Note 20 — Chapter VI

I saw the exterior of some of these houses on the banks of the Nile, but never had an opportunity of seeing their interior. Sir R. Wilson says, in vol. i. pp. 156, 157, "All language is insufficient to give a just idea of the misery of an Egyptian village; but those who have been in Ireland, may best suppose the degree, when an Irish hut is described as a palace, in comparison to an Arab's stye; for it can be called by no other name. Each habitation is built of mud, even the roof, and resembles in shape an oven: within is only one apartment, generally of about ten feet square. The door does not admit of a man's entering upright; but, as the bottom is dug out about two feet, when in the room an erect posture is possible. A mat, some large vessels to hold water, which is the constant occupation of the women to fetch; a pitcher made of fine porous clay, found best in Upper Egypt, near Cunei, and in which the water is kept very cool; a rice pan and coffee pot, are all the ornaments and utensils. Here, then, a whole family eat and sleep without any consideration of decency or cleanliness; being, in regard to the latter, worse even than the beasts of the field, which naturally respect their own tenements."