"OUT of Egypt have I called my son." Through Abraham's eyes we first see the ancient Pharaohs, the earliest seat of art, science, and literature. What inducements to the Christian, the scholar, and the antiquary to visit Egypt, famous alike for the historical events of which it has been the theatre, its magnificent monuments, and balmy atmosphere.

This most interesting of lands occupies the northeastern corner of the African continent. The waters of the Mediterranean form the northern limit of its soil. Upon the south it is bounded by Nubia, upon the east and west by the Red Sea and the Libyan desert. The lowest of the Nile cataracts marks the frontier between Egypt and Nubia, where the modern town of Assouan stands beside the river's bank, and the foaming waters hurry past the temple-covered islands of Elephantine and Phila. From the shores of the Mediterranean to the first cataract, the valley of the Nile measures, in a direct line from north to south, an extent of 550 miles. But the breadth of Egypt bears only a very limited proportion to its length, in so far, that is, as the habitable portion of the country is concerned. Its breadth on the coast is 160 miles, but it gradually tapers off to a point at Cairo, a distance of 104 miles from the mouths of the Nile, and the rest of the habitable country is chiefly comprised in the narrow valley of the Nile up to Benisooéf, a distance of 83 miles. At this point it spreads to the west to form the valley of Faïoum, which borders on Lake Moris. This vale is nearly circular in its shape, 40 miles in diameter, and of great fertility and beauty.

It is estimated that the whole cultivable territory of Egypt, including its lateral valleys, is about 16,000 square miles. That portion situated between Lake Mareotis on the northwest and Lake Menzaleh on the northeast, watered by the Damietta and Rosetta mouths of the Nile, is called the Delta or Lower Egypt. That portion which includes the valley of the Nile from the apex of the Delta up to Manfaloot is called Middle Egypt. That portion which comprehends the remainder of the valley up to

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the first cataract is called the Said, or Upper Egypt. These are farther divided into 13 provinces, viz., seven for Lower Egypt, three for Middle Egypt, and three for Upper Egypt. The entire population is estimated at 5,500,000. Of this number 5,000,000 are Egyptian Arabs, 200,000 Copts or Christian Egyptians, 15,000 Turks, Bedouin Arabs 70,000; the balance Syrians, Greeks, Armenians, Jews, Mamelukes, Franks, white slaves, and negro slaves.

The great majority of the Egyptian Arabs are engaged as fellahs, or husbandmen, and their social condition is of a very low grade; they are generally poor, apathetic, and sunk alike in ignorance and indolence. Those who reside in the towns, and are engaged as artisans and shopkeepers, exhibit a higher degree of intelligence; but credulity and fondness of frivolous amusements are their chief characteristics: when not engaged in their professional or religious duties they are generally found in the coffee-houses, listening to story-tellers, or in places of public resort, where mountebanks, jugglers, serpent-charmers, and dancing-girls are performing.

The Copts dwell chiefly in towns, and are generally employed in offices of trust.

The Armenians and Jews are here, as in other parts of the East, among the most useful and industrious portions of the population, the latter acting chiefly as money-changers, jewelers, brokers, etc.; but neither of these classes are numerous, and the Jews are almost confined exclusively to Cairo and Alexandria.

The great feature of Egypt is the Nile, without which the whole country would be a desert; but throughout a course of 800 miles it has not a single tributary. You naturally expect, when you have tracked him that distance, to find the vast volume of waters shrink; but no, his breadth and strength below was all his own, and throughout that long descent he has not a single drop of water but what he brought himself. Greater than the Rhine, Rhone, or Danube, you perceive that vast body of water as steadily flowing between its uniform banks among the wild Nubiar hills as in the plain of Lower Egypt.