physical culture. Your feet kick about helplessly in the emptiness below, and the arms are of less service than the muscles developed by long subterranean training in the back, chest, and neck. The unusual lubrication caused by the inrush of water in the adjoining fissures was, on the whole, rather against us. From all sides came the noise of new streams; but as we approached the 380-foot way we recognised that the most persistent note in the dismal symphony came from that that quarter. Our hopes had melted away by the time we crawled out from the Traverse; and the moment my head came from under the low arch, out went our lights, and I found myself in a tornado of waters. The little stream had become a howling torrent; the space above it filled with the rush of foam and the downpour from the roof. Nothing could live in the 380-foot way; and, convinced that we were out off from our fellow-creatures on the surface, we crawled back along the Traverse to where the rest of the party had made their way up from the Canyon. A keen discussion now took place. T. declared that it was pure waste of time to risk another attempt from the Boulder Chamber, and proposed that we should take refuge and watch events in the Lunch Hole, a sheltered nook near the 380-foot way, where we might bivouac in moderate security until the flood abated. Our military friends were con fident that with 15,000 men encamped overhead, a rescue party would soon be on its way down, strong enough to overcome any obstacles. Neither human effort nor the resources of science would be spared to save the valuable lives of four King's officers. For our part, we knew very well that the Ruckle of Boulders, through which succour would have to come, was now a mere network of siphons and culverts, completely glutted with rushing water. They assured us that a regiment would certainly be turned out shortly to build 8 dam. Knowing the ungovernable nature of limestone streams, we held our peace, fervently hoping that nothing of the sort would be attempted-we did not want the materials of a big dam hurled on our heads, and as the swallet was the only exit from the drainage area above, we knew that any obstruction would have to go sooner or later. There was, unfortunately, nowhere to divert the water. About the hour of evening mess in camp, we made ready for what seemed the inevitable, by pooling our provisions, serving out a small ration, and leaving enough to last two days with careful husbandry. There was a fair quantity of carbide left, and we put out all illuminants but two acetylenes,-half a stone of candles which remained might come in useful for a double purpose. The experienced cave-men had on stout overalls, with woollen sweaters underneath; but the other four had some in old khaki uniforms, which now scarcely hung together, and they were not too well protected against the depressing chilliness of the cave. A dry spot was impossible to find, and the draught from the flooded passages was piercing. In fact, we did not fear that we should drown so long as we kept away from the main channels, or that we should die of starvation; but the risk from exposure was serious. Crouched on the mud beneath the incessant drizzle, drenched to the skin and shivering with cold, we remembered, as we hugged our acetylene lamps to extract a little warmth, that several men in the camp had died of pneumonia during the last few days, doubtless under conditions not to be compared with ours. The long journey to the 380foot way and the Lunch Hole was more tedious than ever, with nine tired men orawling on each other's heels. Some two hours had elapsed since I and my fellow-seout had returned; and now as we approached it again we seemed to detect a difference of key in the sound of the torrent. Had the flood gone down a bit already? Much encouraged, I pushed on in front, and sure enough an astonishing change had taken place. The water had shrunk to a tithe of its former volume, and was not so very much bigger than the normal. There was a general ory of relief. But the thought incontinently struck me that our friends had guessed aright, and that the authorities must have had a dam built. If so, it behoved us to get out of harm's way speedily, in case anything gave. We were now on the opposite side of the great Ruckle of Boulders to the route from the Canyon through the Boulder Chamber, and the waterfall on this side was for the time being, at all events, in a manageable condition. T. and I scrambled up through the water without much trouble, and got the rest of the party up safely on the rope. Half an hour later we emerged from the mouth of the swallet beneath a clear, star-sown sky, and found most of the regimental staff waiting for us with a variety of restoratives and a pressing invitation to submit to further treatment in camp. Their comrades looked anything but a credit to our reputation as expert guides. They were in rags from head to foot, muddied up to the eyes, squelching dirty water at every movement, and feverishly anxious to reach their quarters with as little observation as possible. All the afternoon and evening there had been a deluge, the heaviest rainfall so it was recorded-that had been known on Mendip for thirty years; the Eastwater brook had rapidly become a river, and for hours had been pouring like a mill-race straight into the swallet. The artificial shaft had been submerged under a swirling pool. There had been great anxiety as to hills. our fate, and half a battalion ance along the foot of the Two men tried a fortnight later to recover the rope which we had left in the Boulder Chamber, but failed to get through. A second attempt was made later on with more success; but the boulders in the great Ruckle had been left by the flood in a threatening state, and big cavities had opened in the chamber below. Their journey to and fro had been so risky that it was decided to