The present inhabitants of Egypt may be divided into Copts, Beduin Arabs, Mamelukes, Europeans, Mussul mans, and Jews. The Copts arc descended from the ori ginal inhabitants of the country, who in early times dwelt in caves, and their descendants are very different in their appearance from the native Africans. Their eyes are dark, and the nose frequently aquiline; and though the hair be sometimes curled, yet they are evidently a differ ent race of people from the negroes. The present Copt ish race have a dusky complexion like the Arabs or In dians, and seem to be the same race of people as those of which the mummies are preserved. The Egyptians, and the people of Hindostan, appear to have one common origin. The Persians and Indians, the people of Egypt and Ethiopia, are said to be descendants of Ham, the son of Noah. Different sons of that patriarch arc thought to have separated into Ethiopia, India, and Egypt, Ecc.; while others maintain, that the latter country was peo pled from Hindostan. Several circumstances point out the Persian Irac, and the high country above Thibet, to gether with other. adjoining places, as the regions of the world which were most early inhabited, and from which the people sprung who settled in Egypt, India, and other early civilized countries of the East.
Egypt having suffered so many changes of circum stances and masters, was exposed to the intrusion of different people ; and we have found, that its present in habitants are of different nations. The Beduins arc a wandering class of Arabs, distinguished from their countrymen, who have become stationary in some situa tion or other, and join in trade, or in cultivating the fields and other arts of life. The Beduin Arabs are still in the pastoral state, like the patriarchs of old ; but they have not their simple and pure manners, nor the moral and religious principles for which the Jew ish patriarchs were renowned. Many relics of ancient ha bits are still preserved among the Beduins, but are a predatory race of people, and stand much in nee,. of religion, good laws, and civilized usages. The s chiefly dwell in the higher parts of Egypt, removin their tents and their herds, their cattle and their ea Inds, to the vicinity of wells or streams of water, , hen they find drink, as well as better pasture ; and at eel taro seasons they are permitted, upon specified condi tions, to descend into the lower parts of Egypt, where their herds feed on the luxuriance of the Delta ; hut they never penetrate far into the country, for they are always ready to dart into the wilderness, when they have committed any act of violence or injustice, which they frequently do, and which would bring upon them the vengeance of the inhabitants and laws.
The Mamclukes are a race of people is hose origin has already been explained, and who were introduced into the country by their Turkish masters, in the capacity of slaves, and having become numerous, acquired so much property and influence, as to threaten the existence of the Al ahommedan government in Egypt. Their num bers are still maintained by slaves imported from the un polished countries of Georgia, and the neighbourhood of Mount Caucasus. But since the grand signior was re stored to his former power in Egypt, after the intrusion of the French into that country, the influence of the be s has been exceedingly reduced, and the number of the NIamelukcs is upon the decline. The rest of the inha bitants are Jews and Mahommedans, or Chum istian mer chants, who reside in the principal parts of Egypt, for the benefit of trade and commerce.
The fertility of Egypt has long been celebrated, and the number of its inhabitants is proportioned to its pro duce. The simple manner of living which the native inhabitants observe, is well fitted to increase the popula tion; for it is a well known fact, that the inhabitants of a country increase in proportion to the case with which their food and accommodation can be procured. In the most prosperous and highly favoured condition of Egypt, when the people lived in case and safety, under a power ful race of native kings, the population must have been more numerous than in its future state of distraction and violence ; more especially under the injudicious govern ment of the Turks : but•the number of inhabitants as signed it in very ancient times, appears to be extrava gant. Not withstanding the excessive population of Chi na, which may be in a situation similar to the ancient condition of Egypt, yet we can scarcely believe that Egypt ever contained, at one time, 20,000,000 of people, or even 7,500,000, as other authors have maintained. Grand Cairo, which is supposed to comprehend more than the eighth part of the people of Egypt, is not s:-id to contain 500,000 persons, but, perhaps, the whole be fairly reckoned at 2,500,000. To give us an idea its ancient population, we are told, that it contained from eighteen to twenty thousand towns ; but the most of these, if that number did really exist, must have been only scattered villages of small extent and little populatum. For although Egypt is a country of considerable extent, yet the places which are capable of cultivation are and, making every allowance for tire e times of its greatest prosperity, could not have comprehended more than an extent of 6000 square miles.