The Osceola times., 1876-08-26
PHILADELPHIA LETTER.
Egypt-Edward Elias vitality Of the Ex.
pOsitiOn-M Miscellnny.
From Our Own Correspondent.
Ir1. IaIlt A nm III
EGYPT-EDwARD ELIAS.


The secretary Of the Egyptian commission,
Edward Elias, is a native-born Egyptian, who
at first glance you would take for an Ameri-
can from some Of the extreme southern
states, fine bearing, open frank manner;
who is one Of those men who grasp your
hand earnestly and heartily, and TO whom
YOU feel attached ut once. am indebted to
this prominent Egyptian gentleman, who is
also interpreter 10 the commission, for much
valuable Information regarding his country
and her aims. asked him II he compre-
hended the cooperative feature in journal
ism as represented In the American News
paper Union" He replied, at is the same
principle as the Associated Press dis.
patches" He could not have given more
intelligent answer, because it is exactly so.
The Egyptian commission is composed of
his higbness, prince Mohammed Tawfc
Pacha, president. His excellency, Cherif
Pacha, minister of commerce, vice president
II. Brugsch Bey, commissioner. general
mer. NJ. Mariette Bey, director Of the muse
ums Of antiquities. NJ. Gastinel Bey, pro-
fessor Of the medical school. n. Rogers, di-
rector in the ministry Of public instruction.
NJ. Acton, chief of division, ministry Of CON-
merce. NJ. Baudry, architect. N. Delehe'
valerie, attache. +. Brugsch, chief Of trans
portation and installation. A. Behmers, at
tache, secretary. Edward Elias, secretary
and interpreter. N. Daninos, attache.
Egypt is an important power in the worlds
economy, and is making rapid headway in
the arts, sciences, and industry.
The territories under the rule Of the sover-
eign Of Egypt including those on the upper
Nile and central Africa, are vaguely esti-
mated TO embrace an area Of 4,777 $50 square
kilometres, and 10 be inhabited by popu!a-
| ton Of 1885,, 600, Of whom about one.third
are in Egypt proper. The following state
ment gives the area and population OF the
various divisions Of the kingdom, and its re-
cent annexation, according TO government
estimate, Of the year 1876:
Egypt proper, b50,630 square kilometres
population, 5,252,000 Nubia, s6i 800 square
kilometres, population, 100000. Former
kingdom OF Ethiopia, 2,9ls,OOO square kilo
other annexed territories, 444,700 square
kilometres, population, 100000. Tota
square kilometres, 4,777,s3 Total popula
ton, i6,952,000.
The great physical peculiarly Of Egypt is
the absence Of rain, the land being only ir
Yigated by the annual overflow OF the Nile
The climate il remarkably mild and sound
especially south of the delta and in the
desert, from Cairo to Alexandria, the air
contains more moisture than TO the south.
From the middle of August to December,
west winds prevail; east winds from that
time till March after that, unhealthy south
winds or khamsin till June and from June
till August the north or Etesian winds.
Earthquakes are occasionally felt, and the
temperature varies from $40 +. to 800. The
most remarkable phenomenon is, however,
the regular increase of the Nile, fed by the
fall Of the tropical rains, which commence
in lie north latitude, in the spring; and fall
ing first into the White, and then Blue Nile,
reach Egypt in the middle, and the delta in
the end OF June. In the middle Of July, the
red water appears, and the rise may be dated
| from that time. 1t attains its maximum al
the end Of September, and begins to decline
visibly in the middle Of Octooer, and sub
! sides 70 IL minimum " Aprik =. the end