The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
McuSSA PACIIA.
A French Picture of Life and Politics In
the Mahdi's Country.

DE Bisson's Volume.
Impoverished and ruined by war. de.
yastation and rapine, the Soudan could
not maintain its own Government in
1864. Il had become absolutely necessary
to send from Egypt every year some g..
100000 piasters to cover actual expenses
When Moussa Pacha was invested
with the Viceroyalty of the Soudan by
the khedive, he gave utterance TO these
words, sweeter to the heart ofthe Viceroy
than the purest honey: 80, Hiehness,
the Soudan is certainly rich enough to
pay for all the expenses Of lis govern
ment. Verify, / need no subvention."
"Oh, truly great man." answered the
Viceroy, deeply affected, verify Mahom-
ct inspired thy tongue and sent thee TO
me; thy desire l grant with joy
Moussa kept his word. But how did
he magase it?
First, ne tripled the taxes upon the
"sakies'-the irrigating machines-and
the owners had TO sell their draught-
oxen to pay; and the machines ceased to
move, and the land remained uncultivat.
/.
Nben he ceased to pay the Govern
ment employees, and the troops mutined.
Bataiions had to be sent from Egypt to
subdue the revolt. Then the no reg
imcnts pillaged the people and sacked
the villages, and made up their pay by
razzas.
Taxation on private property was raised
TO % per cent; and the tax regularly paid
by the Arab tribes was quadrupled.
The Arabs began to emigate. Their
crops and herds were confiscated.
At the same time one of Gods most re-
doubtable scourges, the epizootic, visit
cd Egypt. II was in the early part of
Ismarl's reign. The whole bovine race
was swept from the face of the land.
Ii was an awful calamity to Egypt
Al. irreparable disaster to agriculture
Any ordinary prince would have been
completely Gazed by the spectacle of
such an enormous mortality, and would
have done nothing but mourn over the
misfortune of his subjects.
Bot the Khedive simply sent orders
TO the Soudan for 100000 oxen and 90
900 camels.
TIE price was fixed ut ten talaris per
head.-"O what n magnificent change
for brsiness-what superb speculation,
cried Moussa. Pacha.
Stringent orders were Immediately
sent TO the cniefs of the five moundiries,
or provinces of the SOudan.
The Arab tribes were thus abmonish-
ed at was, indeed, the intention of the
Government to increase the tribute; vet
by reason of the instructions Of the Khe.
dive, the tribute will not be augmented
Nevertheless ye shall furnish the cattle
and the camels desiied.
But the soldiers had to be sent out
for this sort Of tax collecting was danger.
Gus. Moussa was even obliged to de-
mand reinlorcemcnts from Cairo. They
sent him 5000 Bashi-bazouks.
Then Moussa began to carry of the
cattle and camcls by force OF aims. The
Beni Hamir, the Hadendese, the Bahri.
as, Takrowrits, the Choukries, were sue.
cessively invaded and surrounded They
were attacked, robbed, and murdered
Enormous razzias were made. The
Egyptian officers did not forget to feather
their own nests.
The Viceroys order had been already
amply filled, when the executors there.
of commenced to say to one another: "1i
is not right to work for nothing" Then
the contribution was increased by one
tenth, which went to fill the pockets OF
the big Turkish politicians. As for the
soldiers and subalterns, these followed
the old custom of stealing from the
Arabs everything they could put tc
profit.
The herds arrived at Suakim in appar
emily endless succession. All the Vic
crows steamers were TO transport then
free Of charge TO Suez. We watched ths
embarkation through 1864 and 1855; j
was still going on in 1895.
But Moussa Pacha simply stole tht
herds. He payed out nothing; and h'
out into his own pockets the Who'll,
amount sent by his master-l ,l00,O0t
tsaris. His share of the profit was wei
secured.
As fast as the animals arrived at Suez
theVioeroy had them distributed through
the various governments Of Upper Low
er and Middle Egypt, and offered then
for sale at the price of 60 talaris each
The moudirs were ordered also to dis
pose OF them on credit to farmers at
commission of 10 talaris head, thus rails
ing the price to 20 talaris. Thus, "b,
81 rendering a service to his subjects" th'
4 khedive made some 100000 talaris up
b on this operation, or 100000 francs
One day Moussa summoned to hi
s presence the chief doctor of the prov
ince, Frenchman. Thou must go t
& Ablallah.Eaendi." he said, "and AN
putate his right hand The Doctor hur
riedly prepared his instruments, AM