DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14563#0285
CHAPTER XXXI.
italians and copts.
One is struck continually with the number of Italians in
Egypt. At Alexandria and Cairo, a large portion of the
business in groceries and provisions, and, in general, the sup-
ply of travellers, has fallen into their hands. They adapt
themselves easily to oriental manners. The climate suit3
them, the houses are very much like their own, and they
seem to be as much at home in Egypt as in their native
Italy. Indeed they are more at home, for many of them
are living here as exiles and refugees, finding under a Mo-
hammedan power that freedom and protection which are
denied them by the Head of Christendom, and by sundry
defenders of the faith. The Italians in Egypt are gener-
ally industrious and well-disposed; although to them not
the least attractive of oriental habits is, that of sitting before
a cafe in the open air, drinking Mocha, and smoking a pipe.
It is a sad comment or. the Papacy, that honest and useful
citizens are driven from the cross to the crescent, for the
enjoyment of personal liberty, and of business prosperity.
On the Upper Nile the Italian language is better known to
the natives than the English, and Italians are frequently met
in the bazaars in native costume, and to all appearance
fully domesticated. Egypt affords them an easy retreat
from their own country; some have abandoned Italy for
ever, others bide their time.
But this intermingling of Italians with the Arabs is really
italians and copts.
One is struck continually with the number of Italians in
Egypt. At Alexandria and Cairo, a large portion of the
business in groceries and provisions, and, in general, the sup-
ply of travellers, has fallen into their hands. They adapt
themselves easily to oriental manners. The climate suit3
them, the houses are very much like their own, and they
seem to be as much at home in Egypt as in their native
Italy. Indeed they are more at home, for many of them
are living here as exiles and refugees, finding under a Mo-
hammedan power that freedom and protection which are
denied them by the Head of Christendom, and by sundry
defenders of the faith. The Italians in Egypt are gener-
ally industrious and well-disposed; although to them not
the least attractive of oriental habits is, that of sitting before
a cafe in the open air, drinking Mocha, and smoking a pipe.
It is a sad comment or. the Papacy, that honest and useful
citizens are driven from the cross to the crescent, for the
enjoyment of personal liberty, and of business prosperity.
On the Upper Nile the Italian language is better known to
the natives than the English, and Italians are frequently met
in the bazaars in native costume, and to all appearance
fully domesticated. Egypt affords them an easy retreat
from their own country; some have abandoned Italy for
ever, others bide their time.
But this intermingling of Italians with the Arabs is really