The Red Cloud chief., 1882-10-20

The ancient Egypt was reckoncd in
its best days To contain n population Of
1900. 900, and IL was the richest and
most prosperous monarchy in The world
before Rome came to the front. It's cities
rivaled Babyion and Nineveh in their
days, and when Amru took Alexandria
IL contained over 600. 900 inhabitants
and the grandest library collection in
the world. The modern Egypt though
possessing none of the ancient grand
eur, is still a country far from despica-
bic in resources and population. Egypt
proper. from the cascades of the Nile TO
the sea. contains about 5000 quare
miles of cultivable and irrigable land in
the Nile valley, and a population Of
$500, 900. This is less than the area
Of Massachusetts, and not much above
the population of the State of New
York But the productive quality Of
the land is such that it might serve to
support 1000. o0O. The annual ex-
ports to Great Britain alone ten ear
ago amounted to 49,. $50. 600, while the
imports from Great Britain to Egypt
were but CSC, 600. 900. showing q heavy
balance of trade in favor Of Egypt.
Since the opening of the Suex Canal.
Egyptian exports to England have de-
clined TO less than $40. OuO. 900, and the
imports to less than &l2, 600, 600. The
valley of the lower Nile is not all Of
Egypt, though il is all that is vital. The
khedive rules over a region on the upper
Nile covering an area of l,5OO, COO
square miles, and embracing n barbarous
population of l6. 0O0, 600. This has been
acquired by conquest since 1873. and
includes Nubia and Darfur. Nub:a 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. Mehemit Ali. He was APP
pointed Pasha. or Governor by the Sui
tan of Turkey in 1906. and five years
after he compelled his master to make
him Viceroy. This 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 eondi-
ton OF this promotion was that tho
khedive should pay an annual tribute
OF SS,0O0.0O0 to the Sultan. the former
tribute being but 81. SOC. 900. This. Of
course. is = heavy tax on the people.
The allowance for the support of the
khedive. or King. is s75O.0 O0, and for
his relatives $500. 900. But the late
khedive. Ismail, contracted private
debts amounting to more than $40. 0o0.-
600 and otherwise so wasted the sub
stance Of the country that in 1872. when
France and England. for the protection
OF their people who held Egyptian Sc
curities. appointed each an officer to
control and regulate the finances of
Egypt. they found an aggregate of pub
lie and private debt amounting to $isQ-
100000. lsmail was deposed and his
son Tewik. the present Khedive. BE-
came his successor. These financial
complications led & the present diff |
cul6es; these and the Mohammedan h. |
tired Of Christians and foreigner The
rapid decline Of Egyptian trade with
England, formerly her best customer, |
is attributed TO the Suez Canal, which !
enables England 70 trade on better
terms with India and her Oriental post
sessions And this fact h the se-ret a
the aversion of the Egyptians % tie
Canal and their earnest purpose TO Do
stroy il II they can.-Lssdss Tme.