The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-09-02
Egyptian Mudirs.

OF cities ana larger towns, Win thelr
habitual warine@; about going to war.
have not as yet taken any direct or at
least serious part in the outbreak. The
action of the Governor of Minieh. 136
miles up the Nile from Cairo, was a
perfectly natural proceeding Tor that
official, when he refused to permit any
interference with the administration
of the railways. The province of which
Minieh is the capital is agriculturally
one of the richest in Egypt, and the
Governor considers himself an import
ant factor in the governmental ma
chinery along the Nile. When travel
ers stop there he generally provides an
elaborate Turkish dinner, the inevitable
chibooks and coffee. and gayly capari-
soned asses and donkeys on which to
mount to visit the points of interest ly-
ing beyond the town. Then follows the
fd1tiSSer, with the Egyptian dancing
girls; the gIChdzee. which holds the par
ty far beyond midnight to the sound
of revelry and the rude native music.
Few of the large towns along the river
have ever had heartier or more hospi-
table Mudir than Minieh. The town is
simply mud city of some 10, 900 souls,
dwelling near the bank of the river in
all of the squalor peculiar to the Egypt
ian habitations. In these settlements.
and as such they are further to
southwark, the entire population
men, women and children-are
made to work. The Mudr holds
his appointment from the Khedive
or through the Minister of the Interior
who manages the entire local admins
tration. The Mudir has supreme charge
Of the taxation in his province, in facl,
is King of the domains over which his
| jurisdiction extends. He must, how
ever, be careful to see that every inter-
mediate official between himself and the
Khedive receive handsome presents, and
| neither must they be insignificant in.
| point of value, usually consist no of
handsome bag of British severe gns with
proffers of eternal gratitude. At least
annually the Mudir makes a visit to
Cairo, and there he is expected to sig
nalize his advent in the capital by SUBJ
stantial testimonials to the Khedive.
These generally take the form not only
of money, but also of the handsomest
Egyptian maidens whom he can find in
the province. Nor is their social quail
ty respected. There have been in years
gone by terrible reprsals on account OF
the ruthless dissertation of the house,
hold. Among the more spirited Bedou-
in Arabs, when their daughters and sis
tiers have been seized for the harem Of
the Mudir or the Khedive, the scheme
of blood revenge has been developed,
and retribution has followed until whole
families have been swept away. 1t thus
appears that the Mudir is but a slave of
the ruling power in Cairo, making the
better Governor when he can excel in
pandering to his immediate superior the
Minister, and then to the Khedive. Thus
it is that when Arab, now the supreme
power at Cairo. calls on the six Mudirs
of Upper Egypt for 800 horses and $50
camels they will be forthcoming or the
Mudirs will dose their positions.
1t is not always safe for Governor of
a province to reside among the people,
whom he has pltndered and oppressed.
1t also not 'infrequently happens that
the Governors areinothing but common
assassins, who are called upon to exc
cute the summary aud secret Vengeance
of some Minister or favorite at court of
whom they stand in awe. A case that
occurred while the Herald correspondent
was in the upper country is directly to
the point. "A Turkish official of high
rank--he was Bey-had long been a
favorite of the Khedive at Cairo. for
they had been educated together in
France This official was, therefore, a
| great deal around the palace, and it,oc-
Cured to the Khedive's mother that she
would like to marry off favorite child
of the harem to gallant officer in re-
ceipt of large pay. The Bey was sum-
moned by the Khediye and told that his
mother had found him wife-a won
drous creatttre. OF course in the East
such an intimation to a subordinate is
simply a command; yet while the Bey
submitted he secretly chafed at what he
considered q gross imposition upon
friend, Turkish aristocrat, and an Off
Ger accustomed to European liberties
and customs. The marriage took place
and was grand fete, costing many
thousand dollars. Of course the
Bey had never looked upon her
face until after the nupplal knot
was tied, apd when he did
neither the countenanoe nor the owner
thereof was to his liking. Two years
went by and the Khedive's mother per-
ceived that the young wife was slowly
pining away. At last persistent in
quiry made the girl disclose that from
the very hour of the ceremony the Bey
had declined to treat her as his WIFE,
The Khedive' mother-ape perfect tigress
fastened to his Highness and de-
manded that the Bey should be put to
death instantly. He could not refuse
The Bey was Immediately seized, con-
veyed by a guard 1900 miles to the
Soudan. and upon his arrival the Gov
ernor- General was ordered to strangle