fire a charge among the boulders, in the hope of shifting those most dangerously poised. A bomb was exploded with inconsiderable results, but no one has been in any distance since. The next visit to the bottom of Eastwater, if it is still possible to reach it, will be of unusual interest. ERNEST A. BAKER. < COPTS AND MOSLEMS IN EGYPT. countants. They generally have incomes which range from £100 to £500 per annum ; they dress as Europeans, speak at least one European language, and are wont to congregate in cafés in the manner of bourgeois French. They are not more strictly religious than the Muhammedans; they are quite as prone as their Moslem countrymen to political intrigue; and the making of money, as in the case of all Egyptians, is is Egyptians, is their highest interest. While the Coptic peasantry live on fairly good terms with the Moslem fellahîn, the city-bred Copts are constantly wrangling with their Muhammedan colleagues, though they are friendly enough on the surface. The difference in religion between the two factions forms an insuperable barrier which is not likely ever to be broken down. THE Copts, or Egyptian Christians, constitute about one-twentieth part of the native population of Egypt. The majority of them live in Upper Egypt, a considerable number are found in Cairo and Alexandria, but there are extremely few resident in the Delta. In the Upper Egyptian villages they often dwell side by side with the Moslem peasantry, usually, of course, in an extreme minority; but here and there an entire village is Coptic. In the cities, such as Assiout, Akhmin, and Girgeh, the Copts form a considerable part of the shopkeeping and middle classes, while almost all the wealthy families are of that community. Palatial houses are erected for these latter in a florid European style, and are sumptuously furnished with gilt and plush chairs and sofas, rich carpets, brocade curtains, and many mirrors. They drive about the town in smart carriages; they dress in the height of European fashion; they speak English or French fluently, as well as their native Arabic; they take their meals in the European manner, usually to the strains of a brass band reproduced upon the gramophone; and, in a word, they have an air of bedizened opulence about them which is suggestive of the most adroit handling of stocks and shares and landed property. In Cairo and Alexandria the resident Copts are mainly employed in Government offices, or as doctors, solicitors, and ac The name Copt has a common origin with that of Egypt itself, being derived from the Greek AlyUTTOS; and they may claim, thus, to be truer Egyptians, in name at all events, than their Moslem brothers. This fact has led to the very general belief that the Copts represent the Ancient Egyptians, while the Moslems are the descendants of those Arab conquerors who imposed Muhammedanism on the country in the seventh century. One constantly hears the Egyptian fellahîn spoken of as Arabs. This is totally incorrect. The Copts and Moslems in Egypt are anthropologically similar, as has been shown conclusively in recent years: they are both descendants of the Ancient Egyptians. Neither of them have any Arabic blood whatsoever, for it would appear that the Moslem conquest introduced no new features into the Egyptian race. The Copts may not thus claim to be of purer descent than the Moslems, as they often do; nor may the Moslems pride themselves on being the conquering race, as they are wont to deolare. The difference between these two sections of the population is purely attitudinal. For some centuries previous to the Muhammedan invasion Egypt had been a Christian country, but when the great wave of Islam broke over the land the majority of the inhabitants adopted the new creed, some from conviction, others from fear. A minority, consisting of those people who are now known as Copts, alone stood firm in the old faith, and through the ensuing centuries held to their religion with surprising tenacity. But while the persecution to which they were often subjected must have hardened them in bearing sufferings, and probably even ennobled them ethically, it had the effect of introducing into their superficial character something of furtiveness and stealth. The Copts, while as proud as the Moslems, became less dominant in manner; and as the years went by a certain air of servility developed. Ages of subserviency made them obsequious; they became unotuous and somewhat sycophantic, though there is no reason to suppose that their actual temperament was altered under the continuous strain. Their precarious existence forced them to depart from the truth on so many occasions that lying became somewhat more habitual with them than it was with the Moslems. In the Middle Ages the Copts were not permitted to walk upon the pavement in the streets of the cities, but were obliged to make their way as best they could in the gutter. It would be absurd to suppose that this kind of treatment would have no effect upon their manners, even if it had none upon their real character. Were a Copt to be brought up from childhood in a Moslem family he would, without doubt, be indistinguishable from his foster-brothers; but when in his youth he is educated amongst persons who are conscious of being a minority living on suffrance, he cannot fail to develop certain mannerisms and characteristics which mark him at once as a Copt. Another difference between the two sects developed. Muhammedanism taught the Moslem that it was a sin to let money out at interest, and to this day a money-lending Muhammedan is an extreme rarity. When a Moslem puts his money in a bank he usually refuses to take interest upon it; and the petty investor only takes his 2 per cent from the Postal Savings Bank after receiving a statement which declares that his money is placed in dividend - paying concerns, and has not been merely put out at interest. |