A national name for the people as such never seems to have existed. Among them selves they were Roma, men, par excellence; all others were inferior races, °miserable Cushites, Libyans, Asiatics, Sham They themselves were the wards of the great gods, and Pharaoh was 'descended from Ra, who had himself once ruled in Egypt. Other peoples were descended from the enemies of their deities, and when Ra had overthrown them at Edfu a portion escaped, those southward became Ethiopians, northward Asiatics, westward Libyans, eastward Bedouin.
Personal experience has warped the judg ment of observers as to their character. Herodotus praises the cleverness of the Egyp tians and their excellence of memory; Diodorus declares them to be the most grateful of people; the Emperor Hadrian characterized them as °thoroughly frivolous, unstable, following every rumor, refractory, idle and libelous' The modern notion is that they were so occupied with the thoughts of the future as to be ob livious of the present. There is undoubtedly a degree of truth in all of these estimates, but a broader survey shows that they were energetic in their undertakings, as is evidenced by their temples and the Pyramids, still the wonder of the world; possessed of sufficient skill to per form by force of numbers labors which would test modern mechanics severely, practical in their methods of utilizing the forces of nature; peaceable as compared with other nations, and little given to love of novelty; artistic in their execution and accurate in their observation; a people given to realism, unversed in literary arts, devoted to agricultural pursuits, developed within narrow limits, and little affected by external and foreign influences.
The peasant class, or Fellahin, is the most numerous class in the population of the present day and is indigenous. They are to a certain extent descendants of the ancient Egyptians, but they have been subjected to crossings and have embraced Mohammedanism. Next in number are the Copts, the descendants of the ancient Egyptians who embraced and still cling to the Christian religion. ( See Cons). Though comparatively few in number (about 600,000), their education and useful talents en able them to hold a respectable position in society filling the posts of clerks, accountants, etc. With these aboriginal inhabitants are mingled in various proportions Turks, Arabs (partly Bedouins), Armenians, Berbers, negroes, and a considerable number of Jews, Greeks and other Europeans. The Turks hold many of
the principal offices under the government. The great bulk of the people are Mohammedans, the Christians being only about 7.5 per cent. The Egyptians in the mass are quite illiterate, but under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Instruction progress is being made.
The language in general use is Arabic.
The Fellahin, the most superior type of the Egyptian, are a fine race, handsome, of excellent physique, and courteous in their manners. In northern Egypt they are of a yellowish com plexion, growing darker toward the south, until the hue becomes a deep bronze. Mr. Lane, the best authority upon the subject, speaks highly of their mental capacity, and gives them• credit for uncommon quickness of apprehension and readiness of wit. They are highly religious, and are generally honest, cheerful, humane and hospitable. But these are exceptions in a mixed population of Bedouins, negroes, Abyssinians, . Turks, Syrians, Greeks, Armenians, Jews and Europeans.
Population.— The population, according to the census of 1907, was 11,189,978, and is esti mated at present to be about 12,500,000. Of this• total 5,667,074 were males, and 5,0W,285' females. The population was divided by nationality as follows: Egyptians, 10,903,677; Ottomans, 69,725; Sudanese, 65,162; Greeks, 62,973; Italians, 34,926; English, 20,653; French, 14,591; Austro-Hungarians, 7,704; Russians, 2, 410; Germans, 1,847; Persians, 1,385; all others, 4,925. In 1800 the French estimated the popu lation at 2,460,200. In: 1821 the census returns showed 2,536,400; that' of 1846 4,476,440; of 1882 6,831,131; 1897, 9,734,405; 1907; 11,189,978. • According to its religious beliefs the population is divided as follows: Mussulmans, 10,269,445; Copts, 706,322; Orthodox 'Greeks, 76,953; Roman Catholics, 57,744.• Protestants; 12,736; Jews, 38,635; others, 28,143. Of the Egyptian popula tion over 10 years 62.65 per cent Was engaged in agriculture and of the foreign element less than 1 per cent; 1627 per cent of the natives engage in commerce and industry, in which are employed 47.85 per cent of the foreigners.