The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1882-07-15
EGYPT AND.THE EGYPTIANS

EGYPT ANDsTHE EGYPTIANS
Photographed by Ono who Knows
the Country and the Pcopic-Inter- |
esting "Reminiscences OF Several |
Years. Residence in the Land OF the
phnrnohs.
At this time, when red handed war is rife In |
tho Gland OF Egypt" anything pertaining to
that historic country is OF unusual Interest,
therefore THE CRITIC, with an eye to the pub
lie appetite, interviewed last evening Colonel |
Augustus g. Boernsten, Of this city, who was
for several years director OF tho Graphic
Establishment of tho General OF tho Egyptian
stan, with headquarters Mt Cairo, Egypt, on
the nature OF the country, habits Of the poo.
pie, etc.
ain 1877" began tho Colonel, "when Tew-
fck, tho present Khodivo, was heir.presump-
two 10 the throne, no was very retired in his
ways, seldom taking part in the frequent
festivities; In fact, regular book-worm, and IL
was thought then that II ho succeeded to the
throne 1t would result disastrously to the
Christians In Egypt, as he was regarded as a
dangerous, fanatlcal Mahommedan. He has,
however, not yet had n full Opportunity of ex-
hiblting the expected spirit. What no may do
in the future, II the present war results In re-
storing him to power, cannot say"
so na,iyS dnr aed In
"They are, and besides being sober and in.
dustrious, they are thoroughly down.trodden.
/ MY tynIutnltb With thcm III tlle
| present struggle, and II / was thoro I should
certainly fight with Arab Pashas army"
"when you left Egypt, In 1877, were there
any indications OF tho present conflict" asked
at that time there was
Nothing to Suggest the Present Con.
At tho period you mention tho Egg yptian Gov
| eminent was on tho verge OF ba nkruptcy.
Why, the soldiers and officers frequently wont
wentoighteen monthswithout cent OF pay and
| Notwithstanding TINT. tlOgo immpnAp fpatiyl.
| ties, which cost large sums OF money, were
| given frequently by direction OF the Khedive
during the period OF threatened bank
.w6y was that 2" asked THE CRITIC
swell you see, the cost OF those general festi'
| walls are paid by the poor, Impoverished peo-
| pie, who are taxed by districts, by order OF the
Khediye, who makes n call for an amount OF
money sufficient TO meet the expense; the
amount is then apportioned among the sew.
eral Pashas commanding districts, whose
duty 1t Is to collect their apportonment at
once. Those military axcollectors invariably
| increase the assessment to double the
amount asked for--intending half for them
thing man has, personal, real estate and live
stock, II he hasn'ttho ready money"
| "Dut suppose n man Is without money or
property, as must sometimes DO the case" In
'0They test him." answered tho Colonel, "by
securing the services Of two officers, who
Drag the Victim Into the Middle of
the street,
and, after placing him on his back in tho dust,
| belabor the soles OF his feet with bamboo canes,
and, 1t is unnecessary TO add, IL no has any
money the operation Will cause him 10 dis
gorge. This practice is not resortod to often
In Cairo or Alexandria, but is general through
out the interior. remember on ono occasion
in Cairo of this punishment being inflicted
npon schoolboy who had played truant! Tho
boy was dragged out into the street by two
officers, assisted, by the father, and tho foot
lashing began. was passing on horseback,
and the boys groans and shrieks caused
MY Blood TO boil with Indignation.
Turning around In tho saddle struck the
nearest man terrific blow across his face
| with my riding-whip, causing the blood to flow
freely. number OF Arabs assembled and
wanted 10 mob me, but you know there is q
great deal Of virtue in a sevenshooter, and
had ono along with mo-"
.In your opinion, Colonel" asked the CRITIC,
"what are the Qualities of Egyptian soldiersf'
'They remind me very much Of Russian sol.
, | diers, both of whom stand in terrible dread OF
their officers. Why, they would
Just As Soon Cut Their Threats
as disobey one of their superiors. / don't
think much of them as soldiers. They are
| mere machines, and possess no qualities save
to cot, sleep, and drink without the slightest
degree OF yalor or intelligence"
"How about the ofllcers?"
"rhey are better, being mostly native Egyp
l ians, who are educated at military schools In
Berlin, st. Cyr, France, Vicnna,'and other Eu
e. ropeaii cities. Nearly all OF the officers speak
. French and some OF them English. While far
I | superior to the prlvates, the officers are dc
. cdedly Inferior to European officers In every
The Egyptian Military Service.
!, 'The best arm of the Egyptian military
= | service" continued the Colonel, sis the infan
= try; the worst is the artillery, while the cav
. | airy is but mlddling under the most favorable
!, circumstances. In the present war, which will
doubtless be waged inland, the Infantry vii
play In the most important role, on account o.
o the sandy nature OF the country, which ron
o ders II almost impossible to drag guns or per
/, nit OF rapid movements by horsemen. wher;
o the country Is cultivated 1t Is rich, but where
8 barrenness prevails 1t is barren indeed"
T. "What kind OF guns are In use In EgyptT
}. asked the reporter.
.Krupp guns for their light artillery, ant
Il old.fashioned heavy ordnance which was mad
~ from 1880 to 1910. Their heavy guns are goot
a TO fire at sunrise and to salute the Khodive oil
=, state occasions, but worthless for war pur
!, poses. would rather have ten OF their heay
y guns fired at regiment under my command
!, than one Parrot gun-l experienced the latte
~ during the late unpleasantness The Englisl
need have no fear OF the Egyptians heav
y as the Egyptian stan, on which 20,
" served, composed Of native ofllcers?" aske'
Is the reporter.
is Noh, no. The staff is made up OF all nation
1T alities-Amcrcans English, French, Swedes
v. etc. The Americans OF the stan, when wa
" there, were all eXConfederates, except my
Is self. An American major on the stan died Q
Vi sheer want shortly before left for America
" shoes worn entirely OH and his naked feet o
N the ground and told me his story, which wa
az piiiful ono. Some time after heard no ha'
10 died, evidently from want. did not hea
~ what became Of his family"
" VWhat was his poverty due to 2"
NJ ''The non.payment OF his salary by the Go,
q. eminent, principally. They owed mo 81
n months pay and had an interview with tn
~ Khediye about the matter. He sought to CIV
m me an evasiye answer, but persisted an
- finally said with como emphasis; u mus
have my money! II 1t Is not paid, You
Highness, l win take the horses out OF you
carriage ON the boulevard tomorrow. tn
next day the paymaster called at my lodging
and settled up the account"
IN show is the interior In regard To forts an
fnptin . tnal nd M ram
r.. "Cairo has no forts" answered the Colone
r. "except the citadel, armed with those al
~ tique, worthless guns, and that could
shelled out in very brief space or tim
There Is very strong fort, however, on II
w | Nile, 90 miles from Cairo, toward Alexandra
~ | on which the Government has spent va
'A | amounts OF money and time. II 10 really
very strategic point, being, in my opinion, Il
" | key to Cairo. If the English can take th
~ fort they can walk right into Cairo after Dor
~ | harding the citadel for a short WHILE"
rs "Win Arab Pasha make stand ut tn
y, | point, do you think 2" asked the scribe.
p "Undoubtedly, because he knows no
~ Cannot Make u Successful Stand 1
* Cairo,
IA nor will they go into the desert. When pot
toes grow In the desert the Egyptian army WI
go there, not sooner"
"Are there many Christians In Cairo, al
will they Join Arab Pasha :"
jA "Tho Greek colony in Cairo was compute
~ In 1877, TO contain 10000. OF Italians the