Books
Edward William Lane

An Account of The Manners and Customs of The Modern Egyptians, Volume 1

It is now more than one hundred years since Lane gave to the world his admirable work on the Egyptians. It has become a classic, and no writer has given us such unsurpassed descriptions of the manners and customs of the people. Lane went to Egypt in 1825, and adopting the native customs, and with a good knowledge of Arabic, he mingled with the people, living at one time in a tomb, with bones, rags, and mummies for his companions. He associated, almost exclusively, with Moslems, of various ranks in society, lived as they lived, conforming with their general habits and their religious ceremonies, and abstaining from the use of the knife and fork at meals. He ascended the Nile to the Second Cataract, and everywhere recording his exact impressions, making plans and careful drawings, and taking the trouble to secure accurate knowledge. A second trip to Egypt, remaining two years, enabled him to still more completely enter into the life of the Egyptians. Upon his return to England he published this book. Its success was immediate, and many editions have been called for since. This is volume one out of two and comes with a wealth of illustrations.
481 printed pages
Copyright owner
Bookwire
Original publication
2017
Publication year
2017
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Quotes

  • Talia Garzahas quoted2 days ago
    Arabic language abounds with synonyms; and, of a number of words which are synonymous, one is in common use in one country, and another elsewhere. Thus, the Egyptian calls milk “leben;” the Syrian calls it “haleeb;” the word “leben” is used in Syria to denote a particular preparation of sour milk. Again, bread is called in Egypt “'eysh;” and in other Arab countries, “khubz;” and many examples of a similar kind might be adduced. — The pronunciation of Egypt has more softness than that of Syria and most other countries in which Arabic is spoken.
  • Talia Garzahas quoted2 days ago
    The coffee (“kahweh”) is made very strong, and without sugar or milk. The coffee-cup (which is called “fingán”) is small; generally holding not quite an ounce and a half of liquid. It is of porcelain, or Dutch-ware, and, being without a handle, is placed within another cup (called “zarf”), of silver or brass, according to the circumstances of the owner, and, both in shape and size, nearly resembling our egg-cup.
  • Talia Garzahas quoted3 days ago
    population of Egypt in the times of the Pharaohs was probably about six or seven millions. The produce of the soil in the present age would suffice, if none were exported, for the maintenance of a population amounting to 4,000,000; and if all the soil which is capable of cultivation were sown, the produce would be sufficient for the maintenance of 8,000,000. But this would be the utmost number that Egypt could maintain in years of plentiful inundation: I therefore compute the ancient population, at the time when agriculture was in a very flourishing state, to have amounted to what I first stated; and must suppose it to have been scarcely more than half as numerous in the times of the Ptolemies
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