New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-20
EGYPT REVISITED.
BAYARD TAYLOR's VIEWS OF THE COUNIhi
UNDER THE KHEDIVE'S RULE.

Tons WHICH CONTROL IT-EffhCl y. ,-,
AMERICAN WAR IN EGYPr-EDOOAi'oN VI
INHABITANTS. , &,
emo April 4-Eleven years have eiapseu sinoe
y,o7l pasha the Viceroy, or khedIve ian uncertain
- srnnosed 10 be a grade higher than the former
20 Fgvnt succeeded to the heritage of his grand
Gather Mobammed Ali. Since then, the Suez Canai
has been completed. and for more than four years
has been opened to the commerce of the world; 'he
cities of IsmailIa and Port Said have grown up WIN
The rapidity of Kansas OF Nebraska towns ,he
Delta ia covered with railways and Upper Egypt IL
reached by the locomotives the regions OF oouoan
have become safe orderly and easily accesslple anu
Cairo and Alexandria have their statues aua inca
ters their paved sprinkled and gashghted streets
More significant than this. the area Of cultivated
land has increased from 20 to 30 per cent throughout
the country the extension of the canals and the
rrovth of trees have produced a marked influence
on the rainfall and thus climate well as industry
ARE coming 70 resemble the European rather than
the former African conditions. In Cairo. for IN
stance where the average was until reeenty four OF
five rainy days in year, ii has now increased to Il:
in the Delta where s. 1t Is now 40! This change
correspOndingly dlmnshes the temperature of the
Winter months: and fires for warmth although still
unknown. are already a necessity. This year the
Spring is not more forward than in Southern Italy
and il has only Just come, with startling rapdlty
which had supposed peculiar TO high northern latl-
tudes. Three days ago, the Indian syeamores' on
the roads to Hehopolis and Shoobra stood perfectly
cold and naked to-day they are vailed IN the
brightest drapery Of young leaves. The buds of the
poplar and mulberry trees also, opening so fast
that one can fairly notice change from hour to
hour. But this is April in a land where February
was wont to be the Spring month.
Ii Is difficult 10 estimate the character of deyel-
opment which depends upon the Will of one man.
With the wonderful spectacle Of Japan before our
eyes we may easily be mised by the external signs
of change IN Egypt In Japan. however, the expert
ment is tIied upon curious, restless and quick
witted people. whose religious faith tolerant because
philosophic ntep0ses serious hinderance to their
advance IN civilization. Here, the conditions are
very different; every change requires care and eau
ton, aud old prejudices have even greater force
than personal interest. From all can learn, the re-
cent development of Egypt Is chiefly material, due
in great measure 70 the desire for show and gain of
q ruler who is shrewd. intelligent. practical in busl-
ness matters. and personally ambitious. 1t Is too
much TO expect that Oriental prince. in our day
shall manifest hearty interest in the weil-beng or
his subjects. The Egyptians complain bitterly OF
three evils which to them than cOunterbalance
the advantages thrust upon them. These are: enor-
nous taxes utter lack of defense against the arbi
trary Will of those set them, and the negligence
and corruption of both civil and criminal courts.
Until the last two or three years Egyptian Stats
tistics have been very confused and unrnstworthy.
II Is therefore difficult make any satisfactory
parsons The people compare the Khedive's Gov
evernment with that of his predecessor. SAID Pasha
ns54 to 1863 which gave them Justice security and
only moderate burdens and they seem to forget
what they previously endured under Abbas Pasha.
and during the last years of MOhammed Ais
reign. The latter, with all his tremendous
energy and keen political wisdom, was
selfish despot. He originated a method Of
taxation which would have ruined Egypt
had II not been changed-a bounty on date palms.
amounting 10 seven or eight cents tree. During
INV loaruey IN ETHIOPIA IN 1872, this tax had Just
been increased and in districts the peopleruth
essy destroyed their pan-grOves IN order to evade
H. The tax has now been converted into one upon
real estate which is so high that tract planted
with dote-palms costs AZ the rate of % cents tree
The cost of labor and food has also increased IS
true. hut IN nothing like the same proportion.
When. therefore. the people see the hhedlye
spending N a few weeks Sl5,OO00O0 for the
marriage festivities of his sons; when they see
enormous palaces building for these sons, while
score or two of royal residences are standing empty
when they hear that the Government Is hard up for
money. while Jewels are purchased and foreign
opera troupes brought 10 Cairo regardless OF eX-
pe,se 1t IL not much wonder # they become lm-
ratient Ignorant as they are, verify believe the
most of them would submit more readily 20 their
burdens. if the revenues of Egypt were bestowed
mainly on necessary public works.
The people, moreover, are still suffering from a
great initiation and reaction which Is curousy con-
nected with our own internal struggle The cotton
crop Of Egypt had been steadily but rather slowly.
increasing NJ 70 the year 1sd0, when II reached
about 10000 bales. The breaking out of the Rebel
hon gave q tremendous impetus 20 this branch OF
production the sudden rise IN the value OF cotton
made II more profitable than wheat or sugar-cane
All over Egypt the cultivation spread the shrewd
agricuturists. who foresaw their chance made such
profits that the small Fellah farmers even pulled mp
their maize and onions and planted cotton. BY 1864
the production had reached $4,000 bales which
brought a market Vrice so per cent higher than N
1850.
For the first time. perhaps in thousands Of years
Ecypt ala not produce enough breadstus 10 support
its people wheat corn and fodder for cattle
were imported in large quantities But the cattle
themselves half-staryed and Overworked by the
labor OF breaking new fields and drawing water
night and day. died ID enormous numbers,-GOOc)O
head according 20 official report. II became
finally necessary 10 import meat, OIL. butter and
even lard unciean 70 all Mohammedans. from Eu-
rope. This created a temporary branch Of trade,
wherein the Spectators made enormous fortunes out
Of the necessities Of the people-just they do IN
certain other lands. The scarcity of animal power
led TO the introduction Of small portable steam
engines for pumping water and of cotton gins But
engineers machnsts fOrrepars, and especially fuel
were difficult 70 be had and very expensive: had the
price of cotton kept up. the natives might have
come this difficulty, but the most of them lost heart