Egyptian Saints

191

et de celles des pays qu’ils on traverses; ils se montrent les objets qu’ils en on rapportes, les echangent
entre eux: les avenues du temple se transforment en un vaste marche; et la superstition, une fois utile
au monde, sert de vehicule au commerce et lie par de nouveaux besoins les homines qu’elle divise si
souvent d’une maniere cruelle.10
* * *
The features of interest which the Egyptian moleds afford to the folklorist ought
to be clear even from the few examples-cited above. Were such a thing feasible, all stu-
dents of popular religion in general, and of Egyptian ethnology and archaeology in partic-
ular, would heartily welcome the institution of a properly constituted commission to
undertake, before it is too late, the collection of all available data relating to the Egyptian
saints and their cults. Only by the means of such a commission, aided by Government,
could a general survey of this rich field be made. As it is hardly possible, especially in
these troubled times, that such a survey should be undertaken, I here subjoin a list of
questions to aid such individual investigators as may have the opportunity and the
inclination to collect information. A detailed account of the cult of even one insignificant
saint, it should be borne in mind, may prove of the highest permanent value to science.
1. What is the name of the saint?
2. Is he referred to as Sheykh, Seyyid, or Well?
3. What are his titles? If possible distinguish between those which are com-
monly, and those which are rarely, employed.
4. Where is the center of his cult?
5. How is this center marked (grave, kubbah, mosque, or natural feature)? Was
this center always that of the cult, or was the saint in old times especially
venerated at some other place?
6. When is his moled? Is the date — or dates, if there be more than one yearly
celebration — fixed by the Moslem or by the agricultural calendar?
7. Does the moled always begin on a particular day of the week? How long does
it last?
8. Who attends the moled? Is the cult local or widespread?
9. Do men or women play the predominant part in the celebrations?
10. What are the saints’ functions? Is he the special protector of any class of
people, animals, or things?
11. Are there especial gifts made to him? If so, what are they, by whom are
they given, and under what circumstances?
12. With what rites is the saint’s moled celebrated?
10 Du Bois-Ayme and Jollois, ‘Voyage dans 1’int^rieur du Delta’ (Description de 1’Egypte. . . . Etat moderne,
vol. 2, Paris, 1813, p. 91 sq.).