COPTS

[s. 216] : A people of Egypt, numbering about 600,000 and supposed to be a survival from the Egyptians of the Pharaohs. The name Copt is a religious rather than an ethnic term, since it is applied to Christians only, while the Mohammedan Fellahin of Egypt are of the same stock and race. The Copts are, however, far more intelligent and enterprising than their kinsmen who did not accept Christianity. Neverthele when compared with other Oriental Christians, as Greeks and Arrnenians, or with Jews, they are seen to lack initiative. Wherever found the Copts are gentle and submi ive to control; in lower Egypt and Tripoli they are clerks and traders, shrewd busine men and able when under guidance. In 198 upper Egypt they are more frequentlji industrious agriculturists. American (UP) and English (CMS) Mifsions have done much toward stimulating the Copts into a new intellectual growth; and now the Copts have about 1,000 elementary schools which they seek to conduct somewhat upon Western In these schools they now make it a to teach the ancient Coptic language. About one-half of the males in the Coptic community can read and write. See also Coptic principles. point Church. Lane (E. W.), An Account of the Modem Egyptians, 2 vols., London, 1871; Poole (S. Lane), Cairo, London, 1897; Fowler (M.), Christian Egypt, London, 1900. 216