true, or the man alluded to by him was, in the main, an imitator: the latter is not improbable, as I have been credibly informed of several similar imitations, and of one which I know to be a fact. Footnote 95: The young daughters of persons of the middle classes are sometimes instructed with the boys in a public school; but they are usually veiled, and hold no intercourse with the boys. I have often seen a well-dressed girl reading the Kur-án in a boys’ school. CHAPTER III. RELIGION AND LAWS. As the most important branch of their education, and the main foundation of their manners and customs, the religion and laws of the people who are the subject of these pages must be well understood—not only in their general principles, but in many minor points—before we can proceed to consider their social condition and habits in the state of manhood.