Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-08-30
ANCIENT AND MODERN EGYPT.

The ancient Egypt was reckoned in its
best days to contain a population of 15,
100000, and it was the richest and most
prosperous monarchy III the world be-
fore Rome came to the front. Its cities
rivaled Babylon and Nineveh in their
days, and when Amru took Alexandria it
contained over 100000 inhabitants and
the grandest library collection in the
world. The modern Egypt, though
possessing none of the ancient grandeur,
is still country far from despicabIe In
resources and population. Egypt proper,
from the cascades of the Nile to the sea,
contains about 5000 square miles of
cultiyable and irrigable land in the Nile
valley, and population of 100000.
This is less than the area of Massachu-
sets, and not much above the population
of the state of New York. But the pro-
ducive quality of the land is such that
it might serve to support 20,000.00O.
The annual exports to Great Britain
alone ten years ago amounted to $50,
100000, while the imports from Great
Britain to Egypt were but $36, 900, 900,
showing a heavy balance of trade in
favor of Egypt. Since the opening of
the Suez Canal Egyptian exports to
England have declined to less than S40,-
900, 1000, and the imports to less than
$4,000, 900. The valley of the lower
Nile Is not all of Egypt, though it is all
&c Tho IboIfx-o y.111oc ox-o,. n
region on the upper Nile covering an
area of ], 100000 square miles, and en-
bracing a barbarous population of 49,
600, 900. This has been acquired by
conquest since 1873, and includes Nubia
and Darfur. Nubia is that country
which the ancients called Ethiopia
These conquests may be made valuable
by the construction of railways, but that
will require European capital.
The present dynasty was founded by
the usurper, Mehemet Ali. He was ap-
pointed pasha or governor by the sultan
of Turkey in 1906 and five years after he
compelled his master to make him VIC
eroy. The title was continued through
the descendants of Mehemet Ali down to
the fifth Ismail, who, in 1866, received
the title Of khedive-el-misr, which means
king. The condition of this promotion
was that the khedive should pay an
annual tribute of $4,000 to the sui
tan, the formal tribute being but 81, 800
600. This, of course, is a heavy tax on
the people. The allowance, for the sup
port of the khedive or king, is $750,000
a year and for his relatives $66O,00O
But the late khedive, Ismail, contracted
private debts amounting to more than
1000, 900 and otherwise so wasted the
substance of the country that in 1879,
when France and England, for the pro-
lection Of their people who held Egyp-
tian securities, appointed each an officer
to control and regulate the finances of
Egypt, they found an aggregate of pub
hcsand private debt amounting to $780,
100000. Isnail was deposed ard his
son Tewik, the present khedive, became
his successor. These financial complica-
tions led to the present difficulties; these
and the Mohammedan hatred of Chris
tians and foreigners. The rapid decline
OF Egyptian trade with England, for
merly her best customer, is attributed
to the Suez Canal, which enables Eng
land to trade on better terms with India
and her Oriental possessions. And this
fact Is che secret of the aversion of the
Egyptians to the canal and their earnest
purpose to destroy it if they can.