The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-29
EGYPT.

l.. Gerhard Rohlfs ectured last night on the above
subject the auspices of the "vorwaert's" Soci-
ETY., in the Becker Halle. lie began by stating that
although Egypt, enlarged by the present
khedivc's conquests nominaly as large us
Germany, yet the real of Egypt better
defined in the saying ''Where the Nile
is there is Egypt That river the remarkable
In the world not only in point of but also because
he whole development of the country depends upon it
and its periodical overflow An attempt had
made by Mohammed ALL the founder
Of the present dynasty, regulate the mum
dations, but the works were not yet complete One
is surprised at the small mineral wealth of Northern
Egypt but this partly compensated for by the
treme richness of the Arabian mountains in valuable
stones, such AS porphyry &c. The faune are almost
identical with those oil Central Africa Wild beasts
do not exist there, and his hearers would
have 10 part with the sweet illusion that
in the Nile nearer tnan the second cataract There
were lew birds in Egypt but the Nile asIonshingy
rich in fish, DIR. Rohls thinks the Egyptians be of
Asiatic origin. Their authentic history reaches back
1000 years beyond the Mosaic date OF mans
creation. Their culture might be judged IRON
bad been found 5000 years old, which, lar
style, Sc, was concerned, might have been penned
~ Bismarck himself Their monuments, temples and
pyramids Jolnted IN the same direction. The rule OF
Islam went tar toward destroying the an
rient civilization of Egypt The Maineukes killed II
outright Hardly one OF these f.rocious rulers
died natural death, nor was any one OF them
ceeded by better The first light thrown on the his
tory % Egypt modern times owed to the learned
men who accompanied Napoleon his expedition
lhnher. among whom was champohon The
Rosetta aud some Of the already deciphered
hiercglyphs had helped but there were still
unnterpreted hieroglypns sufficient TO 200
Yards OF wall Mohammed Ali was the first who had
he idea OF making Egypt independent He really
l Circassian. The lecturer then traced the various
teps by which the present position OF Egypt had been
eached, and gave exhaustive account of
III the great works undertaken by tho
khediye. OF all these there which he had
encountered greater difficulties than elevatng the
position Of woman in his dominions He had been
jailed spendthritt. but Dr. Rohs reminded
ais audience OF the SueZ Canal the 100
other canals butt by the ruler in Upper and
lower Egypt and the line of railway reaching from
Cairo the Soudan. Alexandra and Cairo had
completely transformed by him. The quarter of
CAIRO would bear comparison with the nnest parts of
Paris Berlin Vienna In l79S Alexandria had
bad then =, 900 600; now II had 5000 600
rhc lecturer next gave account OF his expedition to
he Lyban Desert III the khedives service. For this
expedition, which was unsuccessful lie took $50
samels and 500 water tanks. The IN
suporabe obstacles the sand hills, about
400 feet high, which the cames could not
get The full account OF the expedition was ex-
Cecdingly interesting. Ii led to the rectincaon of
several great geographical errors. After making a
report TO the khedive, DR. Rohfs took leave OF him.
ana this point did likewise OF his audience.
Dr. Rohfs lectures tomorrow night at Stenway
Hall for the benefit OF the German Hospital and Dis
pensary