The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-09-28
Ancient and Modern Egypt.

The ancient Egypt was reckoned in
its best days to contain population of
| $4,000, 900, and it was the richest and
most prosperous monarchy in the world
before Rome came to the front. Its cities
| rivaled Babylon and Nineveh in their
| days, and when Amru took Alexandria
it 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 country far from dcspica-
BILE in resources and population. Egypt
proper, from the cascades of the Nile TO
the sea, contains about 5000 square
miles of cultivable and irrigablc land in
the Nile valley, and a population of
5,5O0,00 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 20,0O0,0O0. The annual ex-
ports to Great Britain alone ten years
ago amounted to $82, $50, 900, while the
imports from Great Britain to Egypt
were but $36, 600, 900, showing q hoa99
balance of trade in favor of Egypt.
Since the opening Of the Suez Canal,
Egyptian exports to England have de-
clncd to less than $40, 600, 900, and the
imports to less than S12,0O0,0OO. The
valley of the lower Nile is not all of
Egypt, though it is all that is vital. The
Nhcdive rules over region on the upper
Nile covering an area Of 1,500, 900
square miles, and embracing q barbarous
population of 16, 100000. This has been
acquired by conquest since 1873, and
includes Nubia and Darfur. Nubia is
l,ot nfrr ho
Ethiopia. These conqucsts may bo
made valuable .by the construction of
railways, but that will require European
capital.
The present dynasty was founded by
the usurper, Mehcmit Ali He was an
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 condi-
ton of this promotion was that tie
Khedivc should pay on annual tribute
of $3, ,OOO,O 600 to the Sultan, the former
tribute being but $1.80O.OOO. This. of
course, is heavy tax on the people.
The allowance for the support of the
Khedive, or King, is $3.50, 900, and for
his relatives $660,000. But the late
Khedive, Ismail, contracted private
debts amounting to more than $40, ,00O,-
600 and otherwise so wasted the SUBJ
stance of the country that in 1879, 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 $780,
10000 lsmail was deposed and his
son Tewik, the present Khedivc, be-
came his successor These financial
complications led to the present diff
cultics; these and the Mohammedan ha-
tired of Christians and foreigners. The
rapid decline of Egyptian trade with
England, formerly her best customer,
is attributed to the Suez Canal, which
enables England to trade on better
terms with India and her Oriental pos
sessions. And this fact is the secret Of
the aversion of the Egyptians to the
Canal and their earnest purpose to dc
stroy it if they can.--L0nd0n Times.