The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-05-18
From the 1ndianapo Journal:
LETTER FROM c. F. COFFIN,
vIKssA. AUSTRIA, April %, 1872.

UOfu ~ NNS8 j
vIxSSA. AUSTRIA, April %, 1872
A considerable length Of time asselapsed
since I had the pleasure of addressing you,
my last letter having beea from Naples. We
reached this city few days sirce on our re-
turn from very interesting Orientaljourney.
Much of the time We we're out Of hsI reaeh Of
any regular mails, and as had nothing TO
communicate shout the subject upon which
have been addressing ycu (tke Pfisonsb did
not write. We sailed from Brindise en- the
10th of February, and reached Alexandria,
Egypt, on the ed. One who has never visit
ed the Orient can scarcely appreciate how
great the novelty is aud how strange every
thing locks. The language, complexion,
dress and habits Of the people are SO totally
different from those to which We hsse been
accustomed, that sne is filed with asts nish-
ment and wonder. We found Egypt fat,
level country, productive along the banks Of
the Nile, but desolate ard barren beyond the
narrow strip through which il flows. The
people are surksn in degradation and Aif r.
We ucVct sdW EUtGoh bCSu6o OSSURy $50"
houses and live in such manner as they do.
The present Viceroy seems 10 be . wise anil
in some respects good ruler, and yet the
Government is cf the most despotic kind. We
saw immense numbers OF men, women and
children digging and cleaning out -carals,
who had been summarily and preomptorily
ordered from their own homes !. whole VIII
lagos being taken at once and required TO
carry the dirt in baskets on their heads, in
the hot sun, without pay. and obliged 70 pro.
vide their own food, az we were informed.
They brought from their own homes little
bundles of clothing in which they wrapped
themselves andlaid down OH the ground to
rest at Gight-and yet they all seemed cheer
full, singing msrrlly while at work. II is
said that they are aware that this is the only
way by which the ground which they cult
vate can be made productive Nile water be-
ing nsces .arY) J, and hence they do mot de-
muir. 1t is not probable however, that Anglo
Saxons would submit to just such an ar
rangement. Probably Solomon and his sue
cessors ruled in much the same manner.
Many English and American ofi:ers have
been employed by the viceroy-his army and
navy have been remodeiej, and are supposed
to be effective an excellent system Of light
houses and coast Improvements has been
adopted railroads and canals have bssA con-
structed, and much done to improve and beau
tify the country. A large portion, OF the
land belongs TO the viceroy, and Ne visited
some ine palaces which are owned BY him.
Desiring to learn something as to the con-
dtion Of the Prisons, arranged With our
gentlemany Agent and Deputy Consul to
visit them together. We went first 70 the
CITY Prison. in Cairo. 1t was simply
large, old warehouse, with wooden, grated
doors, into which the prisoners were turned
promiscuously--ol aad young (ff there
we're many boys quite ysung in years, those
guilty Of the worst crimes, and those against
whom q ample "complaint' had been entered,
al shared the same fate. They crowded
around the doors to look at us, but want OF
knowledge of the language prevented us from
speaking to them. We were not permitted to
enter. 1t was the most primitive kind OF
prison, and had nothing 10 alleviate its evils
We turned from this scene, so unpleasant. and
rode to the "Castle," hoping to be allowed to
visit the somewhat celebrated prison where
political and other offenders were confined,
but Mahommsdan jealousy would not admit
of it. The Governor pssemptorily refused
N admittauce, although the official character
Of my companion was known to him. We
had not time to apply to the government di-
rect for an order, but were quite ready to be
lieye the reports so current of the great hor
rors of the subterranean cells, from which il
is said those who enter rarely ever return
Il is said they form q convenient means Of
getting rid of those who stand in the wayo
the powers that be- the mere will OF derpo-
being all the law needed to take the life Of su,
of his subjects. We found in all our journey
through Egypt, Palestine and Syria, that the
Mahommedans, feeling that their power Is
waning. are very jealous of foreigners and
Christians, and dislike TO see any changes
from old habits male. They are in most in
stances only restrained from violence BY fear
of the Great Powers of Europe We tho''
it unnecessary to make any further attempts
to be adm tilted into any of the prisons in the
east, but from inquiry learned that all of them
were OF the same primitive character; that
persons were confined, frequently, on mert
suspicion; that trials. were uncertain ane
dilatory !; the judges are generally Yenal anc
corrupt, so that the length of prisoners
stay depends much on his ability to pay, ant
che amount Of funds he can raise.
We spent about thirty-fve days IN Psles
tine and Syria, entering at Joppa and Leaving
az Beyrout. They were days of deepest in
terest. Many parts of the lsnd that orc'
"aowed with milk and honey" arc now bar
ron and dssolate.-a scene of drearinsss AM
loneli 81. But other portions are still riel
and fertile, and covered with docks Of sheep
goats and cattle. Wild Aowsrs covered th
whole land in great prcfusion, even some