DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11638#0127
AND LOWER EGYPT. II3
nion of a German physician, that in order to re-
move the suspicion of leprosy, they rendered that
colour universal which could give birth to it. Car-
roty people, adds he, must have introduced this fa-
shion, by being the first to paint themselves with
henna to disguise their redness. It is thus that patches
employed at first to conceal pimples, are by degrees
become a part of dress. I am inclined to believe
that this is the real solution of the difficulty *. All
these reasonings accumulated in the closet, must
fall to the ground, when opposed to facts. Egypt is
not the country of fashions, frivolity does not
there dictate every day, new customs, and con-
tinual alterations in dress. There, habiliments
and manners remain as they have been for ages
past. Their variation, which is a proof of in-
stability of character, does not compose a feature
in that of the inhabitants of Egypt. Besides, the
practice of reddening the beard with henna is very
far from being universal. I never saw but two
or three Arabian princes who made use of it. To
conclude, how could red-haired people have any
occasion to dye themselves red in order to dis-
guise their colour ?
* Work already quoted. Ques. xxviii.
VOL. III.
I
nion of a German physician, that in order to re-
move the suspicion of leprosy, they rendered that
colour universal which could give birth to it. Car-
roty people, adds he, must have introduced this fa-
shion, by being the first to paint themselves with
henna to disguise their redness. It is thus that patches
employed at first to conceal pimples, are by degrees
become a part of dress. I am inclined to believe
that this is the real solution of the difficulty *. All
these reasonings accumulated in the closet, must
fall to the ground, when opposed to facts. Egypt is
not the country of fashions, frivolity does not
there dictate every day, new customs, and con-
tinual alterations in dress. There, habiliments
and manners remain as they have been for ages
past. Their variation, which is a proof of in-
stability of character, does not compose a feature
in that of the inhabitants of Egypt. Besides, the
practice of reddening the beard with henna is very
far from being universal. I never saw but two
or three Arabian princes who made use of it. To
conclude, how could red-haired people have any
occasion to dye themselves red in order to dis-
guise their colour ?
* Work already quoted. Ques. xxviii.
VOL. III.
I