An account of the manners and customs of the modern Egyptians, written in Egypt during the years 1833-1835 . d, or of ebony,or tortoise-shell, is put for each person. The bread often serves * See Mark vii. 3. * In the lioiises of some of the opulent, these utensils are of sihcr. I havealso seen some of gilt copper. ^ The width of the former is fourteen inches ; ami the height of the latter,*-he same DOMESTIC LIFE. 131 as a plate. Several dishes of tinned copper, or of china, con-taining different kinds of viands, vegetables, etc., are then i)]acedupon the tray, according to the common fashion
An account of the manners and customs of the modern Egyptians, written in Egypt during the years 1833-1835 . d, or of ebony,or tortoise-shell, is put for each person. The bread often serves * See Mark vii. 3. * In the lioiises of some of the opulent, these utensils are of sihcr. I havealso seen some of gilt copper. ^ The width of the former is fourteen inches ; ami the height of the latter,*-he same DOMESTIC LIFE. 131 as a plate. Several dishes of tinned copper, or of china, con-taining different kinds of viands, vegetables, etc., are then i)]acedupon the tray, according to the common fashion of the country ;or only one dish is put on at a time, after the Turkish mode. The persons who are to partake of the repast sit upon thefloor around the tray, each with his napkin upon his knees ;or, if the tray be placed near the edge of a low deewan, whichis often done, some of the persons may sit on the deewan, andthe others on the floor : but if the party be numerous, tlie trayis placed in the middle of the room, and they sit round it withone knee on the ground, and the other (the right) raised; and,. KURSEE AND SEENEEYEU. in this manner, as many as twelve persons may sit round a traytlirec feet wide. Each person bares his right arm to the elbow,or lucks up the hanging end of his sleeve. Before he begins toeat, he says, Bi-smi-llah (In tlie name of God).^ Tiiis isgenerally said in a low, but audible voice ; and by the masterof the house first. It is considered both as a grace and as aninvitation to any person to partake of the meal ; and when anyone is addressed with Bi smi-llah, or Tafaddal (which lattersignifies, in this case, Do me the favour to iiaitakc of the * Or Iji-snii-lhilii-r-rahinani-r-raluein (In the name of GikI, the ^;om-passionate, the Mi-rciful). 132 THE MODERN EGYPTIANS. repaiit), he must reply, if he do not accept the invitation, Heneean (or May it be productive of enjoyment, or benefit ), or use some similar expression : else it will be fearedthat an evil
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