The Mineral argus., 1883-11-01
THE EGYPTIAN ARMY.

NidplS DIVERSITY OF opinion the
character of the fellahesn, but on one
point all authorities have been hitherto
agreed-that the fellah is one of the
most unwarlike types of mankind and
heartily detests military service. Any
body who travels in Egypt during the
time Of the CONSUMPTION must be pain
fully impressed with the fact. In the
villages he may be often reused at night
by a violent alteration outside, which
begins with gruff, bass male voices and
c%ulminatesin shrill, hysterical, f~alsetto
tones. The first time he is so disturbed
he probably assumes that it is a case of
burglary or ~marslaughter, and rushes
out with the intention of supporting Wig
orously the party of law and order, but
he finds to his disappointment that IL is
nothing more seriously than the captur-
ingofar recruit o the khedivial army and
may be quite true ,as the ome
declare, that the village sheikh IN making
the choice Of his victim, has been in
fuenced by considerations Of baksheesh
the arguments produced pro and con in.
VOlve contradictory statements of fact
ahN HNNh NpAABAANANbh NgAA1AAEIdNlOUN Oh
laa and morals that as a stranger he can
hardly feel justified in interfering with
the action OF the authorities. In the
principal towns, where the results are
collected. similar scenes take place on a
larger scale. The cOnscripts are brought
into the public square under an escort
OF kavasses, armed with sticks and
switches, to be examined by the medical
officer and the military authorities.
Among the n are a good many repre-
ssntatives OF tue halt, the malmed. AID
the blind, and these, after being separa-
ted from the others are allowed 10 re-
turn to their homes. OF the remainder
a few conduct themselves with the
~apathetic, dignlfied air OF the true Mus
sulmau, but the majority endeavor to
prove by wordy arguments, solemn as
seryatiOns, expressive gestures, or re-
voting contortions that they are totally
untitled for military s,rvice; and, when
arguments fail, importunate i~ntreaties.
h~eartrending appeals, or indignant pro-
tests are employed. In vain the
kavasses, with the aid Of their sticks
and switches, endeavor to keep order
and imposed silence; the obstinately i'm
Fortunate perslstently break from the
ranks and have to be put back into their
places by force, Kill at last a rough as
sortment has been made. Those who
have no plaring corporal defect and who
have not succeeded in privately concil-
latlng the authorities are then marched
of to prison, to be kept there until the
arrival Of the train or steamer which is
to transport them to Cairo. When the
moment Of departure arrives the most
extraordinary heartrending scenes are
to be witnessed. Here L. is net the con-
gnr1nfa mrhn unnanr w.ef,n.l =. al-s-
fate, but the women, young and old.
that play the chief part. Each conscript
has an iron collar, they are bound to-
gether in groups of ten or a dozen.
Around them stand their female rela-
tives, weeping and waillng. As the mo-
ment OF separation approaches the ex-
element Of the Ome increases their
become lou err and their shrieks
more shrill, until, as the train or steam
er owe of, there is q terrible moment
of climax. The wives, mothers, and sis
sit down on the ground, throw dust
upon their heads, eiauu'ate, shrek, and
.gesticuldte like maniacs, while the more
excltable, If not restrained, literally rend
their garments aud show all
he symptoms of the widest
despair. A spectator ignorant of the
cause OF all this excitement and grief
1919 AANAAtAA1 9AHItNG AuuA LAAt men ]
chains had been Condemned to death
were being taken to Cairo to be ex-
scuted.
This repugnance to serve in the army
s not a thing OF yesterday. When Me.
Ali, in order to get rid of his tur-
lulant Abanians by whom he had de-
the MaRedukes first endcav.
'red to create a native army he encOun-
cred in the resistance of the Fellaheen
he chief obstacle TO the real cation of
his plans. With the assistance Of Col.
'eves, better known as Solyman Pasha,
a considerable number Of Turks and
,ircassians, he succeeded in forming
nd drilling several regiments. but as
Don Is they we're required for active
eryice the men begun to mutiny and
lesert. One regiment when ordered to
Arabia to act against the Wahabees
penny revolted, killed its officers, and
lad 10 be decimated and disbanded, the
~urvivors being incorporated in other
sgiments. When the expedition had
cached the Hedjaz Snd Yas in face of
ne enemy a second regiment mutinied,
lassacred the officers, and after being ;
rought TO reason by Turkish troops, !
as sent back to Cairo. Mean ]
lille many Of the conscfipts sought to !
the CONSUMPTION by cutting Oft !
leir forefinger or putting out their I
CHIT until they found that the pasha, {
It'll a view 70 checkmating such expe- 1
.ents, formed companies of one-eyed ,
and made those who had mu- q
lated their right hand pull the trigger
lth the fingers that remained. Grad
lily, however, the fellahs submitted to -,
Ieir fate, and showed in the Hedisz, ,
g Morea, the SOudan, Syria, and Asia =
inor, that they could, when properly Il
fight well and even gain vic p
rIes; but in all these victorious cam p
Iigns they we're led by Turkish and Il
.rcassian officers and behind them were n
aepd bandg of Raghi-Rayn y-bo II