An important part of her work was the missionary tours which she made each year in the winter or early spring.  The first of these journeys was in 1861, the last within a few weeks of her death.  The spiritual condition of those she visited is thus described by Miss Whately:  “The mass of the peasants are little, if at all, different from what they were in the days of Pharaoh.  Instead of praying to gods of stone and revering brutes, it is true they now call on the Almighty, but know scarcely anything about Him, neither His Word nor His laws.  Much of the religion of the fellah consists in prostrations, and his spontaneous prayers are usually invocations to dead men, as we see with Nile boatmen and other labourers; when in a fatiguing work, they call on the ’Lord Hosseen or Zeid,’ &c. to ‘stretch out a hand and help.’  Buffaloes and sheep are frequently sacrified at the shrines of sheiks of reputed sanctity, or at the mosque dedicated to Lady Zeynab.  A pilgrimage to Mecca and the performance of certain ceremonies there are supposed to cleanse the pilgrim from sin.  The Copts (who form the minority of the population) have always preserved their veneration for Scripture, but neglected it, and were extremely ignorant, till in some degree aroused by the efforts of missionaries to seek more after education, and to read more of the Word of God.”  She proceeds thus to describe the work among these people:  “On our yearly Nile excursion we had great cause for encouragement, both among the Copts and the far more numerous Moslems.  The coast of the river is dotted with numbers of villages—­some almost large enough to be considered towns, boasting a few houses with windows, a mosque, and a small primitive school; others are mere hamlets, consisting of mud huts crowded closely together, and built in and out of the palm-trees.  We brought to several of these places both medicine for the sick and books for those who desired them, and were heartily welcomed as the peasants’ friends; indeed every year the welcome grows warmer.  Dr. Azury, the skilful medical man of the Mission, has always numerous patients; and after their bodily ailments have been attended to, they and their friends and neighbours assemble on the shore to hear him read from the Bible.  Mrs. Shakoor and myself are at the same time occupied in visiting the poor women in their homes or in reading and speaking to troops of both men and women in the open air.  When we are going to leave, the boat is besieged by men and lads asking for Bibles or portions of Scripture, which are given to those only who can read.  The last sight as we sail away is often that of a circle gathered round one who reads aloud to those who cannot read for themselves.” [1]

[Footnote 1:  Report of the English-Egyptian Mission for 1887.]

V.

PROGRESS OF THE SCHOOLS.